Pray for Pastor Nadarkhani

I was so thankful to see that the story of Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani of Iran was headlining on CNN. People around the world have been speaking out against this great injustice and now it is getting international attention! Leaders in the US, UK, Germany and other countries are speaking out against this legal, religious and human rights violation.

While it is wonderful that this case is receiving international attention, it is vital that we continue to pray for this dear brother in Christ. He still faces execution at any time. He has a wife and two sons (ages 7 & 9).

2 Corinthians 12:26 tells us “If one part suffers, every part suffers.” My heart aches for this man and his family. I could not imagine being put in this situation. He had the opportunity to deny Christ four times and he refused each time. He has stood strong through persecution.

Please continue to pray for this dear brother in Christ! Pray that he would continue to stand strong. Please also pray for his wife and two young sons- that they would continue to trust the Lord and remain strong despite this horrible situation. Thank you so much for joining us in prayer!

Photo: The Evangelical Outpost

We have ….Yet

A friend of Open Doors wrote this poem. I pray it blesses you!

We have ….Yet

We have the latest of
technology
our MRI’s, lasers
and aromatherapy

We have our churches
with their orchestras
chandeliers and
coffeeshops

Our houses
With their swimming
pools, microwaves
and poolside decks

Yet our brothers and our sisters
sit in prisons dark and bleak
Suffering such atrocities
of which they can hardly speak

Can you hear them calling?
friend, please pray for me
See me in this corner
of darkness and despair

The cross is very heavy
that I am called to bear
I need your faithful, fervent prayers
to lift my heart in here

Sometimes I feel so weak
but when I know you pray
I feel my Savior’s touch
beside me here today

Pray that I’ll be given grace
to not deny my Lord
To walk by faith, no matter what the cost
or what the future brings

For Christ went before and bore the shame
and said so long ago
“As they have persecuted me
so they’ll persecute you too”

I’ll pray for you too
you who are so free
So you’ll not falter or give up
to plead for me in prayer

And if that day comes to you, my friend
of persecution for our Lord
I’ll pray that you too will be given grace
To bring glory to His Name

Carol Dykstra

Pray For Iran- Now More Than Ever Before!!!

Yesterday, many rejoiced as the two American hikers, who had been held as prisoners in Iran for the past two years, landed safely at the JFK airport.

As the hikers recounted their whole ordeal, one quote especially stood out to me:

“There are people in Iran who have been imprisoned for years for simply attending a protest, for writing a pro-democracy blog or for worshiping an unpopular faith.”

Christianity is one of the most unpopular faiths in Iran. Many Christians in this country have faced this kind of persecution. I think of Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani who is on death row for refusing to deny Christ.
Pastor Nadarkhani was sentenced to death for apostasy because he converted to Christianity. According to an article in the National Review, he had been tried and found guilty a year ago, even though the court also found that he had never been a practicing Muslim as an adult.

Iran’s Supreme Court stated that the pastor would have four chances to recant his faith and convert to Islam. He has been given this chance twice already, and will have two more opportunities to do so tomorrow and Wednesday.

Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani was arrested in 2009 when he attempted to legally register his church with authorities. His defense lawyer was sentenced to a nine year prison sentence for “actions and propaganda against the Islamic regime.”

Iran is a country that desperately needs our prayers. Please pray that the Lord would intervene in a miraculous way. Pray that Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani and other Christians in prison for their faith would be set free and that more would come to know the saving power that is found in Christ alone!

The Muttawa

This is a picture of the headquarters of the Muttawa in Saudi Arabia. The Muttawa are the religious police recognized by the government. They ensure that all Saudis adhere to Islamic law and are often the greatest persecutors of Christians. Please pray for the safety of Christians in Saudi Arabia. Pray also for their persecutors; that they would come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

A Visit to New York

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is set to visit to New York this week for the United Nations General Assembly. This has caused a great outcry from many humanitarian groups and human rights organizations. Ahmadinejad is noted by many to be one of the greatest violators of basic human rights in the world today. Though many are mistreated in Iran, Christians face severe persecution.

Just a few weeks ago, a Christian was sentenced to 105 days in prison for his faith. Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani was sentenced to death for preaching the gospel. These Christians face the worst kinds of human rights abuses and need our prayers!

Iran is ranked #2 on the Open Doors World Watch List (second only to North Korea). Many of the approximately 350,000 believers from a Muslim background live in fear of harassment by the government.
While Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is in New York this week, will you pray for this persecutor of Christians? Will you pray that he has a ‘Saul to Paul’ conversion, ending his reign of persecution? Thank you so much for your prayers!

Mehdi

This is Mehdi. Mehdi is a Muslim Background Believer. This picture really stands out to me because the joy of the Lord is evident in his life, despite the persecution he faces. Will you pray that Mehdi would continue to know this joy?

Please Pray for the Report on International Religious Freedom Tomorrow!

In 2011, we hear of many human rights violations. Whether it is human trafficking or the oppression of women, we can note that there are many violations. And along with this list is another group that is often forgotten about- those who are persecuted for their faith.

Tomorrow, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will release the 2010 mid-year Report on International Religious Freedom at 10 am in the Press Briefing Room at the U.S. Department of State. If you have a chance, I would encourage you to tune into this. It is very significant to have the government recognize human rights violations. It is vital that we listen to this, so we can know what they know and advocate what they do not know.

Please pray that this will be a time where people across the United States will be informed about the atrocities of persecution and will be moved to do something about it. Pray that God would be able to use the church in a mighty way.