GROUND-BREAKING VIDEO NEWS ON THE PERSECUTED CHURCH LAUNCHED |
| May 08 2006 |
| Postings >> Press Release |
Release International has launched a ground-breaking regular news bulletin on the persecuted church. The broadcast-quality webcast features video reports and stories from across the world and takes human rights reporting to a new level.
World Update on the Persecuted Church represents a major step forward in the way the suffering church is reported and how Christian charities present themselves. 'At last we can both see and hear the authentic stories of the persecuted church wherever and whenever we want,' says Andy Dipper, the CEO of Release International.
'This empowers suffering Christians to look the world in the eye and describe in their own words exactly what they are going through. Their stories are powerful and humbling. From now on the whole world will be watching - and can act.'
World Update has been produced using cutting-edge multimedia techniques, including colourful motion backgrounds on a global theme, picture-in-picture graphics and news bulletin-style tickertapes. It brings together all the latest multimedia technology to offer video-on-demand.
Release International, which serves the persecuted Church in 30 countries, hopes the webcast will bring together the Christian family worldwide. By capturing the imagination with powerful visuals and solid reportage it aims to persuade Christians to pray and campaign on behalf of their brothers and sisters who are suffering for their faith.
'The church in free nations has much to learn from the faith and courage of the church in chains,' says Andy Dipper.
He also sees the webcast as a major step forward in the way charities present themselves to their supporters in this new era of video-on-demand. He adds: 'It is great to see Christians leading the way in this important new field.'
The first of the regular monthly webcasts highlights the plight of Christians in Eritrea who are being tortured and imprisoned. And it includes footage from Vietnam where the last of the Mennonite Six has finally been set free.
The Mennonite Christians were targeted by the Vietnamese authorities and brutally treated. One was driven to the point of insanity behind bars and another was crippled. The first edition of the webcast also features reports on Pakistan, China and India.
World Update on the Persecuted Church is eight minutes long and can be watched on www.releaseinternational.org/webcast. Discussions are also taking place with Christian broadcasters to screen the programme over the airways and a radio version is also being planned.
