His crime? Telling people about Jesus during annual trips to the country.
The Iranian government has charged Pastor Saeed with “endangering national security” but the fact of the matter is that he’s helping underground churches as well as building orphanages for children.
If he’s “endangering” anything, it’s the ongoing oppression of the Iranian people.
Nagmeh Abedini, Pastor Saeed’s wife, appeared on television and she was lamenting the lack of support her husband has received from the U.S. government.
There are reports today that the House of Representatives is preparing to step in and hold a congressional hearing on Friday. This is welcome news, but why has it taken so long? If a government does not defend its citizens' basic rights it sends a powerful negative message about our core values to the rest of the world.
"It’s been nine months since Saeed kissed the little foreheads of our children as he said his goodbyes early in the morning of June 22, 2012," shared Nagmeh. "It should grip all human beings at our heart's core, motivating us to do what is right, to stand up for someone whose human rights are being violated. ”
In some ways, Pastor Saeed’s story reminds me a bit of Acts 5 where we read of Peter and the apostles being imprisoned for preaching the Gospel.
I applaud the courage and bravery of Pastor Saeed and hope you’ll join me in praying for his safety and immediate release."
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excerpt from Jim Daly's Daly Focus
