We've gotten a new prayer request from Iran. As reported by Article 18, Babak Hosseinzadeh, Behnam Akhalghi and Saheb Fadaie are each serving prison sentences for "acting against national security through promoting Christian Zionism" - in plain language, they were members of house churches. House churches are illegal for Christians.
Christians who speak Persian, the national language of Iran, are not allowed to attend public churches in Iran, which are largely for ancient communities of non-Persian Iranians.
This leaves believers nowhere to go but into illegal house churches - or go it alone.
The dilemma has driven the three converts to ask the Iranian government, via videos and a letter, where they can worship 'freely and collectively' after their release from prison.
"If I am told, 'We respect your faith, we respect your beliefs, and the only problem we have with yo is that you attend a house church,' my question is, if this respect truly exists, then where should I attend a church after my release?" said Behnam in his video. "Where should I practice my faith as a Christian?"
"Just a quick glance at the charges and cases leading to the detention of Christians over the past 40 years reveals that the reason for their detention has been almost entirely related to their right to have a place to worship collectively in the Persian language," the three men said.
Pray with these brothers as they petition their government for what is guaranteed them in the Iranian Constitution - freedom to worship.
Thank God for these men and their courageous stand for religious liberty in Iran. Pray that they continue to press their campaign in the same respectful way they have done so far.
Pray the Iranian leadership will recognize the rights of Christian believers to worship together , not put them in jail for it.
Pray for all the believers who are in the Iranian prisons for gathering together to worship God as followers of Jesus. Ask Him to protect and strengthen them as they go through their ordeal
Thanks so much for praying, God bless. Taken from Open Doors USA text alert
Christians who speak Persian, the national language of Iran, are not allowed to attend public churches in Iran, which are largely for ancient communities of non-Persian Iranians.
This leaves believers nowhere to go but into illegal house churches - or go it alone.
The dilemma has driven the three converts to ask the Iranian government, via videos and a letter, where they can worship 'freely and collectively' after their release from prison.
"If I am told, 'We respect your faith, we respect your beliefs, and the only problem we have with yo is that you attend a house church,' my question is, if this respect truly exists, then where should I attend a church after my release?" said Behnam in his video. "Where should I practice my faith as a Christian?"
"Just a quick glance at the charges and cases leading to the detention of Christians over the past 40 years reveals that the reason for their detention has been almost entirely related to their right to have a place to worship collectively in the Persian language," the three men said.
Pray with these brothers as they petition their government for what is guaranteed them in the Iranian Constitution - freedom to worship.
Thank God for these men and their courageous stand for religious liberty in Iran. Pray that they continue to press their campaign in the same respectful way they have done so far.
Pray the Iranian leadership will recognize the rights of Christian believers to worship together , not put them in jail for it.
Pray for all the believers who are in the Iranian prisons for gathering together to worship God as followers of Jesus. Ask Him to protect and strengthen them as they go through their ordeal
Thanks so much for praying, God bless. Taken from Open Doors USA text alert