Tag Archives: Prayer

Imprisoned Pastor’s Wife Speaks Out On Second Anniversary

The wife of imprisoned American Pastor Saeed Abedini is speaking out about the lack of moment by the U.S. government on her husband’s behalf as he marks two years behind bars.

Naghmeh Abedini addressed the issue on Friday ahead of her speech Saturday at the Values Voter Summit in Washington, D.C.  She says that the Obama administration has gotten better about speaking about her husband’s plight over the years.

“They’ve come a long way,” said Naghmeh. “The first six months when Saeed was in prison there were no statements. The last year and a half we’ve seen a few statements.”

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry last spoke of Saeed’s plight where he also called for the release of other Americans being held by Iranian authorities.

“The United States respectfully calls on the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to release Amir Hekmati, Saeed Abedini, and Jason Rezaian to their families and work cooperatively with us to find Robert Levinson and bring him home,” said Kerry.  At the time, Kerry claimed the government was working hard to see the release of the prisoners.

Naghmeh Abedini is not so sure.

“I have to say it is frustrating. It has been two years. It seems like there are a lot of statements, but no action. What are we doing to get him home?” she said.

Naghmeh says that she has felt stronger support coming from countries other than the United States, which boosts her hope that her husband may soon be released from custody.

“It’s encouraging because now it just isn’t between the U.S. and Iran,” said Naghmeh. “It’s the whole world speaking out. Brazil, Canada, England and other European nations have been a great support.”

Prayer rallies for Saeed Abedini were held around the world Friday on the two-year anniversary with over 400 gatherings in countries from Brazil to Kenya.

Franklin Graham Says Christians Need To Step Up Against Persecution Abroad

Reverend Franklin Graham is making a call to Christians across America to shake off their apathy and begin to work to help persecuted Christians around the world.

“I don’t think we’re doing enough. No, I don’t. There is much more we can do,” Graham told The Christian Post.

“The greatest thing we can do is to pray — to pray for the Christians who are suffering. Saeed Abedini is on the poster behind us, but there are thousands upon thousands of Christians in Syria and Iraq who are suffering because of the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Graham spoke at the Washington vigil for Saeed Abedini, whose plight has been largely ignored by the State Department and Obama administration.

Graham was also critical of Muslims around the world that have not taken steps to stop Islamic extremism.  Graham believes if they truly are against the movements of groups like ISIS or Boko Haram, they would be taking action.

“Followers of a peaceful religion do not cut off the heads of innocent people in the barbaric action the world has been watching,” said Graham before those gathered.

“Believers in a peaceful religion do not kidnap 300 young school girls as Boko Haram did in Northeastern Nigeria in April. … Men who practice a peaceful religion do not detonate bombs on American streets during a marathon race to kill and to maim.”

Worldwide Prayer Vigils For Saeed Abedini

Friday is a day of worldwide prayer for Pastor Saeed Abedini.

The event was organized by Saeed’s wife Naghmeh and is including groups of Christians from the United States to Mexico to Kenya.

The American Center for Law and Justice says the event is focusing on prayer for Abedini as the day marks the 2nd anniversary of his wrongful imprisonment for being a Christian.  The event will also pray for other Christians imprisoned around the world for professing Christ.

At the Washington, D.C. event, Naghmeh Abedini read a letter that Saeed wrote to his daughter for her recent eighth birthday.

“I know that you question why you have prayed so many times for my return and yet I am not home yet,” it read. “The answer to the why is who. Who is in control? [The] Lord Jesus Christ is in control.”

“Jesus allows me to be kept here for His glory,” Abedini continued. “He is doing something inside each of us and also outside in the world. People die and suffer for their Christian faith all over the world and some may wonder why. But you should know the answer of why is who. It is for Jesus. He is worth the price. And He has a plan to be glorified through our lives.”

Arizona Coach Suspended For Praying With Team

An Arizona football coach is riding the bench for two weeks because he prayed with his team.

Tom Brittain, head varsity coach at Tempe Preparatory Academy, has asked a member of his team to lead a prayer.  The coach then joined the students after they began praying.

That’s when Headmaster Dr. David Baum swooped in and suspended the coach because he dared to pray with his team.

He also gleefully stood by his decision.

“I think I preserved the religious freedom of our students, who have to have the liberty to be able to practice or not practice their religion on our campus, without interference by adults,” Baum said.

Parents were outraged at the anti-Christian action taken by Dr. Baum.  They showed up at the homecoming game last week with T-shirts showing support for the coach saying “Let Tom Coach.”  Students also had a poster with the “we believe in Coach Brittain” message and had personal notes of support for the coach.

Self Proclaimed “Man Of Faith” Stops School Prayer Chain

A school superintendent who claims that he is a “man of faith” told a school principal and his teachers that they can no longer have a prayer chain for the sick and needy.

“I’m a man of faith who wants good for all, but I’m also a firm believer in separation of church and state,” Medina Schools Superintendent Dave Knight told The Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Still, this “man of faith” Dave Knight told Principal Chad Wise of A.I. Root Middle School that he had to stop a prayer chain for community members dealing with a number of difficulties.  The plan was to uplift those who were facing illness, dealing with family deaths or in the middle of neglect or abuse cases.

“Public school staff can’t use district resources, including email, to promote prayer, especially when the principal, a person in a position of influence, is involved,” “Man of Faith” Knight told reporters. “When it comes to separation of church and state, it’s very clear.”

The principal was advised a single e-mail asking for keeping a family in “thoughts and prayers” was permissible but the prayer chain was a bridge too far.

