“People have come to us of their own free will, knowing that in this country they have freedom to choose their religion and Safe Haven will offer them practical help to find a secure place to live. Many of those who have contacted us have gone to the police to report the threats they have received from Muslim family members and the wider Islamic community but they don’t want to wait until those threats are carried out. They are asking us to protect them now.
“The government has failed to deal with the rise in anti-Christian sentiment. The Church has also at times failed to provide refuge for these brothers and sisters.
“This is something I’ve said for many years: marginalisation is the beginning of persecution… This is something that is presenting itself to us as a nation. We need to try and deal with it now before it gets seriously out of hand.”
Pastor Ade Omooba, Church Leader and Co-Founder of Christian Concern
“We are motivated by a deep sense of love and compassion for those who feel trapped in a situation from which they cannot escape. The penalty for them at best is to be cut off from their family; at worst they face death.
“This is happening not just in Sudan and Nigeria but in London and other cities in the UK. The government has failed to deal with the rise in anti-Christian sentiment. We need more churches and Christians sacrificially to offer welcome, support and safety for those Muslims who want to embrace Jesus Christ.”
Andrea Williams, Chief Executive of Christian Concern