# 741 (12/25) MERRY CHRISTMAS! - "8 Americans to Remember This Christmas"

MERRY CHRISTMAS! "The fact of Jesus' coming is the final and unanswerable proof that God cares."   - William Barclay

SIGN A PETITION TO THE UN FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHRISTIANS :" The church in Syria has shone brightly for 2,000 years. But today violence and persecution threatens its survival. Thanks to an incredible response, Open Doors is helping 8,000 families in Syria survive each month. We believe the signatures and prayers of 500,000 people will encourage the UN to act and protect the rights and lives of all Syrians, especially the vulnerable Christian community." Go to: http://lp.opendoorsusa.org/emails/nov-13-action/save-syria.html?utm_source=action&utm_medium=email&utm_content=button&utm_campaign=november

URGENT PRAYER REQUESTS:

"Missionary in Philippines: 'Bodies Laying Everywhere'- By Dale Hurd and Heather Sells, November 12; http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2013/November/Truckloads-of-Bodies-Filipinos-Plead-for-Help/ - [PRAY that relief supplies will get to the needed area in time to help the tens of thousands who are in great need. PRAY that security can be established in the midst of looters causing problems in the midst of the devastation. - Stan]

NEWS ALERT: Oct. 23: "Christians Fleeing IRAQ Area Once Considered Safe," - CBNNews.com, http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2013/October/Christians-Fleeing-Iraq-Area-Once-Considered-Safe/ PRAY that believers in Iraq will know God's protection and provision; that believers will know[ whether they are called to flee or remain and persevere; and that their persecutors  may come to hear the gospel and come to faith in Christ. - Stan] 

Continue to Pray for EGYPT - Continue to pray for the tense situation in Egypt and especially for the Christian believers who are being targeted with violence by Muslim Brotherhood members.]  

Update on Kenneth Bae: "US Ready to Bargain with N. Korea for Bae's Release,"-  CBNNews.com,  Aug 14, 2013  http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2013/August/S-Ready-to-Bargain-with-N-Korea-for-Baes-Release/  - The United States is willing to engage North Korea to secure the release of imprisoned American Christian Kenneth Bae. State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said the United States is "willing to consider a number of different options" to bring him home.In a video recently released by a North Korean newspaper, Bae requested the United States send a high-ranking official to North Korea to seek his pardon. It is unclear if he spoke of his own volition in the video. Bae, 45, was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor for sharing his faith. He suffers health problems such as diabetes and is currently hospitalized.[PRAY for 1) God's healing of and presence with Pastor Bae, 2) His earliest release by the North Korean government, and 3) God's comfort for his family and friends.] 

NEWS ALERT: Monday, November 04, 2013 - Saeed's Life in [Greater] Jeopardy After Prison Transfer - CBNNews.com, ; http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2013/November/Saeeds-Life-in-Jeopardy-after-Prison-Transfer/ IRAN - Vigils Mark One Year Imprisonment of Pastor Saeed - CBNNews.com, Thursday, September 26, 2013 - Today marks one-year that American pastor Saeed Abedini has been held in an Iranian prison. He is serving an eight-year sentence because of his Christian faith. It has been a year of torment as he has suffered beatings, physical pain from untreated medical conditions, and separation from his wife and two children... The suffering has not dampened his passion for Jesus. Pastor Abedini has led more than 30 prisoners to Christ during his time in prison. This afternoon, thousands of Americans from coast to coast will pray for his release. Events will be held in 40 states at capitols, city halls, parks and churches. Thousands more will join from 15 nations around the world 

PRAY: - For comfort and peace for Saeed’s wife and children here in the U.S.\

- For a strong witness and testimony from Pastor Abedini in the prison where God has placed him

- For Christians around the world who are being persecuted for their faith in Christ

- BOLDly (Beside Our Leaders Daily) for leadership from the White House and State Department in defending the freedoms of Abedini and other Americans

- GO TO SaveSaeed.org to sign a petition over 600,000 others asking for his immediate release

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"8 Americans to Remember This Christmas" - By Brett Schaefer, December 24, 2013 

Christmas is a time for celebration and family. It should also be a time for reflection, appreciation for all we have, and remembrance of those who are in need.

While most of us are gathering with loved ones, there are Americans being held prisoner in repressive countries around the world—often for doing nothing more than practicing their faith, aiding the poor, giving voice to the voiceless, or serving their country. Here are some of their heart-wrenching stories:

Saeed Abedini [1], an American pastor, was arrested in 2012 [2] by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard while visiting his family. He had worked for years to set up churches in Iran. He is serving an eight-year prison sentence on charges related to practicing his Christian faith [3].

Kenneth Bae [4] was arrested in North Korea in November 2012. Bae was conducting visiting tours of North Korea and working quietly as a missionary to spread Christianity, which is prohibited in North Korea. He was convicted of committing hostile acts [5] against North Korea and sentenced to 15 years hard labor.

