Christians Against Torture

Ararat Christians Against Torture – working on the big questions

 

The group normally meets at 7.00 p.m. on the first Monday of the month, and arranges other events during the year. We welcome everyone. Details from Elizabeth Jenkins (029 2062 7431).

 

Headline news of world events often seems overwhelming. What can we make of it? How should we pray? What might we do?

In the Ararat Christians Against Torture group we try to explore the issues together.

  • Our central work has always been opposing torture and supporting its survivors. For more than 30 years we have written, campaigned and prayed for prisoners in many countries. We have particular concern for persecuted Christians, but work for people of all faiths and none – in recent years challenging our own government and the US over Guantanamo Bay.
  • We believe that a world without torture is what God intends. This invariably gets us thinking widely.
    • In a typical meeting, we share items which have moved or puzzled or challenged us during the previous month – a radio or television programme, a report in a newspaper or magazine, a book or a new film. The subjects might range from stories about asylum seekers, refugees and child labourers, to the use of cluster bombs, reactions to terrorism, arguments for a ‘just war’, or the judicial system in the UK.
  • We usually begin with prayer and reflection on one of the many passages of scripture related to our concerns. Sometimes we use material written by a prisoner, or by someone whose experience of conflict or other suffering offers valuable insight.
  • We certainly don’t pretend to have all the answers, but we try to reflect in light of our understanding of the God revealed in Jesus.
  • At the end of each evening we bring it all together, naming each person and situation in prayers of intercession.