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.
Get Involved! Sign Up to Receive Updates:
"*" indicates required fields
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.
By loading the video, you agree to YouTube's privacy policy.
Learn more
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
Christian was at risk of losing his license to practice psychology, among other sanctions.
More Christians were killed in Nigeria in 2021 than in the rest of the world combined.
“The censorship of academic speech is dangerous for us all. Silencing students and professors stunts free thinking. When free speech is shut down in schools, a domino effect ensues,” writes Elyssa Koren.
The Autonomous University of Baja California (UABC) responded to complaints against recent graduate, Christian Cortez Pérez, with formal proceedings to ban him from practicing psychology. A group of professors has called on the University to silence and sanction Christian because of the content of his graduation speech.
The European Court of Human Rights has found inadmissible an application by Fondation Jérôme Lejeune claiming that the French Broadcasting Council’s designation of a Down syndrome video as not “a message of general interest” constituted unjust censorship. The Court’s failure to condemn the French authority’s treatment of Down syndrome voices stands in stark contrast to recent national decisions in Europe upholding freedom of expression.
“Every human life is valuable and deserves protection. I am heartened that we will be able to resume our prayer vigils in support of women and their unborn children in the place where we think it makes the most sense. It is a great relief that the court has recognized our fundamental freedoms,” said Pavica Vojnović.
