Save Saeed- Yellow Envelopes to Secretary of State John Kerry CAMPAIGN Begins!
The Yellow Envelope Project to Secretary of State, John Kerry begins tomorrow!
A supporter of Saeed, Lissa Bales came up with a great way to help this American pastor and keep pressure on our government to step up and act on his behalf!
We will send yellow envelopes to John Kerry urging him to work and do what he can as a government official, to free Saeed. The goal is to send as many yellow envelopes on March 1st, and then on the 1st of every month after, until his release from Iran. Prayer is still the MOST important thing we can do, but we can pray to God and also request that OUR government do what they can. If using a yellow envelope is not possible, you can add the color yellow using a crayon, highlighter, or paint.
Please join us in being Saeed’s VOICE! Stand up for your brother and send in your YELLOW ENVELOPES!
Send to:
Attn. John F. Kerry
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20520
To learn more about Saeed Abedini, an American Pastor wrongfully imprisoned in Iran CLICK HERE
A Wife’s Perspective: Nightmare of a Husband and Father Imprisoned in Iran
by Naghmeh Abedini:
It has been 9 months since Saeed kissed the little foreheads of our children as he said his goodbyes early in the morning of June 22, 2012. Nine months since Daddy sung to them and tucked them into bed, and 9 months since I embraced my husband as we said our goodbyes, thinking at the time we would be separated only a few weeks, as he returned to Iran to continue work on building an orphanage. Maybe if I knew what was to unfold, I would have held him a little longer, talked a little longer?
It has been 5 months, since the frantic phone call that woke me up in the middle of the night, telling me of the horrific way my husband was taken—5 revolutionary guards, raiding the house and taking him, not knowing where he was or what had happened to him—5 long months. Maybe, that is why still to this day, I suddenly wake up frantic in the middle of the night; I turnover only to find Saeed’s empty spot, only to find that the nightmare is not over yet, only to discover that this nightmare will not be over any time soon.
It has been 1 month, to the day, since Saeed was given his 8-year sentence because of his Christian faith. I know deep in my heart that unless we speak out and fight for him, Saeed might not survive the 8 years in that horrific prison, especially because he continues to face continued abuse and death threats.
This nightmare exists because Saeed refuses to deny Christ. He is standing up for what he believes. Are we going to stand up with him? Are we going to be a voice for him when the Iranian government is doing all it can to silence him?
How many more nights am I to hold my weeping children as they ask me to tell them stories of how Daddy used to hold them when they were born; how he used to play with them, kiss them, and hold them each night before he tucked them into bed? How many more times must I hold back my tears as I sing the worship songs he used to sing to them, as they beg me to sing like Daddy did because they are trying desperately to hold on to the memories of their daddy.
Over the last month, I have pondered over and over how I will ever explain to my children that Daddy has been given 8 years in a horrific prison and we don’t even know if he will survive . . . one month; 31 days; 744 hours; 44,640 minutes; 2,678,400 seconds.
During this nightmare, I lean on the promise in Scripture that “We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.” (II Corinthians 4:8-9 NKJV)
Ultimately, God is in control and He controls governments and situations for His Glory. There is nothing Saeed and I desire more than to die to ourselves and allow Christ to shine through to this dying world. That He would be glorified in all of this and many would come to know the saving Grace of Jesus. Our trust is in the Lord, and He is carrying us through this nightmare and drawing us closer to Him. But I also believe that the Lord is using our prayers, and the political, social media, and other efforts to bring us together as the Body of Christ. He promises to turn all this for His Glory. This nightmare and the plea for my husband’s life should cross religious and political barriers. It should grip all human beings at our heart’s core, motivating us to do what is right, to stand up for someone whose human rights are being violated. While Saeed doesn’t have a voice to sing to his children, we each have a voice for his freedom; we can make a difference
*Naghmeh Abedini is the wife of imprisoned American Pastor Saeed Abedini, a U.S. citizen. She resides with their two young children in Idaho. The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), which represents Naghmeh and the children, is at the forefront of a global effort to secure Pastor Saeed’s freedom. You can join hundreds of thousands of others in signing the petition to #SaveSaeed at SaveSaeed.org.
