When taking trips abroad, it’s vital to consider how you will travel throughout the country beforehand. Unregulated airport taxis could take advantage of the fact that you aren’t local and may be uneducated on typical fares. As a result, you could be charged extremely high rates or taken to the incorrect destination which pays the taxi a finder’s fee, rather than the hotel, restaurant or particular business you requested. To avoid this, travellers should always research reliable, licensed taxi firms rather than getting into the first one they see. In the majority of countries, taxi drivers are required to carry and display their ID badge in the vehicle. Always ask the driver what the fare will be, before starting the journey. If the driver refuses to show you their ID or pre-warn you of fares, book with another taxi firm and do not enter the vehicle.
Fake PCR
Some countries now require travellers to report a valid, negative COVID test before entering their country. Amid reports that scammers have been caught conning holidaymakers with fake PCR tests and ‘fit to fly’ certificates, it is vital to always ensure that any PCR test you take is from a reputable source. If you’re travelling from the UK, you can purchase PCR tests from most pharmacies and report the results through the NHS app.
Hotels and Accommodation
When booking accommodation online, ensure to fully research the facility before booking. Look for reviews with images and check to make sure it’s a registered building. More and more adverts are appearing to show accommodation that isn’t real, outdated, and different to the visuals provided. By booking through reputable travel agencies, you can avoid illegitimate accommodation as the agency will cover all of the above bases for you.
Public Wifi
Most hosts will offer holidaymakers the services of their shared public Wi-Fi. While this is convenient, it’s key to remember that public Wi-Fi may not be as secure as your private network at home. When browsing the internet, make sure you don’t use sites and apps that involve inputting personal information, like contact details or bank card details. Alternatively, you can download a VPN, which will allow you to block any unwarranted third party companies from accessing your data.
Pickpockets
Pickpocketing is the oldest scam in the book, but now more than ever, scammers are becoming increasingly creative. Scammers may interact with you directly, to allow time for a third party to steal from under your nose while you’re distracted. When in crowded, public spaces, it’s always vital to keep your personal belongings close by. It’s best practice to leave valuables at home, but if you must bring them with you, store them in a money beltor bum bag to prevent theft.
Activities and excursions
When booking excursions or additional activities during your trip, always book through an official company. Some illegitimate companies may lack the health and safety precautions necessary to keep you safe abroad. The safest option is to book any extra activities or excursions directly through the official travel agencythat you booked your trip with. If you choose to book with a third-party, thoroughly research the company beforehand and always look at previous customer reviews.
Gambling
Make sure to thoroughly research any casino games you may take part in while on holiday, to avoid being scammed. Casino staff may explain a game to you in a lengthy wayto take advantage of the fact that you lack knowledge in this area. Scams.info have provided six famous examples of Vegas Casino scams in their recent article here.
Dr Glenn Doyle is a licensed psychologist based in Illinois and the District of Columbia, and Director of The Doyle Practice, a private psychotherapy practice with offices in Chicago and DC. I’ve benefited from following Dr Doyle’s regular snippets of insight and wisdom which he regularly shares on his social media platforms. Dr Doyle speaks in easy to understand, sometimes colourful, language and seems utterly grounded in the reality of human existence.
Doyle writes with far greater authority than I ever could about the internal world of the mind and the heart. With astonishing honesty he addresses the realities of living with anxiety and depression. He is particularly astute when it comes to tackling external stimuli which can trigger unwanted, overwhelming responses. His writings, and the work he does around Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are so helpful. While researching for a book about home I was delighted to discover that he has shared some of his thoughts about the concept of home on his personal website – useyourdammskills.com.
In his inimitable style Dr Doyle writes:Home is a complicated subject for a lot of people. I wish it was simple, straightforward. I wish that nobody had mixed feelings or associations with the word “home.”
But we do. In the best of all possible worlds, home speaks to a place that is safe.
A place where we feel wanted. Where we ARE wanted.
In the best of all possible worlds, home speaks to a place where we established a safe base from which to explore and experience the world, and to which we can return to rest, recharge, and remember.
But for many people, it’s more complicated than that.
For some people, as they were growing up, home was a place that was unpredictable.
We WANT home to be a place where we’re able to kind of lower the mask that we wear out in public, and be ourselves, let our hair down, let our defences down.
But a lot of people weren’t able to do that growing up.
For them, home was a place where they had to engage different kinds of defences and wear different kinds of masks, than they did out in the world.
