Our Father, Hallowed by Thy Name. 

We come to you today to ask for protection for Iranian pastor Youcef Nadarkhani.  He is imprisoned, for no other reason than that he loves You and stands faithful to Your Word.  Protect his wife and children; keep them from harm.  Help us to understand your will.  Help us to pray in powerful blessings.  May Your church, the Underground Church, continue to gain members around the world.  We thank You for all of our blessings in this, your beautiful creation.  In the name of Jesus we pray. 

Amen.


International Christian Concern calls for prayer for Youcef.  "We are asking for your urgent prayer and action for Youcef Nadarkhani, an Iranian pastor who may be executed any day now if he continues to refuse to recant his faith in court."

"Youcef is the pastor of a house church in Rasht, Iran, and was arrested in October 2009 for opposing the education practice that forces non-Muslim students to read the Quran in school. Youcef had argued that the Iranian constitution permits children to be raised in their parents' faith; however, for defying Iranian authorities, Youcef was charged with apostasy."

"Throughout his imprisonment, Youcef has trusted in the Lord and has been a bold witness of the redeeming work of Christ in his life.  Youcef has learned to delight in hardships and persecution for Christ's sake (2 Cor. 12:10). "Many attempt to flee from their spiritual tests... [but] no one will be victorious by escaping from them, but with patience and humility he will be able to overcome all the tests and gain victory," he wrote from Lakan Prison last June. "Although heaven and earth will fade, His word will still remain." "

We can only grow strong in our faith when we consider Youcef's considerable strength and trusting in the LORD!

Take immediate action and read more at persecution.org. 

Our Father in Heaven, we owe everything to you. Please listen to our prayers for Saeed Abedini today and every day.  Though we do not always understand Your will, we do know there is some Godly thing to come from Saeed Abedini's imprisonment and suffering.  Please allow Your lovingkindness to surround Saeed and keep him at peace.  Please help to lessen the terrible pain of his separation from family.  Please help him to stay healthy and well, in spite of repeated torture.  Please keep Saeed's wife and children strong and in Your love during their fight to bring husband and father home.  Please bring Saeed home, according to your will.  Thank you for all of our blessings, each and every day.  In the name of your son, Jesus, we pray. 

Amen.


"An Iranian court rejected an appeal from Saeed Abedini, the American pastor held in Iran for his Christian faith, and refused to reduce the eight-year prison term his supporters believe is tantamount to a death sentence, according to his family and lawyers, Fox News reports. Abedini, 33, an American citizen who lives in Idaho with his wife and two children, has been held in Iran's Evin Prison since last September, following his arrest on a bus. His supporters say he has been beaten and tortured in the prison, and that he was only in Iran to try to start a secular orphanage. "While we remained hopeful that Iran would use its own appeal process to finally show respect for Pastor Saeed's basic human rights, again Iran has demonstrated an utter disregard for the fundamentals of human rights," said Jordan Sekulow, executive director of the American Center for Law and Justice, which represents Abedini's wife and children."

Read Iranian Court Nixes Appeal From Jailed American Pastor at Religion Today.

Our Father, we acknowledge that all things are according to Your Will.  Please protect the Christians of Egypt and those who are persecuted all around the world.  We ask that you bring peace to their hearts in spite of these troubled times.  We know that Your Son, Jesus, is hard at work in Your Underground Church all around the world.  Please lift our hearts and our energies, so that we may pray without ceasing in support of your will.  In the Name of Jesus we pray.  Amen.



"As if the turmoil in Egypt needed any more stirring, sources report that a leader of the Muslim Brotherhood declared that "operations against Christians will start now." The Voice of the Martyrs USA has also been keeping an eye on the deteriorating situation in Egypt. We're posting those updates at our Web site as we get them. In the midst of the chaos, God is at work. Believers are praying for the boldness to share the hope of Christ. Let them know they're not forgotten? Will you pray with them? "

Read A Muslim Cleric Stirs Up Trouble, by Voice of the Martyrs, at Mission Network News.

Katy Writes:

My faithful father has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. All my prayer is that God's purposes are served; my family is raised and many graces given through his offering. 

Thank you for prayers and I add mine for those suffering around the world.







Bless the LORD, O my soul, And all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none  of His benefits; Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases; Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion; Who satisfies your years with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle. The LORD performs righteous deeds And judgments for all who are oppressed.