Persecution News Weekly Update February 25, 2013
Strengthening the Underground Church in Somalia (February 14, 2013) The Christian community of Somalia is one of the most persecuted and secretive populations in the world. Because of intense levels of persecution, it is estimated that the numbers of Christians in Somalia may be as little as 550 individuals. Most are forced to worship at clandestine Bible studies conducted at the homes of other believers. Living in a failed state and in a society that is openly hostile towards Christians, underground churches are in desperate need of educated leaders, Bibles in the Somali language and other basic Christian resources. READ MORE
Saudi Hypocrisy at Its Best (February 14, 2013) Few things offer surreal experiences as when Islam and the West interact—when 7th century primordialism encounters 21st century relativism. Consider the issue of “interfaith dialogue.” In principle, it is a decent thing: Christians, Jews, Muslims, and others trying to reach a common ground and professing mutual respect. But what does one make of the gross contradictions that emerge when a human-rights violating nation calls for “dialogue,” even as it enforces religious intolerance on its own turf? Enter Saudi Arabia. Birthplace of Islam, the Arabian kingdom is also the one Muslim nation that regularly sponsors interfaith initiatives in the West—even as its official policy back home is to demonize and persecute the very faiths it claims to want to have an interfaith dialogue with. READ MORE
- July 2008 – A historic interfaith dialogue conference was initiated by King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia to solve world problems through concord instead of conflict. The conference was attended by religious leaders of different faiths such as Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Taoism and was hosted by King Juan Carlos of Spain in Madrid. Source
- KAICIID Dialogue Centre – King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue, globally known by its abbreviation: KAICIID, is a controversial but uniquely empathic non-governmental, not-for-profit worldwide organization founded in October 2011 by King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. Accordingly, the Republic of Austria and the Kingdom of Spain are also backing the Centre with the aim of keeping KAICIID free from all political interference and influence. Source (Does this not send up red flags for you?)
Two More Churches Hit in Makassar Molotov Cocktail Attacks (February 14, 2013) Police in Makassar, South Sulawesi, are standing guard outside churches after would-be arsonists hit two more churches in a second wave of attacks early Thursday morning. Unknown assailants hurled homemade molotov cocktails at the South Sulawesi Indonesian Christian Church (GKI) and the Toraja Klassis Makassar Church Panakkukang Congregation in a pair of coordinated 4 a.m. attacks. Both churches suffered fire damage in the attempted fire bombings, police said. READ MORE
BAHRAIN: Sentenced to two years in prison for advocating and exercising the right to peaceful assembly (February 14, 2013)
A Deafening Silence? (CSW) Mervyn Thomas’s blog series on the role of the Americas in combating global religious persecution. This week I’m looking at Congressman Frank Wolf’s uncompromising challenge to Church Leaders in the West. “Have we in the West ceased to be salt and light? Has our comfort led to complacency?“ These words were still ringing in my ears when I visited Frank Wolf on Capitol Hill this week. His recent letter to hundreds of Protestant and Catholic leaders is an impassioned plea to Western churches to speak up on behalf of those millions around the world who suffer because of their faith.“God forgive all of us who called ourselves Christians and yet did nothing to intervene.”
He quotes a story from the book When A Nation Forgets God by Erwin Lutzer, a German Christian. Lutzer recounted how the trains taking Jews to death camps would pass by his church every Sunday during the Holocaust. “Their screams tormented us,” he wrote, “but … what could anyone do to stop it? We knew the time the train was coming and when we heard the whistle blow we began singing hymns. By the time the train came past our church we were singing at the top of our voices. If we heard the screams, we sang more loudly and soon we heard them no more. Years have passed and no one talks about it anymore. But I still hear that train whistle in my sleep. God forgive me; forgive all of us who called ourselves Christians and yet did nothing to intervene.” READ MORE
We ask prayers for Alfonso Murillo, a pastor in northern Colombia who has received death threats from illegalarmed groups, forcing him to flee for three months. Recently he returned home; however, the threats have continued. The pastor has reported these threats to government authorities and requested protection, which the authorities have not granted him. He approached Open Doors Colombia requesting protection. We ask prayers for his protection and protection for his family.
Religious persecution, rape still evident in Kachin State- Sixty-six Christian churches have been burnt down in Kachin state since the conflict erupted in June 2011, according to the Kachin Women’s Association of Thailand (KWAT), a figure that is backed by Myitkyina-based Kachin Baptist Convention. Speaking at a seminar at Chiang Mai University on Friday, Julia Marip of KWAT said that the burning of churches by Myanmar government forces amounts to religious persecution. lso on Friday, a group of Roman Catholic bishops in Kachin State called for peace. ccording to website CatholicCulture, spokesman Bishop Francis Daw Tang of Myitkyina said, “As a church, we walk with our displaced people, watch their lives being destroyed by war, their families fragmented by the depressing life in the displaced camps.” He accused government forces were waging “unequal warfare” on Christian holy days.