A lot of people don’t know what it’s like to feel truly safe.
There are different kinds of safety, and different kinds of danger, both out there in the world, and even back at home, for a lot of people.
When we grow up feeling fundamentally unsafe, we tend to blame ourselves.
What’s wrong with us, we wonder, that we can’t or don’t feel truly safe?
After all, we hear other people speak affectionately or nostalgically about home.
What’s wrong with us that we don’t feel that way, we wonder?
If you grew up feeling that home wasn’t a safe place, a place where you felt safe, wanted, understood, supported, it wasn’t your fault.
It wasn’t on you to make home a safe place. You were a kid.
There are people reading this who really, really want to go home but not to the house or the place where they grew up.
We want to FIND home.
We want to FIND that place where we DO feel safe, wanted, understood, and supported.
Even if we kind of doubt it exists, part of us STILL wants to find, and go, home.
As it turns out, a big part of recovery from depression, anxiety, trauma, and/or addiction is creating that sense of home inside us.
We will try, again and again, to find or create that sense in other people, or places, or institutions, and we may even experience bits and pieces of it here and there … but the truth is, it’s on us to make the inside of our own head and heart that fundamental place of safety for us.
We need to know, without a doubt, that we are safe inside our own head.
We need to know, without a doubt, that we are safe with ourselves.
We need to know, without a doubt, that we can retreat inside our head and heart, and find a landscape that is familiar and non-toxic.
For some of us, that may be completely unfamiliar territory and we may have doubts about our ability to create that safety, that home inside of us.
But that’s the work of recovery. That’s what’s in front of us. Nothing we do in therapy or recovery is going to matter all that much if we don’t make the inside of our own head a safe place.
I wish so many of us didn’t have to work so hard to create a whole new meaning for the word home.
I wish home was a default place of safety for all of us.
But this is the hand we’ve been dealt, and all we can do, is what we can do.
So let’s do that.
Read more in depth articles from Dr Glenn Doyle here. Find his books here and professional services here.
The writers of Endeavour had earned my trust, but dare I trust them one last time? As the ninth and final season of the hit ITV crime drama broadcast the final episode I had one burning question: Could I be certain that the writers would tidy up all the loose ends to my complete and total satisfaction?
I enjoy a nice solid ending, thank you very much. No cliff hangers, fatal accidents (Unforgotten writers; I’m looking at you), unresolved issues, sudden cut-offs, bizarre plot twists or waking from a dream two minutes before the closing credits roll. No, those options simply wouldn’t do. After all, I had let their characters into my living room, I’d invested emotionally into every single one of them, but would they stitch me up for the last episode?
Would the charming and witty Dr DeBryn ever find love? Could Chief Superintendent Bright carry on? Would the fabulous Miss Frazil finally meet someone? What would become of young Joan, our lovely Joan? And Detective Sergeant Endeavour Morse (Shaun Evans) himself, what of the lad upon whom the main plot line rests? And oh yeah … I suppose all those pesky crimes still needed solving too. But my very worst worry was – would they kill off my beloved Fred? How could they convincingly write Detective Inspector Fred Thursday (Roger Allam), the man who had mentored Morse, out of Morse’s future?
For dysfunctional reasons of my own I confess there’s a part of me which needs to believe in the Freds of this world. For a couple of hours Endeavour provides me with a brief respite in which to do exactly that. I desperately want to believe that the important big things are being run properly, by proper grown-ups who properly know what they’re doing. They’ve lived a life. They know people. They may be deeply flawed and human, but they are also fearless, fair and fatherly.
Fred Thursday has seen, and been, both the very worst and the very best of people. And while he’s no stranger to rough justice, on the whole, he aims to play by the book and uphold the law. He navigates his way around the edges of turmoil, inner conflict and human suffering with equal measures of tenderness and toughness. Roger Allam commands an incredibly powerful screen presence. Without uttering a single swear word his steely glare oozes don’t-mess-with-me old school justice. He plays Thursday with such gripping force, I can barely stand to watch him play another part, and face up to the reality that he’s actually an actor.
Another part of me needs familiar things not to end. Not to change. Not ever. Because there can be a dreadful sadness in endings. There’s a part of me which longs for familiar things, and people, to go on forever. It seems I am not alone in this longing. In the final episode of the final series the writers of Endeavour grab this issue by the horns. They face up to it, well, like grown-ups. They somehow shine a light on these longings, which are an essential part of our shared humanity, thus allowing the viewer to feel less alone. And isn’t that one of the things which good writers of fiction do? They somehow help the reader, or the viewer, to feel less alone. As the final credits rolled and the familiar Morse theme played, I knew I had been right to trust them. They did ok.