Bowe Bergdahl [6], a Sergeant in the U.S. Army, is a POW in Afghanistan. Sergeant Bergdahl was captured by militants belonging to the Haqqani terrorist network in June 2009. His captors have released several videos [7] of Bergdahl since his capture to demonstrate that he was alive and healthy. The Pentagon believes that he is being held in Pakistan.

James Foley [8] is a U.S. journalist who disappeared in northeast Syria in November 2012. Foley was in Syria to cover the civil war for Agence France-Presse. His family has had no contact with him since his disappearance, but he is believed to a prisoner of the Syrian government [9].

Alan Gross [10], a 64-year old U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) contractor, has been imprisoned in Cuba since 2009. Gross was arrested by the Cuban government for fulfilling a USAID contract to distribute communications equipment to the Cuban Jewish community. He was convicted of crimes against the Cuban state [11] and sentenced to 15 years in prison. He recently sent a letter [12] to President Obama pleading for the Administration to take stronger steps to obtain his release.

Amir Hekmati [13], a former U.S. Marine and decorated war veteran, was arrested, interrogated, and imprisoned in Iran while visiting his grandmother in 2011. He was sentenced to death [14] by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard for allegedly spying for the CIA—a charge overturned by Iran’s Supreme Court and ordered for retrial.

Robert Levinson [15], a former FBI agent, has been missing since 2007. Levinson is believed to have been kidnapped and detained by the Iranian government. He is currently the longest-held hostage in U.S. history [16]. Recent news [17] reports indicate that Levinson may have been working with the CIA.

Austin Tice [18], former Captain in the United States Marine Corps and recipient of the 2012 George Polk Award for War Reporting, disappeared in Syria in August 2012. Tice was in Syria as a freelance journalist to report on the civil war. The Czech ambassador to Syria stated that his sources indicate that Tice is alive and in the custody of the Syrian government [19]. Tice’s parents recently traveled to Syria to try and raise awareness about Austin.

At Christmas, it is appropriate for Americans to remember their fellow citizens in distress abroad...It is a good time to remember these victims in our prayers, urge our government to try and help them, and support organizations that raise awareness of their plights.

We should also take a moment to appreciate how fortunate we are to live in a country that respects our rights and freedoms. Totalitarian governments around the world torture and imprison thousands of people for opposing the government, practicing their religion, or simply expressing their thoughts and opinions. The U.S. State Department’s Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2012 details arrest and arbitrary detention of political prisoners, disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and torture in many countries, including Cuba [20], Iran [21], North Korea [22], and Zimbabwe [23].

[bold and italics emphasis mine]
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Article printed from The Foundry: Conservative Policy News Blog from The Heritage Foundation: http://blog.heritage.org; URL to article: http://blog.heritage.org/2013/12/24/8-americans-remember-christmas/

URLs in this post:
[1] Saeed Abedini: http://beheardproject.com/saeed
[2] arrested in 2012: http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/saeed-abedini-wife-us-pastor-held-iran-presses/story?id=21191207
[3] charges related to practicing his Christian faith: http://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2013/03/206578.htm
[4] Kenneth Bae: http://freekennow.com/
[5] hostile acts: http://www.ibtimes.com/kenneth-bae-american-was-caught-imprisoned-north-korea-spreading-christianity-1472902
[6] Bowe Bergdahl: http://supportbowe.org/
[7] several videos: http://supportbowe.org/brief-narrative/bowe-bergdahl-videos/
[8] James Foley: http://www.freejamesfoley.org/
[9] prisoner of the Syrian government: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/oct/18/james-foley-still-syria-missing-family-hopeful
[10] Alan Gross: http://www.bringalanhome.org/
[11] crimes against the Cuban state: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/alan-gross-former-usaid-contractor-jailed-in-cuba-appeals-to-obama-to-intervene/2013/12/02/6510294e-5b46-11e3-a49b-90a0e156254b_story.html
[12] letter: http://apps.washingtonpost.com/g/page/world/alan-grosss-letter-to-obama/625/
[13] Amir Hekmati: http://freeamir.org/
[14] sentenced to death: http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/24/us/iran-american-prisoner-family-plea/
[15] Robert Levinson: http://www.helpboblevinson.com/
[16] longest-held hostage in U.S. history: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2513663/Retired-FBI-agent-longest-held-hostage-years-Iran.html
[17] news: http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/robert-levinson-family-meeting-fbi-head/story?id=21232231
[18] Austin Tice: http://www.austinticefamily.com/
[19] in the custody of the Syrian government: http://www.csmonitor.com/layout/set/r14/World/Middle-East/2012/1211/Family-of-journalist-Austin-Tice-struggles-with-silence-on-kidnapping
[20] Cuba: http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/204653.pdf
[21] Iran: http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/204571.pdf
[22] North Korea: http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/204420.pdf
[23] Zimbabwe: http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/204395.pdf

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