Throughout our years of ministry, we’ve always talked about our mission to keep the doors open for the gospel. Not until this year had we imagined that that mission would become so literal. The church and its leaders face challenges that we have not seen in many years – and they are taking us back to the darker moments of European history.
Canon Tom White, missionary David Byle, Bishop Juhana Pohjola, Pastor Tonchev, and Father David Palmer each have a unique calling. Each live in very different countries and circumstances. They’ve never met.
But they do all have one thing in common: they are faith leaders who have been forbidden to speak about or practise their faith in public. This year, more than ever, the threat to free speech has arrived at the Church’s front door. Now is the time to stand together.
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David ByleISTANBUL
Pastor TonchevPastor Kiryakov BOURGAS
Father David PalmerNOTTINGHAM
When Father David Palmer’s tweets about life from conception came to light, the University of Nottingham to which he had been nominated as student chaplain rejected him. Thankfully, with support from our team and the Free Speech Union, we were able to see that decision reversed.
From local courts all the way to the highest international institutions, together we can keep the doors open for the gospel. Your generosity enabled us to support Canon Tom, David Byle, Bishop Pohjola, Pastor Tonchev, and Father Palmer. Together we can protect the fundamental freedoms of many more to help all people access the much-needed message of hope. Thank you for standing with us.
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From local courts all the way to the highest international institutions, together we can keep the doors open for the gospel. Your generosity enabled us to support Canon Tom, David Byle, Bishop Pohjola, Pastor Tonchev and Father Palmer. Together we can protect the fundamental freedoms of many more to help all people access the much-needed message of hope. Thank you for standing with us.
By loading the video, you agree to YouTube's privacy policy.
Learn more
Delegates from all over the globe were present at the 2023 International Religious Freedom Summit in Washington, DC over the last two days.
It was exactly one year ago, on a cold, dark winter evening in January 2022, when Paul Coleman arrived in Helsinki for the modern-day heresy trial of Finnish MP Dr. Päivi Räsänen and Bishop Juhana Pohjola.
The European Parliament has condemned “in strong terms the enforcement of blasphemy laws” and stressed the importance of the “freedom to choose one’s religion”.
A 2022 Report on human rights and democracy in the world and the European Union’s policy on the matter draws particular attention to the death penalty in alleged blasphemy cases.
In March 2023, Canada will expand its already shockingly broad MAiD, or Medical Assistance in Dying, law, to make death-on-demand available to Canadians—including so-called ‘mature minors’—suffering from mental illness.
Video emerges of charity volunteer Isabel Vaughan-Spruce arrested and charged for a silent prayer “thought crime” in UK. ADF International is supporting Isabel as part of a wider campaign to challenge censorship zone legislation.
ADF International attorneys have filed a petition with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights on behalf of Mexican Congressman Gabriel Quadri.