Episodes of Endeavour are available to stream on ITVX.
Tai Woffinden is a speed king. In 2013 he won the Speedway Grand Prix series to become World Champion. He’s since won it twice more. But you’re more likely to notice the ear-stretchers, and the tattoos that cover 75% of his body.
The philosophy of identity has been the subject of unceasing debate since the origin of humankind. If you are so minded, you can read the classical scholarly accounts, including the marathon poem ‘The Odyssey’, understood to have been penned by Homer around the eighth century BC, which, amongst other things, connects with the notion of self. Since I was a kid, and old enough to have deep and meaningful conversations with myself, the enigma of personality has been captivating. However, since adolescence one identifying feature has remained fairly consistent – the way I look.
Our thin yet resilient skin – the largest human organ – and especially the wrapping around the contours of our faces, provides a pictorial element of our identity. How much of our true self is represented by our outward appearance is open to conjecture, but what if you decide to significantly change this shop window to the world? Does your overall identity change? Do people treat you differently? Do you migrate to a different you?
The more I wrestled with these uncertainties two themes became dominant. First, my own decision to change the way I look. Having made this landmark choice, my confidence grew to another level, and I was cool with myself. Perhaps for the first time in my entire life my reflection was pleasing to me and – in my opinion at least – stepping away from the norm for a guy of my age. I like the new me! The second issue is perhaps more abstract but nonetheless connected to a purposeful decision to change how the world saw individuality.
The link? Tai Woffinden – the three times individual speedway world champion. The 32-year-old athlete born in the UK, but having grown up in Perth, Western Australia after emigrating with his family, is the undisputed painted man of this adrenalized motor sport – where 500cc motorcycles accelerate faster than a Formula 1 car, with the added risk of having no brakes. His decision to illustrate his body and parts of his face is a line of enquiry I needed to follow in my quest to better understand the human construct of identity.
Madonna once said, “I am my own experiment. I am my own work of art.” How closely does this resonate with you?
“It not only resonates with me, but with every person. Although there are millions of people all over the world, we are each unique in our own special ways. I can see where Madonna is coming from, and I agree with her.”
Tai was right – identity is never ordinary and should never be ordained by others. Madonna’s take added a vital new dimension to self. When looking at my reflection in the mirror I was actually admiring a piece of art – and the rest of the world can marvel at it for free!
When did your body art start and what was the trigger?
“I just wanted tattoos when I was young. Mum and dad weren’t that happy; dad only had a standard one on his forearm. When I was fifteen and racing my dad challenged me to beat a couple of older guys, not expecting me to do so. I beat them both – so a deal’s a deal and I got a tattoo!”
American writer, Jack London, proclaimed, “Show me a man with a tattoo and I’ll show you a man with an interesting past.” What’s your story?
“I grew up in Western Australia and rode motorbikes. I came out to Europe to become a professional, but I was kind of playing at it for the first few years – coming home and going out on big benders with all my mates and letting my hair down for three months every summer back in Australia. This was good fun and I absolutely loved it!” Tai then paused as he reflected upon the moment it all changed. “My dad passed away in 2010. That was like a switch – from a teenager to becoming a man overnight. I got my head down and focused on my career.”
Tai’s effervescence quickly returned as he casually added that he then won a few world titles. This, an understatement of epic proportions when his individual and team titles across many countries are tallied up.
“There is not really much left for me to do other than win more world championships.” A driving ambition that won’t please his rivals.
The people I know who have tattoos have mostly chosen to be discreet; most can be covered with clothing. You have prominent ones on your face and hands too. Why did you make this choice?
“I just wanted to be different. I saw a great quote once that went something like this: ‘What are you going to do with all those tattoos when you are older?’ and I think the response was something along the lines of, ‘What are you going to do when you get older – look like everyone else?’ I thought that this was quite insightful when I read it.
“I had my sleeves done and my mum said, ‘please don’t get your hands done.’ I said I wouldn’t, and she replied, ‘you had better not!’ If she hadn’t said that last bit, I probably wouldn’t have got them done.”
Over the years mum has become far more accepting; nonetheless, his face is still wholly out of bounds. “It just progressed then to my neck as I had run out of space on my chest, and then a little bit on the side of my face.”