Principal Wise says he will continue the prayer chain on his own time outside of school e-mail and outside the reach of “man of faith” Knight.

High School Cheerleaders Stand Against Anti-Christanists

A group of Tennessee high school cheerleaders is refusing to allow out of state anti-Christian groups to take away a tradition of pre-game prayer before football games.

Oneida High School had been offering prayers over the loudspeaker before the start of football games since 1930.  Two years ago, the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association told schools to stop doing the prayers because of threats of lawsuits from those wanting to remove Christians from society.

The school continued but began to get threats from outside anti-Christianist groups because of the prayers.  So the school replaced the prayers with a moment of silence.  The team, coaches and fans said they could feel a difference in the atmosphere at the games when the prayers stopped.

And that’s when the cheerleaders stepped in.

Cheerleader Asia Canada stood during the moment of silence and began to say the Lord’s Prayer out loud.  The rest of the squad joined her.  Soon, the entire stadium was saying the prayer.

And because it’s student led, the anti-Christianists can do nothing about it.

“The removal of prayer before football games wasn’t an option in my opinion,” cheerleader Kayla King told the Independent Herald. “It’s your option what you do during that moment of silence, whether you say a prayer or not, but ‘as for me and my house, we will worship the Lord.’ I’m thankful for the community I live in and hope to represent it well.”

Hundreds Rally For Prayer In School

Students, parents, community leaders and pastors gathered in Hartsville, South Carolina for a weekend rally in support of allowing prayer to be placed back in schools.

The Hartsville Center Theater hosted over 450 people who listened to leaders throughout the community talking of the need for prayer, the power of prayer and also to join together in songs of praise to God.

It was the second rally hosted by Florence One School Board member Pat Gibson Hye-Moore and Pastor of New Providence Baptist Church Cliff Leonard.  The men said it was the larger of the two events.  The event grew from a concern “that morality has plunged in America since prayer was removed from school.”

“We’re taking God out of everything,” lamented Hye-Moore. “We are taking the Creator, the one that created everything, we’re just trying to kick Him out and He’s not happy with that.”

South Carolina representatives in 2013 proposed a bill introducing a moment of silence prayer in the schools but it has not progressed beyond its introduction.

North Korea Displays Imprisoned American Missionaries

Two American missionaries that have been imprisoned in North Korea for their faith were brought out for a “press conference” designed to have the government generate propaganda.

Kenneth Bae and Jeffrey Fowle were given five minutes with a reporter to send messages to friends and family along with pleading for the U.S. government to take steps to free them.

“Right now, what I can say to my friends and family is continue to pray for me and continue in efforts in getting me released from here,” Bae told reporter Will Ripley.  Bae has been facing a sentence of 15 year hard labor for “hostile acts to bring down the government” although those “hostile acts” were never presented to anyone.

“The only hope that I have is to have someone from the U.S. comes,” Bae said.  “But so far, the latest I’ve heard is that there has been no response yet. So I believe that officials here are waiting for that.”

Bae’s family says he’s suffering from diabetes along with heart and liver problems.

Fowle told reporters that within a month he could be sharing Bae’s cell at the labor camp.  He said his treatment so far has been “good” although he was speaking with North Korean officials sitting beside him.

Anti-Christianists Angered Teammates Prayed For Injured Football Player

The virulent anti-Christian group Freedom From Religion Foundation is now using an injured high school football player in their campaign to eradicate Christians from daily life.

The group is upset because after a player from Seminole High School was injured and being tended to by trainers, players took a knee and bowed their heads in prayer for their injured teammate.

The FFRF claimed that an adult lead the prayer and so they threatened the school over it.

“It is our information and understanding that Seminole High School (is) allowing an adult, a local pastor, to act as a ‘volunteer chaplain’ for the football team,” FFRF attorney Andrew Seidel wrote.

A school spokesman said the FFRF was flat out lying about the school having a team chaplain.  The school also said that no adults are seen anywhere around the students who were praying.

“There is nothing to cease and desist because our behavior was within the guidelines in the first place,” spokesman Mike Blasewitz told television station WFTV. “No adults in the photo, no adults participating, no adults leading it.”

Anti-Christianists Get Coaches Banned From Praying But Still Complain

An anti-Christian organization that harassed a Georgia school district because football coaches were praying with players isn’t satisfied that the head of the school district has banned coaches from praying.  Now they’re angry because they think Christians are still a majority.

Hall County Superintendent Will Schofield, caving into to pressure from the anti-Christian American Humanist Association, sent an e-mail to staff members saying that prayer is “off-limits for teachers and coaches” and that students alone can do their own prayers.

“The Hall County School District wholeheartedly defends the almost unlimited rights of students to exercise their religious beliefs,” Schofield wrote. “As long as activities do not infringe upon or disrespect the religious beliefs of others, or disrupt classroom instruction or school routines, students have the right to pray, read religious materials, talk to their classmates about their beliefs, and … form clubs or associations with students who share similar interests.”

The anti-Christianists made it clear their motivation was not really about stopping teachers from praying with students, but the elimination of Christians.

“It is not encouraging that Schofield referred to students’ religious freedom while in school as almost unlimited, as that sends a signal to the community that a culture of Christian predominance can continue,” AHA attorney David Noise wrote. “Based on the extensive feedback that we’ve received from the community, it’s clear that non-Christians feel that the atmosphere of Christian privilege is overwhelming, and the Schofield statement seems more concerned about appeasing the majority than addressing that problem.”

The AHA did not say if they will abandon their threat of a lawsuit.