charli@cylixd.UUCP (Charli Phillips) (08/27/85)
Is anyone interested in praying for, writing to, or working on behalf of Christians in other nations who are persecuted for their faith? Western public opinion has a marked effect on the treatment of individual believers and churches in nearly all countries that persecute Christians (Albania and Iran being the only notable exceptions). Because of this, letters to Christians in prison or being persecuted, letters to government officials (our government and theirs), and similar actions have a pronounced effect on the conditions of prisoners and the treatment of Christian dissidents. I don't want to bore anyone or waste everyone's time and money if there isn't any interest. If there is interest, I can post (or mail, depending on the number of you who are interested) information on the status of religious rights in various countries, names of Christian prisoners (and those who are persecuted without necessarily being imprisoned), addresses of Christian dissidents, addresses of government officials, and the like. For example, Galina Vilchinskaya is a Baptist woman who lives in the Soviet Union. She is 26 years old. When she was 19, she was arrested for "violating the separation of church and state" (she taught Sunday school to children). She was sentenced to 3 years in a strict-regime camp. During this time, her health was severely damaged. She lost all but 8 teeth as a result of malnutrition and mistreatment. Most of her hair fell out. When she was permitted to write her family, she told them she did not expect to live out her term. The KGB pushed her to collaborate at her release, to provide names of other Christians, and the like. When she refused, they told her they would disgrace her before all Christians. A few months later, they arrested her on trumped-up drug charges. She was convicted and sent to another strict-regime camp. She was released last December. Her parents were told not to have a welcome-home party for her when she returned, and when they did, the family was fined a month's wages. Galina still has to report to her parole officer daily. She must observe a curfew, and is not permitted to travel. She is continuously in danger of re-arrest, as she maintains her Christian life and witness. Letters to Galina will help reduce the chance that she will be re-arrested. If she is arrested, they will tend to reduce the severity of the charges brought, and soften the sentence. (Sergei Khodorovich, a Russian Orthodox leader, was arrested for treason. The flood of letters on his behalf caused the authorities to reduce the charges to "possession of illegal literature".) Galina's address is: Galina Vilchinskaya 224007 BSSR g. Brest ul. Sergeya Lazo 20 SOVIET UNION There are many more like Galina, in many countries, who could use your prayers, letters, and support. The Letter to the Hebrews instructs us to "remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourself were suffering." We can stand with them at their time of trial. If you want to know more, let me know. I can send you (or post) groups that can provide more information, newsletters you can subscribe to, fellow Christians who need your love.
charli@cylixd.UUCP (Charli Phillips) (08/30/85)
Thanks to all who responded to my posting about persecuted Christians. Forgive me for not responding personally. The volume wasn't that high, but I couldn't get through to all of you. Three of the best sources of information on persecuted Christians are: Christian Response International Suite N-602, 12000 Old Georgetown Rd. Rockville, MD 20850 CREED 117 Prince Street Alexandria, PA 22314 International Representation P. O. Box 1188 Elkhart, IN 46515 Christian Response International publishes a newsletter every other month, with occassional updates in between. It is affiliated with Christian Solidarity International - Zurich. CREED publishes, irregularly, a "Priority Case List" which gives biographical information, addresses, and the like on some of the most severely persecuted Christians. International Representation, founded by a Soviet Baptist emigre, works exclusively on behalf of Soviet Baptists. Their quarterly Prisoners Bulletin provides biographical information and addresses for Soviet Baptists in prison. For those who asked, when you write a Christian prisoner, write in English if you are not fluent in their language. If the person can't read English, he will most likely be able to get it translated. Write legibly, but do not type. (Typewritten letters may be perceived as an "official communication" and confiscated.) Your letter doesn't need to be long. *Never* say anything that can be construed as political. Do not praise our system, or criticize theirs in any way. Talk about your family, your church, your friends. Write as often as you can. If you get CREED's Priority Case List or the Prisoners Bulletin, you may want to "adopt" one or two prisoners. Write them regularly. Send greeting cards. Pray for them. Encourage others you know to do the same. An overseas letter takes 44 cents postage. (If the letter is going to the Soviet Union, write "Soviet Union" in the address, not U.S.S.R. Our own post office doesn't know where U.S.S.R. is, and they'll return the letter!) You may want to write Valeri Barinov. He is a Christian rock musician from Leningrad, the leader of the group "The Trumpet Call". In October 1983, he was arrested and held in a psychiatric hospital in Leningrad, where he was "treated" with powerful drugs used for severe mental disorders. (Amnesty International has documented the abuse of psychiatry in the Soviet Union - their report on the subject would make your blood run cold.) Valeri was released when news of his arrest and torture made it to the West. He was re-arrested in March 1984 for allegedly attempting to cross the Soviet border, and held in Leningrad's Psychiatric Hospital #5 before being transferred to KGB headquarters. He was tried and convicted in November 1984, and was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in an ordinary regime prison camp. Five days after his trial, Valeri had a heart attack, and was denied medical attention. He has at least partially recovered. He has a wife and two daughters. His camp address: Valeri Barinov 169418 Komi ASSR g. Ukhta pos. Nizhni Domanik uchr. OS-34/27-4 Soviet Union His wife: Tatyana Barinova Leningrad pr. Khudozhnikov 9/2/74 Soviet Union Again, thanks to all who are interested. charli
charli@cylixd.UUCP (Charli Phillips) (09/12/85)
Another posting on persecuted Christians. (I mailed this information to a couple of people - if you've seen it, please "n" past.) Anna Chertkova is a Russian Baptist. She was arrested in August 1973 for her Christian activities, and subsequently sentenced to Tashkent Special Psychiatric Hospital for "rehabilitation." She's been there ever since. (Note to anyone not familiar with Soviet psychiatry - "Special" psychiatric hospitals are widely recognized as institutions of torture. I can refer you to sources if you want documentation.) Anna's birthday is November 8. (She'll be 58.) Send her a birthday card! (If you don't know Russian, write in English. Most Russians have studied a bit of English, so she'll probably be able to figure it out.) Her adress is: Her mother's address is: Anna Chertkova Anastasiya B. Chertkova 700058 Uzbekskaya SSR 480065 g. Alma-Ata g. Tashkent ul. Stankevicha 36 uchr. UYa-64/12-1 Soviet Union Soviet Union Postage for a normal letter or card is 44 cents. (If you write believers who are being persecuted by their governments, remember not to say anything that can be construed as political.) charli