#prayforsaeed

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Today in front of the Iranian Embassy in Budapest.

Keep praying for the freedom of Saeed Abedini!

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Protesting for Peace, Protesting for Salvation

Iran has detained American citizen Pastor Saeed Abedini, on 9/26/12 because it views his Christian activities as a threat to its international security.

Saeed's wife, Naghmeh, has organized tomorrow (June 13, 2013) to be the day of Peaceful Demonstration in front of Iranian Embassies around the world in order to speak out about Pastor Saeed Abedini's imprisonment and the imprisonment of other Christians in Iran.

A group of us from Vajta are headed out to Budapest tomorrow to join in a silent protest in front of the Iranian Embassy in Budapest.

Friends, pray.

Pray for this demonstration. That would it help, not hurt the cause.

Pray that God would work in this, He is bigger than this situation.

Pray for the Abedini family.

[virgilhorner]

Remember Those in Prison

"Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering."~ Hebrews 13:3

My friend Brian Harrison recently wrote an article concerning the situation of Saeed Abedini currently imprisoned in Iran's Evin prison. I'd like to share it here.

What does the apostolic look like? 

Recently Saeed Abedini, imprisoned for his faith in Iran’s notorious Even Prison, was told by his family of the many churches and people whom are praying for him around the world.   His response: "I am filled with great joy to know that the chains I am in have chained the body of Christ together and have united so many churches."

Through this is one simple sentence, Saeed gave the church an example of what it means to speak apostolically.  What makes it apostolic? 

1.     It’s heavenly and not earthly.  In other words, it is spoken from an eternal perspective and not temporary one.   Saeed was not speaking from a temporary desire for personal comfort but from the eternal perspective of ultimate purpose.  Saeed found comfort and indeed joy in discovering that his imprisonment was causing a unifying affect upon the church.  When people begin to think “apostolically” they evaluate circumstances from the perspective of eternity. From an earthly perspective Saeed’s imprisonment is tragic and unjust.  From an heavenly perspective, God is using Saeed’s suffering to do a work in the church. 

2.      Secondly, it is corporate and not personal.  Saeed sees his life not as something individual and separate but as part of a global communion.  What effects one, affects all.   He is thinking about the global body of Christ and not just his personal needs.  It is beyond himself.  He is in partnership with God and though he is in chains, God’s word is not in chains and God’s work is advanced.  Saeed’s imprisonment has resulted in a global prayer movement. 

3.      Third, it is sacrificial and not self-serving and therein emits the aroma of Christ.  It reflects one who is giving his life as a living sacrifice.   In the midst of suffering Saeed sees his personal circumstances in light of its positive effect upon the body of Christ.  Rather than complaining of his poor treatment, he is focused upon the global impact.  This is an apostolic look at suffering.  It reminds one of the apostle Paul who said, “I want you to know that my imprisonment has turned out for the furtherance of the gospel.”  Saeed’s suffering is releasing the aroma of Christ in Iran and throughout the body of Christ.  This is truly what it means to live sacrificially.

4.     Finally, it is authentic, not fabricated.  It is a spontaneous expression from the heart.  It’s not a sound bite.  It is not a prepared statement.  It is an authentic reaction given from a man who is suffering but whose life is given to a purpose beyond self-fulfillment.  It comes out of a place of desperate suffering, coupled with cosmic awareness.  Saeed was speaking from within his own heart and yet from the heavenlies at the same time.  That is clearly the work of grace deeply woven into the heart of a man who has chosen to be willing to suffer “for the joy set before him.”   

In a day and age where there is much being said about being apostolic that is more focused on one’s professional persona and success than on one’s faithfulness to the gospel and willingness to suffer, Saeed’s life speaks from a different dimension altogether. 

[lovechangeseverythang]

At one point in his life, Saeed Abedini was trained to be a suicide bomber. He was a Muslim who converted to Christianity. He is an Iranian-American Pastor currently sentenced to 8 years in one of Iran's worst prisons. His crime? Spreading the Gospel. He is a father, a husband, and stands up for his faith despite being beaten and abused in Iran. Please look up his story, and pray for him. #PrayForSaeed #GodBlessThisMan #persecution 🙏💙