Kwat’s Marip said there are now 100,000 people displaced by the conflict in Kachin State, 60,000 of whom are sheltered at the Sino-Myanmar border or other areas under Kachin rebel control, and 40,000 in areas under government control. Marip said her organization had continuing evidence of systematic rape by Myanmar troops against Kachin and other ethnic women. She said KWAT had recorded 30 incidents where 64 women or girls had been sexually assaulted in Kachin State since the conflict began. “But there could be many more cases that we have not been able to document,” she said, explaining that NGOs were unable to make contact with many rural areas and villages under government control. “Half of those women raped were killed afterward,” she said. SOURCE
German Christians May Face Jail Time for Homeschooling Children – Homeschooling Not a Fundamental Right, Justice Dept. Argues. ICC Note: In an unusual case an evangelical German family that fled to the United States. READ MORE
Libya: Christians arrested and allegedly tortured for proselytizing- Arrests continue of Christians accused of proselytizing in Libya, with a total of seven now known to be in custody including one reported to have been tortured, sources said.
Four expatriate Christians in the eastern coastal town of Benghazi were arrested on Feb. 10, accused of proselytizing. Libya’s Preventative Security Unit arrested the Egyptian, South African, Korean and dual Swedish-American Christians, who have yet to be officially charged. On Feb. 13, Preventative Security officers picked up two more Egyptian Christians, and another Egyptian Christian was arrested by Feb. 16, sources said. All the detainees were being held in Benghazi. It was unclear what led to their arrests. Peventative Security spokesman Hussein Bin Hmeid said in a statement to Reuters that the four Christians originally arrested were printing books calling for conversion to Christianity. He said the country is 100 percent Muslim and that proselytizing “affects our national security.” READ MORE
Last summer, we learned that Christian children from poor tribal areas in the mountains of Bangladesh were being trafficked from their homes and sold to Islamic Training Centers (madrassas…) in various cities. As news was released about the rescue of the first 19 children, whom ICC now cares for, families began to come forward asking for help finding their missing children. They thought they were sending their children to Christian schools in the city, but as an ICC partner investigated it became apparent that upwards of 300 children were told that same lie and are now suffering in madrassas around Bangladesh. In addition to the first 19 rescued, ICC, its partners, and the communities are joined together to build a safe hostel for 100 children to live. As of now, the first 90 have arrived. Plans are already being discussed to build safe hostels for others to go to once they are rescued. In these hostels, the children have their daily needs met, receive Christian spiritual education, and go to school. They are free, happy, healthy and have a bright future in front of them.Accused of worshipping “Wrong God” couple loses 14 adopted children- (BarnabasAid) A Christian couple in Russia have had their 14 adopted children removed by the authorities, in a case that bears the marks of religious discrimination. Although Ilya Yaroslavkin, a church pastor, and his wife Lubov have won awards and been praised for their exceptional care, local authorities accused them of worshipping “the wrong god” and following “unintelligible church traditions”. The couple’s children were removed from their schools on 12 September 2012 without being able to say goodbye to their parents. Pray for this family, which has been so cruelly torn apart. Ask that the Lord will comfort Ilya and Lubov and their children as they endure this separation, and that the decision will be overturned so that the family can be reunited. SOURCE
Tanzania Too: Christians Threatened with Islamist Violence on Easter- Tanzania is the latest in a growing number of African countries to be struggling with escalating Islamist terror. In this country of 45 million people, over 60 percent of whom are Christian, church leaders are the canaries in the coalmine. On Sunday, 55-year-old Catholic priest Father Evarist Mushi was shot dead by assailants on a motorcycle in front of Zanzibar’s St. Joseph’s Cathedral just before Sunday morning Mass. According to the Pontifical news agency Fides, local bishops and priests received a message claiming responsibility from a group calling itself “Muslim Renewal.” READ MORE
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A Hindu Who Converted To Christianity Gunned Down For His Faith By Muslim- Pakistan Lahore: On February 16, 2013, a 45 year old Christian man, Roshan Masih was murdered after a trivial disagreement on faith with a Muslim, Sohail Akhtar. Twenty years ago Roshan Masih(Hindu name Lal Ram) had migrated from Metro Basti Tehsil Fortabas, Behawal Nagar and settled in Lahore after accepting Jesus Christ. He was living at Jughian Asam Town in Lahore. READ MORE
“I ask that you don’t forget to pray for us.We need your prayers.”