Psalm 103:1-6


Bless your heart, Katy, for you focus on His will and the blessings that are still present in your life.  Moreover, you continue to pray for those who suffer in the world, in spite of your very own difficulties.  You have the right idea!  You also have our prayers, Katy!  Bless the LORD who heals all disease.  His will be done.  Amen.

International Christian Concern (ICC) continues to follow the developing situation in Egypt as the country erupted into violent chaos on Friday.  Islamists and other opponents of last month's military takeover fought security forces and their civilian allies in street battles across the capital and other cities. Currently, over 1,000 people are dead, and 48 churches and 160 Christian-owned buildings have been attacked.

Please stop and pray fervently for Egypt:
 

• Pray for the safety of the people of Egypt. Since Wednesday, over 1,000 have been killed across the country. There have been numerous violent clashes between supporters of the deposed Islamist President Mohamed Morsi and the Egyptian army and security forces. 
  
• Pray for Christians, as they have been targeted in the violence. There have been 48 churches attacked in the past few days, as well as 160 Christian-owned buildings (churches, schools, monasteries and businesses). Security forces have not been protecting Christians or their property. 
  
• Pray for many the Christians hiding in their homes for nearly five days to try to avoid the violence. They are living with a spirit of fear.  Many have said the situation is very bad. 
  
• Pray for the families of those who have been wounded or killed in the fighting. 
  
• Pray for the leadership to make wise choices. 
  
• Pray for peace in the nation.

 For more updates with pictures please, follow our Egypt Updates on facebook.

Sincerely in Christ,
Jeff King, President, ICC

International Christian Concern
www.persecution.org
2020 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, District of Columbia   20006
Phone: 1-800-422-5441

Read WEA Asks for Prayer for Egypt at Mission Network News.






"The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) encourages Christians to pray over Egypt: for unity, for peace and stability, for justice for all, for wisdom and skill for fledgling democratic institutions, and for a smooth return to civilian rule...

"Human rights and freedom of religion have been under attack. The economy has been deteriorating...

"As you pray for the nation, please pray for the region as a whole--especially for the appalling and violent situation in Syria. What happens in Egypt, the largest nation in the Middle East, has significant influence in the whole region as well."

Read Imprisoned Pastor's Torture-Related Internal Injuries Growing Worse at Religion Today.






There has been good and bad news regarding Pastor Abedini coming out of Iran.  The good news is that his family has been able to visit him, their last reunion this past Monday.  The bad news is that he is still bleeding internally.

"Unfortunately, Pastor Saeed's internal injuries are causing him increased pain. He has been suffering from internal bleeding -- the result of intense beatings he has sustained in prison for his faith. Iranian authorities recently allowed Pastor Saeed to be treated by a doctor at a local hospital, and since that time he has continued to take the medication he was prescribed. However, his pain has recently increased to the point that on one occasion, he fainted from the immense anguish." 

I just received this prayer request.  

"Please say a prayer for my next door neighbors, Joe and Roz. They just lost their daughter to kidney failure. It's very sad."

Dear Father, please hold Joe and Roz close to Your bosom in this, their time of grief.  It is a very sad and difficult time for them.  Help us to understand this kind of loss, and bring all to reconciliation with Your Tremendous Will.  We may not understand the joy to be held that this darling has come home.  Thank you, LORD, for your help in this and all matters.

In the name of Jesus we pray.  Amen.




The LORD is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Psalm 35:18

Read Islamic Hard-Liners Call for Execution of Christian Convicted of Blasphemy in Pakistan, by Charisma News, at persecution.org. 

"A Christian man accused of sending blasphemous texts was sentenced to life in prison, despite the evidence against him was suspect. Now, Islamic hard-liners are calling for the court to exchange the sentence of life in prison for a death sentence. Two other Christians have also been accused of sending blasphemous texts and are now under arrest and await trial."


Dear Father, we come to you today to thank you for Your blessings, for Your miracles.  We ask for a miracle now.  Please protect and comfort those Christians who are behind bars for no other reason then that they believe in You.  Now, believers are threatened with the death penalty in Pakistan, because they have been accused of sending blasphemous texts.  Some have already received sentences of life behind bars.  We ask that You give permission for miracles of freedom in their cases.  Please protect and keep them from suffering, though they suffer in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ.  Please help us to understand the miracles that happen every day in Your Underground Church.  Thank you for all of Your Great Gifts to us this day.  In the name of Jesus, we pray.  Amen.