Although Tai has considered more on his head, he heeds the wishes of partner Faye. “If she gave me the green light, I’d have more on my face, but I will respect her decision since she has to look at me every day.”
How have others reacted to your look?
“It depends on which country you are talking about. US, Australia, UK, and Western Europe – not really a problem. Further east – for example Poland, Russia, and Ukraine – older people do tend to stare and look down at me.”
How do you feel about your look?
“It’s just me now. I’ve seen photographs of me when I was younger without tattoos and I think ‘oh my God, I look so weird!’ I love my look. I’m very happy with it.
“Like a lot of people with tattoos, if I could, I would start again. I’ve got some really amazing ideas – the most insane body art! But I’ve kind of done it from 15, then added and added. Sometimes the guy will come to my house and tattoo me, and I’ll flick through the pictures and think, that looks sick – where can we put it? Then boom, it’s done! Some have meanings, but some are just filling in the gaps.”
Identity, image, and profession are intrinsically intertwined. You risk your life for the entertainment of others – how important is danger in your life?
“Danger is really important in my life but not only from the aspect of my job. Danger gives you that adrenalin – and I’m an adrenalin junkie. I ride a motorbike for a living for a start, although I don’t actually get that much of a buzz anymore. It’s something I’ve done over and over and over again for so many years and that buzz does die off a bit. I’m searching in other places.
“I raced a sprint car in Australia. It’s an absolute weapon of a thing. Once I had done a backflip on a BMX, I did it on a motocross bike. I’m trying to organise a double backflip too.”
Tai then reeled off details of his other daredevil pursuit – skydiving – acknowledging that once he had finished jumping out of aeroplanes, he would start jumping off cliffs. “The more danger, the more adrenalin, the more buzz, and the more excitement. I’m forever chasing that vibe. Where do you stop?”
No brakes and no gears, surely you have to be crazy to ride speedway?
“No! You could say that about many other sports. For many people looking in on what I do on my YouTube channel, they may think that it is crazy, but riding a speedway bike to me is like you walking down the road. When you walk down a path, 99.9% of the time you do so without tripping up. That’s the same for me on a speedway bike because I’ve done it for so long. I began when I was 12 and started riding speedway in 2002. It’s become second nature.”
We share the same significant loss – that of our dads. My dad was my hero, and he first took me to speedway where I saw your dad, Rob, ride. Would you please tell me about the influence your dad had on your life?
“My dad was more my best mate than my dad. Obviously, there were times when he had to be the father figure and discipline me for being a little out of control; but the majority of the time he was my best mate. We travelled together around Europe in the early years, taking in different countries – Sweden, Poland, Denmark, Croatia, Slovenia, Germany – virtually everywhere.
“Then his life was cut short, and he didn’t get to see me achieve the greater things that I have accomplished in my career. But I’m sure he’s watching down from above.”
In his compelling autobiography – Raw Speed – Tai wrote this powerfully poignant tribute: “For Dad, my best friend, my teacher, my travelling companion, my father. Everything I have achieved came from what he taught me about life and how to live it.”
You display a powerful sense of self. What is your message to those who have yet to discover themselves?
“My message to anyone is live every day, don’t waste any opportunities and take a moment out of your hectic day just to sit there and appreciate what you do have, and not what you want.”
Meeting Tai in person for the first time at the 2022 FIM Speedway Grand Prix of Great Britain was an opportunity I didn’t intend to waste, and the premium risk-taker took my understanding of identity to a new level. Often what lies beneath is obscured by what someone looks like, and our own latent prejudices. But Tai the sage stands proud in an often-confusing landscape of self-doubt, and his personal insights perfectly compliment the words of writer Theodor Seuss Geisel who, under his pen name of Dr Seuss, concluded, “Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”
Songwriters write the songs, but they belong to the listener! This is so true when it comes to Grammy-award winning worship leader and songwriter Matt Redman, who has been writing contemporary worship songs for the global church to sing for almost thirty years!
As he unveiled his new single Son Of Suffering Redman said: “I’m only making albums because it’s about the songs. And it’s about trying to see if I can help people talk to God and see God through song.”
Recorded live at the historic ruins of the Catholic Mission San Juan Capistrano in Orange County, California, Redman has once again demonstrated his distinctive ability to integrate the old with the new. And perhaps this is what sets him apart as a writer; his industrious attention to foundational Christian belief and his undoubtable talent for expressing God-truths into singable and likeable melodies.