He says, Boko haram has now divided. The first is controlled by (Sheikh Shakarau, (NORTH DIVISION). The second, he can’t confirm the leader, IS TRYING TO ADVANCE TO THE SOUTH. They’re involved in kidnapping of foreigners in Bauchi (NORTH). They attac…k the JTF going to Mali (at KOGI). Their aim is to spread their tentacles to unaffected areas, and the SOUTHWEST is their first thought)…..Brethren, Are we going to be watching these EVILs break into our house before we can Pray for Help? Here in the North, every Sunday is a (RED-DAY). Though there’s no bombing of churches for the past 3 weeks, they break into one’s house and kill people. “On Sundays, very few people can stand up with Faith to go to Church”.I’M PRAYING THAT THESE THINGS WILL NOT HAPPEN IN THE SOUTH. WE NEED GOD’S HELP!
Psalms 121 says
“I will lift up my eyes unto the Hills, from whence cometh my (OUR) HELP.
My (Our) help comes from the LORD, which made heaven and the earth.
He will not suffer thy foot to be Moved; he that Keepeth thee will not slumber.
Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD is thy keeper; the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.
The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
The LORD shall preserve thee from all Evil; he shall preserve thy soul.
The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time Forth, and even for evermore.”Amen
Saeed Abedini’s Letter from Inside Iran’s Evin Prison
In a rare event, American Pastor Saeed Abedini was recently able to write a letter to his family and all those in support of him. In the letter, he describes the brutal treatment and pressure he’s enduring at the notorious Evin prison in Iran.
He has now been imprisoned for close to 5 months. He describes the pain of not being able to see his family, physical and psychological abuse, humiliation and the bullyng by extremist and others incarcerated within the prison. In one incident, he was attacked by an inmate for singing praise and worship songs.
In his latest letter, Saeed says he is still being threatened with death. He also confirms the torture and mental abuse continues, as means to make him recant his faith in Christ. This, he says he will never do. He wrote:
“They are only waiting for one thing…for me to deny Christ, but they will never get this from me.”
“It is during these harsh conditions, that I deeply need God’s Saving Grace so that I can be the fragrant scent of Christ in the dark house of Evin prison.”
He will continue to be exposed daily to this cruel treatment, while serving an 8 year sentenced in this horrible prison. Pastor Saeed, an American citizen, is being forced to undergo some of the most horrific conditions imaginable.
Heartbroken by his letter, Naghmeh says:
It is heart wrenching to hear of Saeed’s continued abuse and torture in the Iranian prison. We have known for some time that he is facing physical and psychological abuse. Now our worst fears have been confirmed. He continues to face life-threatening abuse at the hands of the Iranian officials simply because of his faith in Jesus. These are the dreadful conditions he will continue to face as he serves his lengthy prison sentence in Iran. Saeed is an American citizen who is being pressured and falsely promised freedom if only he will deny his faith in Jesus. We have seen this tactic used in the past. Saeed will never recant his faith in Jesus – even if it means continued torture and abuse. Our primary concern is for his health and well-being with each passing day. We know that while he is very weak physically, Saeed is strong in his faith. His situation is dire and with the continued abuse and death threats, we are not sure how long Saeed will survive these horrendous conditions in prison. The most important thing we can do is pray, continue to raise awareness of his case and continue to work for his freedom.
WE MUST STAND UP for this 32-year-old U.S. citizen, loving father of two, devoted husband, and committed pastor.
WE MUST BE HIS VOICE! Sign the international petition for his freedom at SaveSaeed.org. Please share this link and ask and encourage all you know to SIGN! Ask them to also share with others. We are still short of the 300,000 signatures needed by March! As Christians let’s show the world how we care and will stand in with our brothers and sisters! Let’s show the world the LOVE of CHRIST in us! To those outside of America, we need your signatures too!
Saeed’s Letter – February 18, 2013
Writing from my heart.
My Dear Friends,
The conditions here get so very difficult that my eyes get blurry, my body does not have the strength to walk, and my steps become very weak and shaky.
