Saeed, a dual American and Iranian citizen, has been imprisoned in Iran for the past two years. He is accused of being a threat to Iranian national security, but it is common knowledge that his imprisonment stems from his conversion from Islam to Christianity and subsequent missionary work, including work with orphans and the establishment of around 100 house churches. InnIran, Christianity is all but outlawed, and apostasy (conversion from Islam to another religion) is a capital offense.
Surely, the preaching of the Gospel is a threat to the national security of an Islamic Theocracy which, among other things; denies the Holocaust. A true believer in Christ could
not support the sort of human rights abuses documented in Iran. Public hangings
of homosexuals, private hangings of political dissidents, stoning of women, and
more than we care to repeat. We once wondered if these were urban legends but we can now see the
truth.
Imagine for a moment that you are asleep and hear a knock at
the door. It is one of the deacons from your church there to inform you that
your pastor has just been picked up by plain clothes police and is headed to an incredibly dangerous
prison, one known for being a de facto death sentence. What would
you do?
Imagine you were the wife of that pastor, calling out at the
gate like the widow imploring the unjust judge. The children of that pastor,
never knowing if they will see their daddy again. Imagine now that you are the
pastor himself. What would you want someone to do for you?
Can you take a few moments today to lift up pastor Saeed,
his wife Naghmeh, and their two children? Ask the Lord to open the gates of
Evin Prison as he did for Paul and Silas. Ask God to open the hearts of those
who have imprisoned and persecuted him for righteousness sake. Also, remember
that there are dozens if not hundreds of other believers in prison throughout
the world for the simple crime of wearing the Name of Jesus. Let us remember those
in chains for the Gospel.
Finally, pray that God will be glorified through this trial,
and that the faith of those who have suffered such adversity for the Gospel in
closed countries will motivate those of us who live in complete freedom to share Christ
where the doors are wide open.
Lastly, make a point today to learn more about the
persecuted church around the world. Sites
such as the Voice of the Martyrs (www.persecution.net)
, or Radical (www.radical.net), www.Elam.com, and www.beheardproject.com, are good starting points.
Thank you for your time friends.
