TRIED BY FIRE

Date posted: Monday 5th January 2004

The Peruvian human rights lawyer Wuille Ruiz Figueroa was one of the speakers at the 14th International Christian Human Rights Conference, held in London on the 15th of November.

Wuille is head of the legal team at Paz y Esperanza � a non-governmental organisation based in Peru. He represents people who were falsely accused and convicted of terrorism during the reign of former President Alberto Fujimori. He was one such prisoner himself, and spent five years in prison.

�My message to British Christians is that we don�t just look at what�s happening in our local churches,� said Wuille �We should look beyond the walls of our churches and see a world that�s suffering and needs peace; a world that needs justice and the love of God.

�Pray that the Lord will move his children in Peru to work, and for people who have been unjustly imprisoned and are languishing in prison. Your prayers can touch the hearts of the judges and those who are in charge of justice in Peru, so that they open the doors for those who are innocent � and those who are imprisoned because they have done wrong may also find the love of Jesus and be transformed by it. We also need Christians outside of Peru to intercede wit our authorities on behalf of us. Peru itself needs reconciliation � with God, and amongst Peruvians. The violence of the past 20 years has left many open wounds.�

The conference was organised by Christian Solidarity Worldwide and Release International. As well as speaking about the current situation in Peru, Wuille was also promoting a new book, Tried by Fire, which tells the story of Peruvian Christians who have been wrongfully imprisoned.

He said: �Tried By Fire is the collected testimonies of many brothers and sisters in Christ who found themselves unjustly imprisoned � including myself. Each one gives their story from when they were imprisoned and why, their time in prison and what happened afterwards. It�s a book that will really move hearts, but it�s also a challenge to us Christians to pray and do things.

�There�s a renewal and a growth in the Evangelical church in Peru at the moment. And Christians in the Peruvian church committing themselves to preaching the gospel. But not only that; they try to be a living testimony of Christ every day. That�s a promise not just to work within the church, but it�s a compromise with society, and to be alongside those who suffer, in solidarity and the love of Christ.�

written by: GEORGE LUKE (Ex-Stepper)...