During 2019, we’ll be featuring stories from CSW’s 40-year history as a reflection on how God has blessed us in the past, and looking to where he will take us in the future. You’ll hear from many familiar faces and be introduced to some new ones! There’s no better way to begin than by telling some of the story of our Founder and Chief Executive, Mervyn Thomas.
Forty years ago I would never have dreamed that I’d be standing in Speaker’s House in Parliament with the Speaker of the House making a speech about my human rights work – but then again, a lot of the story of CSW has been of God taking us to places we never thought we’d go! From CSW’s very earliest visits to Romania under Ceaușescu’s brutal dictatorship, to our work in Egypt, Nigeria, China and all over the world, I’ve seen God time and again place us (and me!) exactly where we need to be.
An unexpected calling
My own journey with CSW began in the 1970s, when a Swiss organisation held an event in Parliament that inspired an MP friend of mine to invite me along to one of their meetings.
I’d never really considered getting involved in advocating for religious freedom before, but I strongly felt God calling me to set up something that to me looked like a Christian version of Amnesty International, in response to the things I was hearing about the persecution of Christians in Eastern Europe. Once set up, we began reaching out to Christians around the UK to let them know how they could help stand for religious freedom. Criss-crossing the country, I sometimes felt like I was at a different church every weekend!
From the UK to the world
I chaired the board of this new charity until 1999 when I left my ‘day job’ at Sweet’n’Low to become Chief Executive. Since then, CSW has been my full time job and it’s taken me to so many amazing, challenging and inspiring places. I remember a particularly heartbreaking visit to Iraq where I met a young Christian man named Sargon. He was 11 when ISIS overran his hometown of Mosul in August 2014. Though he and his disabled mother tried to hide in their house until the danger had passed, they were found by ISIS fighters and told that they had to convert or be killed. Sargon, on the advice of his mother, pretended to convert to save their lives. Though they were allowed to live, Sargon was forcibly recruited as an ISIS fighter and had to watch the execution of many of his fellow Christians. Though he’s free from ISIS now, neither he nor his mother can return to their hometown, as nobody trusts them. Their story strengthened my resolve to continue working to help heal the wounds left by religious intolerance in Iraq.
Being Chief Executive of CSW has been an enormous challenge but at the same time an incredible blessing. I have met some of the closest friends of my life through this work, and I have had my faith repeatedly challenged and strengthened by my experiences.
The last 40 years have been a true blessing, and I am so excited to see where God will take us in the decades to come.
Read the full story of Mervyn’s work with CSW in his new book, Standing Up, Speaking Out: 40 Years of Fighting Injustice. Order your copy at csw.org.uk/standingup for £10.49 inc. p&p, or call the office on 020 8329 0010.
