Ministry Spokesman Says Reporting About Persecuted Christians is Not Enough

Jan 02, 2004 11:53 AM EST

A spokesman for a leading Christian ministry said a few words about bringing end to persecution in concern of widespread religious oppression across the world. "Even though religious freedom is a universal right recognized by international law and religious traditions the world over, millions of people in scores of countries do no enjoy this right, end this report tells their story," Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage says.



But Todd Nettleton of Voice of the Martyrs, an interdenominational organization, which has been working with Christians in more than 40 countries around the world to help persecuted Christians, says his organization has known about worldwide religious oppression for a long time. "this is not news to us," he notes.



Although Nettleton notes that reporting about persecution is good and he appreciates that the government is taking a stand to point out religious oppression around the world but he says just telling people about oppression is not enough."It's one thing to say, 'Hey, this is happening.' It's another thing to work constructively to make it stop happening," he says.



"Out government is making an attempt to hold some of these governments accountable for the way they treat Christians," Nettleton says, "and obviously that's good thing. What needs to happen, though -- what we really want to see -- are more results."



Nettleton encourages Christians around the world to look over the persecuted Church financially supporting ministries that are working in oppressive regimes.