Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Letter-writing Campaign Shows Support for Iranian Pastor Awaiting Death Sentence

By Michael Ireland
Senior Correspondent, ASSIST News Service


RASHT, IRAN (ANS) -- While Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani remains in an Iranian prison awaiting re-examination of his case on charges of apostasy sometime in September, ASSIST News Service has received word that so far 1,444 letters have been sent in order to encourage to him.

Jason DeMars of Present Truth Ministries (www.presenttruthmn.com  ) says that until Nadarkhani's case is reconsidered by the lower court, "it is critical that we continue in prayer for him, that God's purpose would be accomplished through him."

Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani (Photo courtesy Present Truth Ministries)
Nadarkhani faces execution by hanging, unless he recants his faith in Jesus Christ.

"We are receiving reports that he is standing firm and strong in his faith, even encouraging those who are discouraged, exhorting them to trust in the Lord," DeMars said.

He continued: "It is also recommended that we continue to send encouraging letters to him using Voice of the Martyr's program, 'Prisoner Alert.' Please do not include money or any other type of gift. The prison guards will take these things for themselves. The letters do not always get through to brother Youcef, but they include scripture and encouraging words, so even if only the prison guards read them, you may be planting a seed of the Word of God in their hearts.

"Also, it lets the Iranian government know that this brother is not forgotten, and that thousands of people are praying for him and are concerned about his welfare."

If you go to www.prisoneralert.com  you will see Pastor Youcef's profile. You can email Iranian officials politely requesting his immediate release, and, more importantly, you can send an encouraging letter to him in prison.
Please forward this email to your friends and ask them to take action on behalf of Nadarkhani.

** Michael Ireland is Senior Correspondent for ANS. He is an international British freelance journalist who was formerly a reporter with a London (United Kingdom) newspaper and has been a frequent contributor to UCB UK, a British Christian radio station. While in the UK, Michael traveled to Canada and the United States, Albania,Yugoslavia, Holland, Germany,and Czechoslovakia. He has reported for ANS from Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Israel, Jordan, China,and Russia. Michael's volunteer involvement with ASSIST News Service is a sponsored ministry department -- 'Michael Ireland Media Missionary' (MIMM) -- of A.C.T. International of P.O.Box 1649, Brentwood, TN 37024-1649, at: Artists in Christian Testimony (A.C.T.) International where you can donate online to support his stated mission of 'Truth Through Christian Journalism.' Michael is a member in good standing of the National Writers Union, Society of Professional Journalists, Religion Ne wswriters Association, Evangelical Press Association and International Press Association. If you have a news or feature story idea for Michael, please contact him at: ANS Senior Reporter

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