The CEO of Release International, a UK-based Christian ministry supporting the persecuted church around the world, will carry a cross to the top of England’s highest mountain in June in solidarity with those suffering for the gospel.
The Light Walk Challenge, which involves scaling Scafell Pike through the night, relates to Release’s 2026 theme, “Light in the Darkest Places.”
“Our brothers and sisters are carrying burdens that we can’t even imagine, so taking the time to inconvenience ourselves by doing the Light Walk Challenge as a group feels like a meaningful expression of our solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Christ, who suffer for the gospel yet remain faithful to Him,” said Paul Robinson, who has headed up the interdenominational ministry since 2012. “Carrying the cross up Scafell Pike is a way of saying that we are trying to share in their burdens.” Robinson will be joined on the climb by 21 supporters, who will pray at various points as they ascend the mountain together. Planning to set off at 1 a.m. on the 14th of June, the hikers hope to reach the summit for sunrise.
“Just last night, I was with a brother from Nigeria, and someone asked him how the church in the UK might best support persecuted Christians in that country,” Robinson told en. “I was genuinely blown away by his response: ‘Probably the best way you can encourage us in Nigeria is to not compromise the gospel that we are dying for’.”
