30th September, 2014
 |
|
Saeed Abedini. PICTURE: Courtesy of ASSIST News Service |
Christians around the globe have marked the two years American pastor Saeed Abedini has spent in prison with a series of prayer vigils.
Last Friday night – the date of the two year anniversary – the first of hundreds of prayer vigils being held around the world for Pastor Abedini and the persecuted church more broadly was held in front of the White House in the US. Pastor Abedini’s wife Naghmeh and two children, and Franklin Graham, CEO of Samaritan’s Purse, was among the hundreds who gathered there.
Rev Graham told those gathered that Jesus warned His disciples in Matthew 24 that "they would be hated and persecuted because of His Name".
"We see in Acts that Peter was imprisoned. We see that Paul was imprisoned and later executed for his faith. I want us to pray today. I want us to pray that God will intervene, and He would bring this faithful servant who has been tortured and beaten for his faith, that God will bring him home."
In a statement released by the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) – a US-based law firm raising awareness of Pastor Saeed’s plight, Pastor Abedini’s wife said she and her children were "longing to see Saeed returned home safely to us".
"The kids have been suffering for too long. Our family is ready. It is time. We are praying for a miracle. My hope is that, as thousands gather together on 26th September, our governments and leaders will be reminded of the importance of religious freedom for all and continue to pressure Iran to secure Saeed”s release.”
In a letter written to his daughter Rebekka for her eighth birthday in early September – released by Samaritan’s Purse, Pastor Abedini said he praised God "for His faithfulness to me every day as I watch from a distance through the prison walls and see pictures and hear stories of how you are growing both spiritually and physically".
"Oh how I long to see you," he wrote. "I know that you question why you have prayed so many times for my return and yet I am not home yet. Now there is a big WHY In your mind you are asking: WHY Jesus isn”t answering your prayers and the prayers of all of the people around the world praying for my release and for me to be home with you and our family.
"The answer to the WHY is WHO. WHO is control? LORD JESUS CHRIST is in control…God is in control of the whole world and everything that is happening in it is for His good purpose, for His glory, and will be worked out for our good (Romans 8:28). Jesus allows me to be kept here for His glory. He is doing something inside each of us and also outside in the world. People die and suffer for their Christian faith all over the world and some may wonder why? But you should know the answer of WHY is WHO. It is for Jesus. He is worth the price. And He has a plan to be glorified through our lives."
Jordan Sekulow, executive director of the ACLJ, said Abedini had become the face of the persecuted Christian church worldwide. "As the world”s eye turns to violence against Christians in the Middle East, we raise a united voice in urging Iran to free Pastor Saeed and grant him clemency. It”s time for Saeed to come home."
Pastor Abedini, a US citizen, was arrested in Iran in July, 2012, while building a government-approved orphanage and is currently serving an eight-year sentence at Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj. The ACLJ reports that "despite suffering from repeated beatings, malnourishment and lack of proper medical treatment, local family members report that Abedini remains hopeful, writing of himself: ‘A Prisoner in the Darkness in Iran, but free for the Kingdom and Light.’."
The ACLJ said some 500 prayer vigils were taking place around the world and that their voices would be added to the more than 900,000 who had signed petitions and letters demanding Pastor Abedini’s freedom.
