#freesaeed

[canonizedandotherwise]

Stephen, deacon and martyr, come to the assistance of Pastor Saeed Abedini and the persecuted Christians of the Middle East.

[keelybernard]

FREE SAEED

Flood the prison with mail: Saeed Abedini has been in jail for 3 years for his faith. The letters may not get to him, but the officials will see it. (his wife, kids and parents have had to endure this great trial). I long to see him free, on the road to healing and sharing his story. 

Please Send to: 

“Saeed Abedini  Zendane Rajaee  ShahrBulvare  MoazenKaraj, Iran”

[trueconservativepundit]

Save Saeed: Your Voice Matters (BLITZ SOCIAL MEDIA on Wednesday March 19th) Read for more INFO

Save Saeed: Your Voice Matters (BLITZ SOCIAL MEDIA on Wednesday March 19th) Read for more INFO

In this microwave world we want things and we want them now…and things we have to patiently toil for are often discarded or ignored.

With the many concerns we all have, it’s easy to “grow weary in well doing”.

We have an opportunity in front of us to make a real difference in an ongoing tragedy…but we need to choose to act, and act in faith despite the length of the trial..

The Iranian government…

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[alessandra777]

There are 211 religious minorities imprisoned in Iran.

Christian Convert 

#SaveSaeed

#FreeSaeed

#SaeedAbedini

(سعید عابدینی)

Amir Hossein Nematollahi

(امیر حسین نعمت اللهی)

 Amir-Hossein Nematollahi

(امیرحسین نعمت اللهی)

Ebrahim Firouzi

(ابراهیم فیروزی) 

Ahmad Bazyari

(احمد بازیار)

Rasoul Abdollahi

(رسول عبداللهی)

Faegheh Nasrollahi

(فائقه نصراللهی)

Alireza Seyedian (Seyyed)

(علیرضا سیدیان (سید)

Behnam Irani

(بهنام ایرانی)

Maryam Naghash-Zargaran (Nasim)

(مریم نقاش زرگران (نسیم)

Hossein Saketi-Aramsarei (Stephen)

(حسین ساکتی آرامسری (استیفان)

Savada Aghasar

(سوادا آغاسر)

Mastaneh Rastegari

(مستانه رستگاری)

Farshid Fatehi

(فرشید فتحی)

[derekthornton-blog1]

[derekthornton-blog1]

     Well, another Christmas has come and gone and Saeed Abedini still sits in an Iranian cell in Rajai Shahr prison. This is the second Christmas for him in captivity in Iran.      Can he survive another?      Reports state that his life has been threatened and his health is deteriorating. Rajai Shahr Prison is known for it's brutality.      Rape, murder and torture are common there, just google it.      All this for the "crime" of preaching Jesus Christ and Him crucified.      When #freesaeed first started, I had high hopes that political pressure could be quickly brought to bear and the situation could be resolved soon. Obviously, it will be a longer haul than that. It seems that Congress reacts positively, but the Obama administration, well not so much. In fact, it seems they would really just rather ignore Saeed and bask in praise for their "brilliant" Iran deal. So what looked easy, is obviously not so easy.      Add that to the holidays and what seemed a lot of energy and push for Saeed's freedom seems to have fizzled out.      I wrote an article trying to exhort Christians to find the same empathy the Lord had for them for Saeed, but sometimes it seems I shout at a nearly empty room.

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap,if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. (Galatians 6:9-10, ESV)

     "Especially to those who are of the household of faith", I remember that and think of the lyrics from the Johnny Cash song:

Drive on, don't mean nothin', drive on.

     Wednesday's comin' and I drive on.      We don't need to let another Christmas pass.

[derekthornton-blog1]

Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. (Hebrews 13:3, ESV)

________________________________________________

          Why are American Christians not more active in attempting to get justice for their brethren around the world who are being persecuted, imprisoned and killed?      I asked myself that question today. I am not sure I came to definitive answer.      Distraction possibly. Entertainment, politics or life in general. I don't want to think about the other possibilities, such as, that they just don't care.      We live in a world, that for Christians is very dangerous. Coptic Christians, Syrian Christians and all throughout the Middle East, Christian persecution is at the forefront of the news right now. I am updating this in the middle of the day to include this headline about the death of thirty-five Iraqi Christians in bombings in Baghdad. The scripture that Paul quoted from Psalms, in Romans 8:36, comes to mind:

As it is written,“For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

     I have always had a heart for the persecuted church. I follow news about them, pray for them and try to help with my feeble finances to aid them monetarily when possible. I had heard about Pastor Saeed Abedini of Idaho, imprisoned in Iran for Christ, before and prayed for him. But, when given the chance to do more for him through the #Freesaeed Campaign, I jumped at it. It doesn't usually seem that much progress is made where the persecuted church is concerned. This seemed different though, an American citizen in prison in Iran, just as a major deal with Iran is in the works. It seemed ready made to help a brother.      My purpose in this article is not to berate anyone. The purpose here is exhortation. So, let's get exhorting!           Empathy, we as Christians should have it, especially for our brothers and sisters in Christ.      The scripture at the top of this page shows all the hallmarks of this Christian trait. Remember as though in prison with them. "Since you also are in the body" can be linked back to 1 Corinthians 12:26. Paul had been talking about the Body and the different people that make it up when he says, "If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together."      Paul, in Romans 12:15, says to, "Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep."      Peter, in 1 Peter 3:8, tells us, "Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind."             John, in 1 John 3:17, warns, "But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?"      Our Lord, Jesus Christ saw the crowds and often had compassion.      But, it is the Lord who shows the greatest empathy ever expressed. It is written all over the day we celebrate today, Christmas. The Incarnation itself was the ultimate act of empathy. God, unlike us, was able to put himself in "prison with us". Look at these two verses:

Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (Hebrews 2:17-18, ESV)

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15, ESV)

      Jesus showed us what empathy was. He showed us that He would, gladly and actually, place himself in our shoes, so that he could be there for us when we needed Him.      I urge you, therefore, with so great an example before you, ask the Spirit to help you empathize today. Realize that, especially the brethren, but all men need your empathy.          But, right now, let us focus on Saeed. One thing at a time.     Place yourself in his cell.     Also place yourself in the shoes of his wife and kids.     Then think to yourself, "How do I do, to Saeed and his family, as I would have Saeed and his family do If I were in that cell?"