Solidarity


And whether one member suffereth, all the members suffer with it;
or one member is honored,
all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of christ.
(1 Co 12,26-27)


For more than 25 years, the ecumenical organisation CSI Austria (Christian Solidarity International) tries to help Christians in all parts of the earth. Our work is based on making Christian Persecution known in the public and specifically helping Christians under persecution using all means possible such as: Petitions, founding local groups, cooperating with humanitarian- and church organisations, protest marches, and “Mahnwachen”. In addition to that we organise our traditional silent protest march in the week before easter.
The cases CSI is most active in are those, where Christians are persecuted due to his religious belief or his belonging to a Christian minority. The work of CSI also sees itself as preventive in its attempt to indicate any threats to the freedom of religion and religious communities before people are hurt.
Through the engagemement for suppressed and persecuted christians of different denominations we have experienced a growing spiritual bond in the name of Jesus Christ. The interdenominational Element is one of the most central characteristics of CSI. With the involvement of all christian Churches and the abandonment of preferential treatment for any denominations. In addition to that, CSI tries to evade any dogmatic issues that can possibly be seen as controversial by different denominations. Seeing that people of all denominations suffer under being Christians, lets us forget about the differences between denominations. “If you have experienced what Christian Brotherhood is, you will see Christians in other churches as brothers and sisters that must not be left alone in their suffering. We have to be thankful for their testimonies!“ DDr. Paul Weß, Member of the Bord of CSI Austria points out.

The planning and acting out of joint ventures with other Human rights organisations is also an important characteristic of the work of CSI. One of these cooperations is the so called “Candle of Hope” that is created together with Amnesty international in Austria. In cooperation with many Churches in Austria and a few in Germany the two organisations point to the suffering of people that are persecuted for their faith, ethnical backround or sex. Together with placing the candles in Churches to encourage prayer we also use them to collect letters of protest.
Mag. Werner Frühwirth, Executive secretary of CSI Austria, sees the regular Prayer as an immensely important part of his work. Praying together, leaving the bounderies of denominations behind will be true to the commission in Hebrews 13,3 (Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; them that are illtreated as being yourselves also in the body) constitutes the basis of CSI. We have many a time received “thank you” notes from imprisoned Christians telling us that they have felt our prayer carrying them through their suffering. Our prayer should not exclusively be for the persecuted though, but also for the persecutors since we do not want to condemn them, but forgive them in the name of Jesus.
Generally CSI wants to strengthen the Christian faith through telling about persecution. “Examples of a living faith can help people find a way out of their own faith crisis!” Author of the book “CSI - living Christianity: Engagement for Human Rights” and former CSI activist Barbara C. Steinrück a former activist is convinced.
“More then we in the west that we are used to a freedom of faith, the suppressed Christians long for freedom and peace to live their faith. And more than I am able to give to them, they give to me in return.” Father Jakob Förg MSC one of the founders of CSI explains.

Woche 34: Imam ruft zu Dschihad auf – 11 verletzte Christen

Am 13. August rief der Imam des ägyptischen Dorfes Shimi, Sheikh Tobah, zum Djihad gegen die ortsansässigen Christen auf. An zwei aufeinanderfolgenden Tagen wurden Christen angegriffen. Elf Kopten mussten ins Krankenhaus gebracht werden. Viele koptische Jugendliche wurden verhaftet. ...
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