Premier Christian Media based in London, UK, has told the ASSIST News Service that it has joined the Ephesus Initiative which it describes as “a groundbreaking global program designed to equip and empower persecuted Christians worldwide.”

Premier Christian Media (www.premier.org.uk) told ANS that it has been monitoring the current situation in the UK for the past three years in relation to the increasing “marginalization of Christians in public life – which particularly came to public attention during the Pope’s visit in September this year.”

Peter Kerridge, Chief Executive of Premier Christian Media, said: “The marginalization of Christians in the UK and abroad has been a growing concern for us. From the recent deaths of Christians in Iraq to the individual cases of work place discrimination arising in the UK, we have always been committed to protecting the interests of Christians in public life.

“Our last campaign Faith without Fear, in partnership with the Open Doors charity helped to highlight the plight of thousands of persecuted Indian Christians in Orissa, India. Most recently our Freedom of the Cross campaign emphasizes our own struggle to fight for the presence of a Christian Voice in British public life.

“We are very pleased to work with the Ephesus Initiative (www.theephesusinitiative.com) and are excited to see what impact this partnership can achieve.”

The initiative brings together a number of leading voices that advocate on behalf of the persecuted church across the world including leading Barrister Franklin Evans and Mervyn Thomas, chief executive of Christian Solidarity Worldwide. Taylor University, one of the oldest and most highly respected evangelical Christian colleges in America is also part of the Ephesus Initiative.

Dr. Nicholas Kerton-Johnson, who leads the project’s operations said: “There are currently around 200 million Christians suffering persecution around the world with many more discriminated against and marginalized. In fact around 70% of the world’s population live in countries that have high restrictions on religious freedom. We want to bring this situation to light and are grateful Premier Christian Media have joined us on this mission.

Their presence will be invaluable in helping us to raise awareness and galvanize support amongst the Christian community in the UK and beyond.”

For more information please contact:
Kemi Bamgbose at Kemi.Bamgbose@Premier.org.uk