Various (bullying) groups, the psychological warfare, a year of not seeing my family, physical violence, actions committed to humiliate me, insults, being mocked, being confronted with extremists in the prison who create another prison within the prison walls, and the death threats…
It is interesting that because I am a Christian pastor, I am carefully watched. I am expected to smile at them despite what is being done and to understand why they are doing all of these things. But, of course, I can clearly see what is going on and because I want to serve God, I see all of these difficulties as golden opportunities and great doors to serve. There are empty containers who are thirsty for a taste of the Living Water and we can quench their thirst by giving them Jesus Christ. Maybe you are also in such a situation, so pray and seek God that He would use you and direct you in the pressures and difficulties of your lives.
There are those who are enemies of the Living Bible and do not want to hear. They are trying to put me under such horrific pressures (that are sometimes unbearable) so that they can show me that my faith is empty and not real. And after all of these pressures, after all of the nails they have pressed against my hands and feet, they are only waiting for one thing…for me to deny Christ. But they will never get this from me. This is why the Bible is Truth and they are in the way of destruction.
There is another group who does not know the Gospel of Truth. Instead of truly listening and meditating on God’s Word, they are just waiting to see how I react to all of their pressures and persecution. What will come out of me during these intense times? But again, this is another golden opportunity for me to shine the light of Christ in this dark world and to let God to use me.
Yesterday when I was singing worship songs, the head of my cell room attacked me in order to stop me from praising but in response I hugged him and showed him love. He was shocked.
It is during these harsh conditions, that I deeply need God’s Saving Grace so that I can be the fragrant scent of Christ in the dark house of Evin prison. I have often seen the Shining Morning Star in the darkness of this prison and I have seen His amazing and supernatural works. Oh, how beautiful is seeing the light of the Shining Morning Star of Christ in such evil darkness.
So:
See your golden opportunities in pressures and difficulties.
See the Shining Morning Star in the dark times of your life.
I Love Him! He is Gracious, Merciful, and Righteous to me. I now know that I have not been forgotten and that we are together in this path. God gives me Grace. This is my message for the Church: Stay Strong for His Glory. He will come back soon! Be with God and give your best efforts for His kingdom.
Pastor Saeed, servant of Jesus Christ in chains for endurance of Gospel. I love you all.
“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” – Revelation 22:16
The #SaveSaeed campaign and petition continues to gather momentum nearing the 300,000 signatures needed by March, with a global effort to use social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter to keep international pressure on this case. Please call sign the petition to:
Listen to the recent Jay Sekulow Live radio show titled: “Saeed Speaks from Cruel Prison” HERE
We are grateful for people like those at the American Center of Law and Justice. Please keep Jordan, Jay and all those working at the ACLJ who are trying to save Pastor Saeed in your prayers also!
URGENT Prayer Request for Pastor Saeed Abedini’s family!
February 22, 2013 UPDATE:
From Naghmeh Abedini:
Thank you all who prayed for Jacob. He was released from the hospital last night. I am in tears when I see my family in Jesus (all of you!) surrounding me with your love and prayers. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
______________________________________________________
February 21, 2013 -This prayer request is for Naghmeh Abedini and her children. On Tuesday evening, one of the Abedini children was hospitalized with severe dehyration and flu-like symptoms. They will remain in the hospital for a few days. Please pray for God’s healing hand. Pray that Naghmeh would feel God’s presence and find strength and refuge in Him. And help this sweet wife and mother not to worry. Pray for all her needs to be met.
UPDATE:
Please continue to lift Naghmeh and her children up in prayer. The child still remains hospitalized. Please continue to pray for a full recovery. Also pray for the extreme stress they are under. If you would like to donate to the family here’s how:
Many people have expressed the desire to help Naghmeh and the children, as the fight continues for Saeed’s freedom. Naghmeh has felt very blessed by the outpouring of love and encouragement from the body of Christ.
Numerous requests have been received from people, both in Boise and around the world. They have asked how they can help support the Abedini family. While prayer remains our first and most powerful form of support, a special fund has been set up for anyone interested in aiding Naghmeh and the children.
All monies donated are designated entirely to the Abedini family.
The Calvary Chapel in Boise Idaho donation page for the Abedini family HERE.
