Dear reader,
Silent Saturday
Today is silent Saturday. A day to become silent. To let you realize that our guilt is borne by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Yesterday, during the Good Friday service, Psalm 69, in which the suffering of the Lord Jesus is so deeply described, was introduced with the 'Erbarme dich' from the Matthaüs Passion. During the meeting in New Jersey on 'threats to religious freedom' on March 15, it was discussed WHY those threats exist. Our board member John Van Der Brink rightly notes that this is a consequence of our personal and national sins. We have no choice but cry out with Peter, who betrayed Jesus: 'Erbarme dich, mein Got' (Have mercy on me, my God).
Support base
In addition to the regular work at international organizations, the past quarter was also devoted to informing our supporters about the work of CCI. Various events took place in the US, Canada and the Netherlands. Thanks to Gerrit Rozendaal from Chilliwack, BC, we are investigating whether CCI can also be established in Canada.
UN Fellowship New York and Geneva
Since this year, CCI has something new: the opportunity for students and other interested parties to become acquainted with CCI's field of work. Our representative in the US, Mark den Hollander, organized a week for his fellow students from Hillsdale College (Michigan) in New York around the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68). A parallel conference co-organized by CCI, the Conference on the State of Women and Families (CSWF), was also held there. Read more about the students' involved stories in the newsletter.
Peter Smith followed the CSW68 online for us, see his report.
A group of interested people from the Netherlands left for the UN in Geneva, which provided valuable insights. We were allowed to have one of the participants, Wilmer Hak, law student, speak during a hearing in Geneva(!).
Africa
Despite the ideological battle that prevails, CCI will continue to stand up for Life, Family and Freedom in the treaties between the EU and the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries. The team in Africa will soon be expanded.
Read this and more in our newsletter.
May 3 and 4 Päivi Räsänen
You are cordially invited to attend one of our events in Gouda and Urk regarding: the arrival of the persecuted Päivi Räsanen to the Netherlands.
Easter
Tomorrow we hope to remember that Jesus rose from the dead. This allows us to approach the future, which we sometimes view bleakly when we see what is coming our way, with hope.
We wish you Blessed Easter!
On behalf of the CCI team,
Henk Jan van Schothorst
Director Christian Council International