Posted: 02/26/2013 at 5:54pm | IP Logged

"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." -Pastor Saeed Abedini

Those of us who live in countries where there is—for the most part—freedom of religion, often find ourselves preoccupied by our "own little world" and the problems that can seem to loom large and fill our entire vision.

But, for most of us, it's as the writer of Hebrews says in chapter 12; "You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin."

Sometimes it's good to get a reminder what is truly important in this life, and what standing firm in our faith in Jesus Christ really means.

A moving example of this is provided by our brother-in-chains—Pastor Saeed Abedini—in a letter written by him from the depths of one of Iran's most brutal prisons. Saeed, an American pastor, was recently sentenced to 8 years in this place for his Christian faith, while his wife and children, the ACLJ and Believers everywhere pray and work to see him released. (Photo: Saeed and family/NY Daily News)

This letter reveals such courage and strength that can only come from the Spirit of the Living God. And I'm reminded of Jesus' words, which I pray will continue to help this precious brother to stand firm for his Savior and King:

"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in Heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." (Matthew 5:10-11)

Please continue to pray for Pastor Saeed.

PASTOR SAEED'S LETTER FROM PRISON:

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.

The ACLJ encourages fellow Believers to share his letter. Pray. Join over a quarter of a million others, and sign the petition at SaveSaeed.org.

Source: ACLJ.org

Via: BCN Breaking Christian News

Posted: 02/26/2013 at 6:10pm | IP Logged

WASHINGTON, DC (ANS) -- The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), which focuses on constitutional and human rights law, said today (Friday, February 22, 2013), that American Pastor Saeed Abedini - a U.S. citizen facing a lengthy prison sentence in Iran because of his Christian faith - is speaking out in a letter from prison where he says he's facing "horrific pressures", acknowledging continuing physical and psychological abuse - including troubling "death threats."

Pastor Saeed with his family during happier times

The ACLJ says that in his first letter since his conviction and sentence in January, the 32-year-old Pastor Saeed says the conditions inside Evin Prison are "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." Pastor Saeed also says he is facing significant pressure to recant his Christian faith.

"The torture, the beatings, the death threats never end," said Jordan Sekulow, Executive Director of the ACLJ, which represents Pastor Saeed's wife and children who reside in the U.S. "The Iranians continue to do everything they can to break Pastor Saeed - both physically and psychologically. The abuse he continues to face is nothing less than brutal. It's our hope that this latest communication only intensifies efforts in this country and abroad to pressure Iran to release this U.S. citizen."

In the letter, Pastor Saeed said he knows that "he's not been forgotten" but also provides astonishing details about the abuse he faces: "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."

Pastor Saeed's wife, Naghmeh, expressed her concern: "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."

Naghmeh, who has been prohibited from speaking with her husband by phone, knows that what her husband calls the "dark house of Evin Prison" is taking a significant toll on him. "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."

For the first time, Pastor Saeed confirmed that Iranian officials are trying to get him to recant his Christian faith - something that he says he will never do. "They are only waiting for one thing.for me to deny Christ," wrote Pastor Saeed. "But they will never get this from me."

Pastor Saeed said he continues to live out his faith in prison and despite facing what he calls "horrific pressures" that are sometimes "unbearable" - he offers encouragement to others who face difficult challenges. "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," Pastor Saeed wrote.

The ACLJ, along with its European affiliate, filed a document last week with the U.N. Human Rights Council (HRC) calling on Iran to immediately release Pastor Saeed, citing Iran's violations of international law and human rights abuses.

Also last week, more than 80 members of Congress - in a strong bi-partisan move - sent a letter to Secretary of State Kerry urging him to "exhaust every possible option to secure Mr. Abedini's immediate release." The letter stated that "[a]s a U.S. citizen, Mr. Abedini deserves nothing less than the exercising of every diplomatic tool of the U.S. government to defend his basic human rights."

"This new letter from Pastor Saeed could not be more clear or direct - he continues to face life-threatening abuse simply because of his religious beliefs," said ACLJ Executive Director Jordan Sekulow. "The letter also underscores the need to move quickly. A U.S. citizen is in failing health from beatings and abuse - a menacing scenario that should command the full attention and engagement of the U.S. government. It's our hope that Secretary Kerry will act without delay - doing all that can be done by the State Department to save this U.S. citizen."

As Pastor Saeed's wife, Naghmeh put it: "The most important thing we can do is pray, continue to raise awareness of his case and continue to work for his freedom."

The ACLJ is working with the U.S. government, the United Nations, and the European Union to secure Pastor Saeed's freedom.

The ACLJ's #SaveSaeed campaign continues to gather momentum - as thousands upon thousands of people all over the world are tweeting, Facebooking, and signing our petition, which focuses on bringing additional international pressure on the Iranian government.

Led by ECLJ and ACLJ Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow, the American Center for Law and Justice is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and has affiliated offices in Israel, Russia, Kenya, France, Pakistan, and Zimbabwe. The ACLJ is online at http://aclj.org/.

To read Pastor Saeed's full letter, please go to: http://c0391070.cdn2.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/pdf/saeed -letter-from-prison-feb.pdf

Posted: 02/26/2013 at 6:13pm | IP Logged

Iran Prison Letter: US Pastor Describes Torture

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CBN News

An American-Iranian pastor imprisoned in Iran because of his faith has released a letter detailing his abuse.

For the first time, Pastor Saeed Abedini admitted to his family that he's facing "horrific pressures, violence, and psychological warfare."

The 32-year-old father of two wrote that the conditions inside Evin Prison where he is being held are torturous.

He said they are "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."

**Read Pastor Abedini's prison letter here.

Sign the petition to free American Pastor Saeed in Iran.

"They are only waiting for one thing, for me to deny Christ. But they will never get this from me," he said.

Abedini's wife, Naghmeh, expressed her concern for her husband.

"It is heart wrenching to hear of Saeed's continued abuse and torture in the Iranian prison," she said. "He continues to face life-threatening abuse at the hands of the Iranian officials simply because of his faith in Jesus."

Despite the torturous conditions, Abedini offered encouragement to others who face difficult challenges.

"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," he wrote.

Last week, the American Center for Law and Justice filed a petition with the U.N. Human Rights Council for Abedini's release. Several members of Congress have also urged Secretary of State John Kerry to press for the American pastor's release.

"The letter also underscores the need to move quickly. A U.S. citizen is in failing health from beatings and abuse - a menacing scenario that should command the full attention and engagement of the U.S. government," ACLJ Executive Director Jordan Sekulow said.