Son Of Suffering co-written with Aaron Moses, David Funk and Nate Moore, is a reminder that Jesus came down to earth to walk with us and meet us in our trials, in our weeping and in our earthly terrain. This same Jesus who divinely embraced his own suffering also embraces ours. This is not a distant God but one who reaches out with love, hope and understanding.
Interestingly the Season Three finale of The Chosen, a television series that gives a picture of Jesus’ life and ministry, seen through the eyes of the people who knew him, will feature a brand new video of Son Of Suffering. Filmed in collaboration with the show, this affords an incredible opportunity for thousands to not only see the story of Jesus but also hear his heart.
Son Of Suffering is the first release from Redman’s latest album Lamb Of God. Already receiving high praise from listeners worldwide, his response is, as usual, full of humility, he said: “How can these little words and a few chords mean so much? It’s just God’s blessing of music, I guess.”
Lamb Of God will be reviewed by Sue Rinaldi in the next edition of Sorted Magazine.
Listen to Sue Rinaldi’s recent release Ethos V1 on all digital platforms. Spotify – Ethos V1
Marie Curie and supporters including Tom Jones, actress Alison Steadman and Downton Abbey’s Jim Carter are urging the nation to unite for a National Day of Reflection. The aim is to provide a moment to remember loved ones who have died, support those who are grieving, and connect with each other.
The third National Day of Reflection will take place on Thursday 23rd March 2023, and is organised by end-of-life charity Marie Curie. It will see hundreds of public Walls of Reflection go up across the UK where people can gather to reflect on their grief and support those who have been bereaved. A national minute’s silence will be held at midday.
The National Day of Reflection is a one of a kind opportunity to reflect on any death of a loved one, from any cause and at any time. For many it may be the only acknowledgement of their grief and gives everyone permission to take time to reflect and support one another. This year’s day is significant with the deaths of a number of public figures recently, including Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, showing the benefit of uniting in grief as a nation.
Marie Curie is urging schools, workplaces and communities to put up a wall as a place to celebrate the lives of loved ones by sharing memories, photos, poems, music, objects and anything else that connects them to those people. An online toolkit can be downloaded at www.mariecurie.org.uk/dayofreflection with everything needed to prepare for 23rdMarch.
Marie Curie launched the National Day of Reflection in 2021 as a day to remember those who died during the pandemic, and support those whose grief was affected by lockdown. Over 850 organisations took part in 2022, with a number of public figures supporting including His Majesty King Charles III. Now in its third year, a series of new free online events will be held on Saturday 18th March and throughout the day on 23rd March giving people more ways to connect with others.
Events include panel discussions with faith leaders, researchers, and philosophers to discuss themes such as the role faith plays in our relationship with death and the opportunity to view best-selling psychotherapist, Julia Samuel, in conversation with special guests talking about their experience of grief.
Sir Tom Jones OBE shared: “Losing someone you love is devastating – and it’s also something almost all of us have in common. Grief can so often feel very heavy, which is why Marie Curie’s National Day of Reflection is so important. It gives us all a moment in time to come together with our friends and families, to remember and celebrate the people who aren’t with us anymore.”
Marie Curie Ambassador Alison Steadman OBE explained: “I’m supporting Marie Curie’s National Day of Reflection because like most people, I have experienced grief and loss, and I know what it’s like to be alone. It’s absolutely awful, and it’s sad, and we need people to talk to. That’s why this National Day of Reflection is going to be so important for everyone to share their grief, and to be able to talk.”
Marie Curie Ambassador Jim Carter OBE enthused: “I’m so pleased that once again Marie Curie is leading the National Day of Reflection. It’s wonderful seeing people across the UK, from Cornwall to the Highlands of Scotland and everywhere in-between, supporting those who are grieving and remembering those who have died. I firmly believe this Day should become a permanent fixture in our annual calendar, a chance for every one of us to pause, reflect and remember.”
Conspiracy theories seem to be everywhere. Folks can fall for unsubstantiated stories whizzing around on social media without having seen any evidence to back up their belief. Others would say that seeing is believing, and unless there is indisputable evidence they won’t take a risk. Yet what we believe can determine the path we choose and the way we live our lives.
