I dig the work of Reach Records (see related posts) and have been really encouraged by the work of Voice of the Martyrs through the Australian youth initiative Thirteen Three (see related posts). So I’m really glad that the two organisations have joined forces in presenting the latest song off Trip Lee’s new album, I’m Good. The film clip below is confronting as it seeks to raise awareness for persecuted Christians. (WARNING MA15+ the end of the video is very graphic, if you are under 15 check with your parents before you watch).
Iranian authorities have made their decision: Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani will be executed for his Christian faith.
Nadarkhani was arrested in October 2009 and sentenced to death for apostasy. Despite widespread international media coverage and concern, it appears the execution will go ahead.
The White House released this statement concerning Pastor Youcef on Thursday 23 February:
The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms reports that Iranian authorities reaffirmed a death sentence for Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani for the sole reason of his refusal to recant his Christian faith…The United States renews its calls for people of conscience and governments around the world to reach out to Iranian authorities and demand Pastor Nadarkhani’s immediate release.
The execution could be carried out at any time without prior notice.
Please pray for our brother in Christ who continues to stand boldly for the Lord.
Prayer Points
Please pray that God will intervene in this case and bring justice.
Ask the Lord to strengthen Youcef and his family.
Thank the Lord for Youcef’s faithfulness to Christ.
Pray that Youcef’s testimony will be an encouragement to other believers in Iran to speak the Word of God boldly and fearlessly.
Next week is International Day of Prayer (IDOP). It’s more than just one day of prayer but a week (6th – 13th November 2011) of Christians around the world committing to praying for Persecuted Christians. You can find out more on the IDOP website or on Thirteen Three’s website. We’ve got a report form Open Doors at church this Sunday night and I’m planning on having a spot on Friday night at Soulies for thoughtful prayer and reflection. We’ll also have a blog series on Soulies.net for the week. If you haven’t already, have a think about how you can commit to praying this week at home and in Christian gatherings.
One of the things I’m surprised by as I read of the first persecuted Christians in the Bible and then read of contemporary persecuted Christians (through books like Radical and the VOM newsletter) is that so often persecution is faced with unrelenting joy!
His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ. (Acts 5:40-42)
The Apostles keep getting told to shut up about Jesus, they don’t. They get beaten up and told to stop, they don’t! Instead they rejoice that they were considered worthy to suffer for Jesus and then keep telling people about Jesus!!
The following is from 13:3. Used with permission. Pray for persecuted Christians.
Iranian pastor Youcef Nadarkhani is facing execution after refusing to renounce his faith during court hearings held this week.
In July, the Supreme Court instructed the Revolutionary Tribunal of Gilan Province to review his case to verify whether he was previously a practising Muslim. At the recent hearings, the court in Rasht ruled that Pastor Youcef was not a practising Muslim before becoming a Christian. However, he remains guilty of apostasy because of his Muslim ancestry.
According to sources, when Pastor Youcef was asked to repent in court, he said:
Repent means to return. What should I return to? To the blasphemy that I had before my faith in Christ?
When judges told him to return to “the religion of your ancestors, Islam,” Pastor Youcef responded, “I cannot.”
Nadarkhani has used up all his chances in the court. “We hear some rumors that he could be executed literally this week – that he’s had now three days which is called for in Islamic law to reconsider his decision, and he could be executed at any time,” reports Todd Nettleton with Voice of the Martyrs USA.
MORE INFORMATION
Check out this news report for more information about Youcef’s case.
URGENT PRAYER NEEDED
Please share this story with your friends and family and ask them to pray for Youcef Nadarkhani and his family.
Please pray that Youcef will be faithful even to death so that he will receive the crown of life (Revelation 2:10).
Pray that Christians around the world will take swift and decisive action on Youcef’s behalf.
Pray that all charges against him will be dropped.
Pray for all Christians in Iran, that they will keep their eyes on Jesus and not be fearful. Pray that persecution will only increase their passion for Christ and their willingness to share their faith.
Pray that God will comfort Youcef’s family during this very difficult time.
Sick of half-hearted Christianity? Read RADICAL by David Platt. No other book (outside of the Bible) has challenged me to take seriously the radical call to follow Jesus. His stories about persecuted Christians have encouraged me to be bolder, more hungry for the Word and prayerful for the world.
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In other Thirteen Three news, SOULIES is raising money for underground Bible school students in Vietnam. More info here.
I’m so encouraged by the work of Thirteen Three. They’re the youth arm of Voice of the Martyrs Australia. (You can see some of my previous posts related to 13:3 under the ‘persecution’ tag). Brad Konemann is doing an amazing job at encouraging youth ministries to stand with and be encouraged by our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world. I’m personally looking forward to working closely with Brad on some upcoming projects. More info coming soon.
In the meantime, I want to encourage any youth ministers within an achievable distance of Western Sydney or Sutherland Shire to take your group along to Thirteen Three’s two upcoming June events. I’m guessing you’re finalising your term 2 program now – so make sure you leave some room for this event!! I believe that under God it will have a profound impact on your youth community.
Thirteen Three is bringing out Pastor Victor, an international youth speaker and frontline evangelist with a dangerous, covert ministry to Muslims in Malaysia!
Are you nervous about sharing your faith?
This event is for you! Thirteen Three is helping to equip Australian youth to share their faith in their local communities. Learn from ordinary Christians who speak up for Jesus even if it means being beaten or going to jail and be BOUND WITH THEM as an everyday part of following Jesus.
Save these dates now!
Western Sydney
7PM Friday 17 June 2011
MBM Rooty Hill
20 Westminster Street
Rooty Hill NSW
The Shire
7PM Friday 24 June 2011
Menai Anglican Church
Broughton Place
Barden Ridge NSW
You don’t want to miss this unique opportunity to meet a persecuted Christian firsthand and to be challenged to live out Hebrews 13:3!
After Francis Chan resigned from his role as the senior pastor of Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, he spent 3 months travelling around Asia (check this vid for reasons for leaving). I enjoyed reading Lisa’s (his wife) updates during that time. Below is an update from Francis after they arrived back in the USA. My favourite paragraph is in bold.
Update #5 from Francis Chan
Beyond Expectations
It has been an amazing couple of months as you probably saw from Lisa’s updates. I don’t even know where to start. Once again, God far exceeded my expectations. He has a way of doing that…
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us… Ephesians 3:20
There is far too much to say. I won’t even attempt to write down all of my thoughts, as that would take too long to read. I prefer you spend that time in scripture. So let me just throw out a few thoughts.
GOD is the love of my life. While I enjoyed experiencing different cultures and meeting new people, I most enjoyed my time communing with God. It doesn’t matter where I am or what I am doing. Nothing beats conversing with the living God and watching Him answer prayer.
My family was able to experience exactly what I had hoped and more. One of my goals as a parent is to show my kids how to live for eternity (Matt. 6:18-20). I don’t want them to live for the things of this earth. This was the first time they were able to enjoy not having a home and finding security in Christ. While I tried to teach that our house was not our home, it is much easier to grasp that concept while homeless.