“For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” -Matthew 7:8
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Sudanese Government Detains Over 50 Christians
SUDAN-Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) has learned that at least 55 Christians have been detained by the Sudanese government for approximately two weeks without charge. According to CSW’s sources, the group, which has no political affiliations and includes church leaders, has been falsely accused of receiving money from foreign countries, including Israel.
The arrests are the latest development in a wave of repression that began toward the end of last year targeting Christians working in voluntary organizations and has reportedly resulted in the deportations of around 100 foreign workers, while a number of Sudanese Christians have been detained for questioning by the security services. According to local reports, the repression was preceded by a media campaign against “Christianization”, and was accompanied by the closure of a number of Christian-affiliated schools, colleges and training centers.
There have been concerns about increasing pressure on churches in Sudan since the creation of South Sudan in 2011. President Al-Bashir has repeatedly stated that Sudan’s new constitution would be 100 percent Islamic. The president has also claimed that “all parties, religious sects and Sufis” would be represented in the constitutional drafting committee. No further details have been given about its progress.
CSW’s Advocacy Director Andrew Johnston said, “CSW is deeply concerned at these arbitrary arrests and news of an escalating crackdown on Christian citizens in Sudan. We urge the Sudanese government to release these prisoners and end its campaign of harassment against the Christian community. We also urge the government once again to undertake broad consultations during the drafting of the new constitution and to ensure that it recognizes the rights of all Sudanese citizens, to freedom of religion or belief, as outlined in Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Sudan is a signatory.”
CSW-USA was founded in 1997 as the United States partner organization of Christian Solidarity Worldwide’s international network (originally founded in the UK in 1981). CSW-USA and its various partners exist to serve the persecuted Christian Church through advocacy, aid and prayer.
We seek to mobilize the many members of the free Church to “remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.” (Hebrews 13:3)
CSW-USA is a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation.
Please pray with us:
The Sudanese people need our prayers in so many ways. Pray these Christians remain strong in the Lord. Pray for the hearts of those who are doing the persecuting to be softened and that they will find their way to Christ!
News Brings Hope As Pastor Imprisoned In Iran Learns About #SaveSaeed Campaign
How can we sit back and do nothing, while innocent people are tortured and abused? How can we call ourselves civilized? Have we really become that desensitized? Have our hearts really grown so cold? What have we become? The silence is deafening!
As long as we have our freedom to do so, STAND UP for those who need you! One day they may stand for you!
We must increase our effort to bring Pastor Saeed’s story to the world. Our actions could SAVE HIS LIFE! If you have not already done so, please sign the International petition #Save Saeed. Our brother needs us!
ACT NOW, we are short 57,175 signatures needed by the beginning of March. Please share this link and ask all you know to SIGN! To those outside of America, we need your signatures too!
I pray God stirs your heart to action and may peace be upon you all.
The ACLJ reports:
Yesterday, Saeed’s Iranian family was able to visit Saeed in Evin Prison and tell him the truth about the outpouring of love and concern for him across America.
The Iranian prison guards told Saeed we’d abandoned him, that he was forgotten and alone. Saeed’s family told him that hundreds of thousands of Americans had signed petitions for his freedom, and they told him of the musicians who were all rallying to support him and call for his freedom.
His wife, Naghmeh told us how much the musicians’ support touched his heart:
When I first met Saeed, music was an important part of worship and prayer. He would often listen to Christian radio. When he heard about Savesaeed.org and the number of artists that he admired he was encouraged by their involvement – advocating for his release. It brought him hope as he suffers in his dark prison.
While Saeed’s spirit is strong – stronger now that he knows he is far from forgotten – his treatment is still intolerable. He reports he is being abused physically and psychologically. We must redouble our efforts to #SaveSaeed. The first U.N. meetings are in early March, and we want to tell the U.N. that 300,000 Americans have called on the international community to demand Saeed’s release. More than 240,000 have signed, and thousands more are signing each day.
Now is the time. Sign the petition to Save Saeed. Your support helps keep hope alive!
To learn more about Pastor Saeed Abedini, wrongfully imprisoned in Iran click here
And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15
For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! 1 Cor 9:16
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20
And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. Acts 10:42
That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome. For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. Romans 1:15-16
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. Matthew 24:14
“First of all Pray for these Christian Missionary’s this is a brutal country! I want to know why we are helping these countries overthrow their leaders so they can instill Sharia Law, and kill, arrest, Christians.”
VOICE OF THE PERSECUTED 