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/ Saeed Abedini, an American pastor imprisoned in Iran for his faith, is facing life threatening conditions after a recent prison transfer, the America Center for Law and Justice reports. Saeed's family says he has been moved from the brutal Evin Prison to Rajai Shahr Prison, known to be an even more dangerous jail. "Going to Karaj is a severe punishment," Loes Bijnen, a Dutch diplomat from the embassy in Tehran, described the jail in a 2005 report. "Once in there one stops to be a human being," she wrote. "One is put out of sight, even of human rights activists and the press. Murders or unexplained deaths are a regular occurrence." ... "While there is broad bi-partisan support for a Senate resolution calling for Saeed's release, ... it's crucial President Barack Obama step in "directly and forcefully" to save his life. " [PRAY for President Obama to forcefully speak out against this latest development; for the pastor to be finally released. (See below for more info.)]
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/ "Increased violence in northern Iraq is pushing Christians out of that part of the country. The Kurdish north was considered a safe area for Christians fleeing from violent persecution in the central and southern regions. But bombings in recent months are causing panic and many are fleeing the country. Al qaeda has claimed responsibility for several of those attacks. Some Christians have been told by local police that they "should not be in Iraq because it is Muslim territory." The Christian charity Open Doors International is urging people around the world to pray for Christians in Iraq. They say that if the persecution continues, there may be no Christians left in Iraq by 2020.[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]
"SYRIAN Christians Brace for Strike, Ask for Prayer," - by Gary Lane, August 31, http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2013/August/Syrian-Christians-Brace-for-Strike-Ask-for-Prayer/"As Syrians brace themselves for a possible U.S. military attack, many of the county's Christians are praying for divine intervention. They say military action against the Assad regime will only bring them greater hardship and suffering and they're asking Christians worldwide to pray that God intervenes to bring peace to their nation. They believe the collective prayers of Christians around the world could reverse an escalating conflict..."
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.]
Oct. 14, NORTH KOREA -"Kenneth Bae, Mom Meet; Release Not Guaranteed" - CBNNews.com, http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2013/October/Mother-Visits-Missionary-Jailed-in-North-Korea/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.]
Oct. 14, NORTH KOREA -"Kenneth Bae, Mom Meet; Release Not Guaranteed" - CBNNews.com, http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2013/October/Mother-Visits-Missionary-Jailed-in-North-Korea/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.]
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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"Cavalry Rides To The Rescue - Suit for military religious freedom succeeds"; by Dr. Tom Askew; http://www.presidentialprayerteam.com/issues
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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"Cavalry Rides To The Rescue - Suit for military religious freedom succeeds"; by Dr. Tom Askew; http://www.presidentialprayerteam.com/issues
In a delayed display of justice, the Department of Justice reversed a policy which forbade contracted priests from performing religious services on military posts during the recent government shut down. In order to appreciate how this decision for religious freedom came about, consider the players in the drama: the Executive Branch, Congress, mid-level policy wonks, unpaid volunteers, and religious freedom watchdogs.
First, the buffoons and the belligerent. - As everyone knows, the “shutdown” was a token response to the chess match between the Executive Branch and the Congress, a power game over federal spending. When one side would not agree to fund the other side’s programs, the other side took the ball and went home, shutting down the game altogether. Anyone who has been on a playground knows this means that everybody loses.
Unfortunately, some of the “tokens” chosen for shutdowns revealed administrative biases concerning what is “non-essential.” One controversial decision was that of not renewing a general services contract which pays civilian priests to compensate for the shortage of Catholic chaplains in the armed forces. While many other services (catering, maintenance, etc.) are outsourced to civilian contractors on military bases, this function was singled out, a direct challenge to religious liberty.
Whether this decision was made at the very top of the federal food chain or by some invisible policy czar with an attitude, the fact it resulted in signs on dozens of army chapels suspending Catholic communion, baptisms, and CCD classes. No one bothered asking, “Should we really be doing this,?” reflecting the general public disdain for religious faith and freedom in the nation today.
Enter the brave and the brainy, plus more buffoonery. - A heroic response to this affront came, not surprisingly, from a number of priests who simply offered to come on to military posts and perform these services for free. “Not in our house!” was the implied response from someone enforcing this policy. Actual threats of arrest were made to priests who merely inquired about how to go about making this sacrifice.
Armed with a clear understanding of the Constitution, the Thomas More Law Center filed a suit in federal court on behalf of the religious freedom of Father Ray Leonard and one of his parishioners, Fred Naylor, on Monday, October 14. By Tuesday afternoon, attorneys for the Department of Justice contacted TMLC to say that Leonard would be allowed to offer religious services at the military base in Georgia where he works.
Speaking for the Thomas More Law Center, chief counsel Richard Thompson indicated that the struggle for religious freedom will not stop here. “The actions of the federal government were a blatant attack on religious liberty,” he said. “I would never have imagined that our government would ever bar Catholic priests from saying Mass under threat of arrest and prevent Catholics from participating in their religious exercises. Allowing the chapel doors to open…does not erase the constitutional violations that occurred. We don’t want this to occur again the next time there is a government shutdown. Our lawsuit will continue.”
Don’t be the frog! - In the classic story of the frog in the kettle, a frog which would have quickly jumped out of a pail of boiling water gets cooked in a kettle where the water is heated gradually. By reading this website, you are already ahead of the curve in demonstrating an understanding that the water is getting increasingly hotter for those in this country who follow Jesus and live by God’s Word, the Bible.
Consider these prayer points as you call upon the Lord on behalf of religious freedom in the U.S.:
- Thank God for the Constitution. If American citizens will stay informed, understanding how the Constitution protects religious rights of people of faith, these frivolous policies can easily be defeated, as illustrated in this event.
- Intercede for the brave. In all crises of history, God has raised up brave men and women such as the priests who sacrificially offered their services for free. Pray that when God calls, brave believers will step up fearlessly.
- Buoy up the brainy.Give God praise for those who work tirelessly on behalf of religious liberty in the government realm: Thomas More Law Center, Alliance Defending Freedom, Christian Legal Society, Blackstone Legal Society, Family Research Council, and many others. Petition God to provide personnel, finances, and perseverance for these warriors.
[bold, underline, italics, and other emphasis mine]
Dr. Tom Askew has been an educator in both public and private schools for 40 years, in Hong Kong, Germany, Georgia, and Arizona. He is currently doing educational consulting and instruction for Christian schools in Arizona.
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