I don’t think it’s that difficult to believe in something we can’t see. We believe that the chair we’re sitting on wont fall apart when we sit on it. Why? Well, we know a thing or two about chairs don’t we? We’ve seen them before, and got some experience of how they work, and we’ve seen others sitting on them and not fall off. We’ve tried some out for ourselves and we trust that the design of the chair won’t let us down.
Someone might have told you that there’s a brilliant film out and you need to see it. They may rattle on about how good it is, and about a special effect that blew them away, or describe a particular moment when the hero had to take courage and head off into the unknown. Maybe it even changed the way they looked at some aspect of life. But if you haven’t seen it yet, unless you see it for yourself, you’ll never fully believe what they’re telling you and it will be difficult to share their enthusiasm.
In many respects, faith is about believing in things we haven’t yet seen. Long ago a man named Paul sent letters to friends who had started to believe certain radical things about faith. Paul wrote this: We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. (Extracted from 2 Cor 4 New Living Translation)
Pressed on every side by troubles. Is that how you feel today? Have faith that things will get better; have faith that you can get up again after being knocked down; faith can help you get beyond the current struggle and believe that it won’t always be like it is right now. There is an unseen story unfolding, have faith to believe it.
The pantry initiative by Ribbleton Parish, based at the Community Centre at Watling Street Road in Brookfield, Preston, was opened by the Mayor of Preston, Councillor Neil Darby (pictured on the left). The Mayor, partners from the council, local housing and schools supported the launch at the parish, along with the new Vicar, Rev Linda Tomkinson and her husband Pete, a Church Army Evangelist.
The pantry is scheduled to be open every Tuesday morning from 10am to noon; creating a community drop-in space providing support. Fresh and tinned food supplies will be available for those in need, with a referral voucher required which can be obtained at the Centre from the church clergy team; from local school headteachers and local councillors.
Pete Tomkinson said: “As well as welcoming the Mayor to perform the opening it was great to have support there from councillors and local housing and school engagement officers, as we all work together to provide a joined-up approach to supporting the needs of our community.
Over the past few months scores of churches across the Diocese have developed new initiatives or built on existing work to support people struggling to put food on the table or heat their homes at this difficult time.
The Diocese has been tracking and promoting these initiatives in a series of news stories and via a website page where we are collating some of the best examples of this work from Blackpool to Burnley and from Morecambe to Chorley and all points between; with more being added all the time.
Powerful aftershocks are shaking Turkey and Syria. Following the 7.8 magnitude earthquake which has left at least 2200 people dead, Help The Persecuted is rushing emergency supplies to those devastated by this disaster.
While their Field Ministry Team travels to Aleppo in Syria to begin coordinating their aid efforts, Help The Persecuted has already released emergency funds to churches on the ground in the city where hundreds of lives have already been lost.
“We heard that one of our staff has lost family members and a young boy and his mother who belonged to an Armenian church have been found dead in the rubble in Aleppo,” explained Help The Persecuted Regional Director Salaam.
He added: “When we spoke to local pastors they told us the greatest need is to keep people warm as they’ve already been hit by extreme winter storms. Our field ministry team members are travelling to the city to begin our emergency aid distributions with the local churches and to provide pastoral care.”
Their team will work closely with partner churches to provide hot meals and shelter to those who lost their homes as well as bedding and heating supplies.
Help The Persecuted CEO and President Joshua Youssef says this earthquake will just add to the crisis sweeping Syria: “After several years of civil war this disaster will just further exacerbate the poverty that many Christians were already facing there. But as we’ve experienced over the years the Syrian people have a very strong resolve and we will do everything we can to stand with the persecuted church and to demonstrate the love of Christ in action.”
Millions of Christians around the world have lost their homes, their livelihoods, and their families to persecution. Many more are forced to evacuate and leave their entire lives behind. When lives hang in the balance, every minute counts. That’s why Help The Persecuted has embedded in the field those who can help Christians in-person at a moment’s notice. Since launching the charity has delivered practical and spiritual support to over 135,000 vulnerable people to address their most urgent needs, including:
•Emergency Safe House housing.
•The provision of food, housing, rent and basic living needs.
•Transportation and relocation expenses to secure a safe environment.
•Establishing small businesses and providing vocational training.
•Construction assistance to rebuild homes and family businesses.
•Medical expenses related to torture or abuse, and vital medications.
•Trauma counselling, therapy and group meetings.
•Pastoral care, discipleship programmes and connections to a local church.
Main photo: Mahmoud Sulaiman via Unsplash
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