‘For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ (Romans 8:38-39)
Imagine being torn away from your family and your home, simply for holding on to your faith. This was pastor Luul’s reality.
He endured 14 years in Eritrean prisons for leading a thriving evangelical underground church. On August 7th, 2007, Luul’s life changed forever when he was arrested in Eritrea.
His crime? Following Jesus and leading over 500 people to the Lord.
The police confiscated his laptop, never to be returned, a symbol of the freedoms they stripped away.
He was sentenced without trial and he was never able to appeal.
In a land where arrest often means disappearing without a trace, Luul was moved between three prisons and held in a tiny prison cell. His family was left in the dark, clinging to hope and faith.
Luul’s wife Grace and their young daughter Wisdom had to flee their home, fearing for their lives.
“Wisdom was just a year old when I last saw her,” said Luul.
“She was playing happily in the living room, oblivious to the darkness and suffering that was about to engulf our lives.”
Grace and Wisdom lived in hiding, moving from place to place as the security services tried to hunt them down.
In prison, tied up and beaten, Luul was tortured regularly, yet his faith never wavered. He led soldiers and prison guards to faith, acts which led to more torture.
Finally, in 2021, exactly 14 years to the day of his imprisonment, Luul was released.
He escaped Eritrea and joined Grace and Wisdom who managed to escape to South Africa and then to the UK. The family were finally united four months ago and live in the north of England.
Luul’s story of suffering for his faith, being imprisoned and forced to flee is not unique.
Your gift today can provide not just the necessities of life, but also the spiritual sustenance they need to stand strong in their faith.
By giving £25, £50 or £100 today you are helping persecuted Christians forced to flee worldwide.
In times of distress and persecution, God is calling each of us to pray and to offer tangible support to those who are suffering. Our partners, Release Eritrea continue to send finance, provide trauma counselling and offer support to those in need.
Through your past generosity and prayers, you have made a huge impact in the lives of many persecuted Christians.
And I hope that you will chose to give today to help other believers like Luul who have been forced to flee in so many places worldwide including Burkina Faso, India, Nigeria and Pakistan.
In Eritrea there are at least 350 Christians still imprisoned. Five of them have served more than twenty years. Release International partners continue to provide for the families that have been left behind.
By giving of £25, £50 or even £100 today you will be showing compassion in Christ’s name. In Matthew 25:35-40 Jesus taught us that whatever we do for the least of His brothers and sisters, we do for Him. When you help persecuted believers like Luul, your gift becomes a powerful testimony of Christ’s love in action.
By supporting members of our persecuted family, you are bearing each other’s burdens (Galatians 6:2). Your generosity can help lift the weight of suffering from their shoulders, giving them hope in their darkest hours.
In Hebrews 13:3, we are urged to empathise deeply with those who are in prison for their faith. By standing in solidarity with them, you are showing them that no believer suffers alone.
Will you give to Release International today?
Here are some of the things your generosity could make possible.
£25 could provide spiritual support: You can strengthen persecuted believers by providing Bibles, spiritual resources, and biblical counselling to uplift their faith.
£50 could help meet basic needs: You can provide essential supplies like food and clothing to believers who have lost everything.
£100 could provide shelter: You can help offer protection and a local safe house in hostile and restricted countries to Christian families who are forced to flee their homes.
Luul’s story is a stark reminder of the terrible trials many Christians face today for following Jesus.
It is also a call to action for us, to share the love and compassion of Jesus, with those who have been imprisoned and tortured for their faith; and who have escaped for their lives to continue to share the good news. A gift made today is an act of love and will help advance the Kingdom of God.
Together, we can help those who stand firm in their faith and who have suffered persecution for their love for Jesus.
With gratitude and hope,
Paul Robinson
CEO, Release International
UPDATE
You can now watch a short video made by Pastor Luul’s daughter, Wisdom, here. Wisdom has recorded a really powerful message about her father Luul’s imprisonment in Eritrea and the impact this had on her growing up.
