Press Release
30 May 2008

25,000 GREAT BIG TEA PARTYGOERS POUR OUT THEIR SUPPORT FOR PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS WORLDWIDE

An estimated 25,000 people will pour out their support this weekend as part of Open Doors Great Big Tea Party to raise awareness of Christians suffering around the world as a result of their faith. In homes and churches from Torquay to Edinburgh, Belfast to Felixstowe, on Sunday 8 June, partygoers at over 800 venues will sip tea, eat scones and pledge their support. This initiative is the brainchild of Oxford-based charity Open Doors, which provides training, practical support and encouragement to persecuted Christians in over 45 countries worldwide.

Persecution today is on an epic scale: right now, 200 million Christians are suffering for their faith in countries as widespread as Iran and Burma, Colombia and Indonesia. Persecution takes many forms and can be as simple as not being able to obtain Christian literature and bans on holding church services, through to hardcore physical, sexual and emotional abuse, forcing believers to live secret lives underground.

In China, the largest tea producer in the world and host of the 2008 Olympic Games, millions of Christians are persecuted every day. Although citizens can now choose their own careers, travel abroad, own a car and establish a business, Christians cannot legally hold a prayer meeting in a private home, share a church service with foreign Christians or receive religious education under the age of 18.

By putting on the kettle at the Great Big Tea Party, Christians in the UK and Ireland will be raising thousands of pounds for persecuted Christians in China and around the world, providing them with Bibles and Christian literature, training, financial and practical help, and livelihood skills to enable them to live out their God-given right to practise their faith.

Allen Moxham, head of communications at Open Doors, said: "165 million cups of tea are drunk in the UK every day, but few people realise that Christians in countries such as China, India and Sri Lanka, where tea is produced, often face intense persecution from their families, communities and even government officials. We hope the Great Big Tea Party is a case of 'information becoming inspiration' to take action."

Open Doors UK
01993 885 400
www.opendoorsuk.org/teaparty