A Pastor’s Perspective

“Sentence: EXECUTION!” by Mike Hill, pastor of Calvary Chapel Aberdeen        

Listen to CALVARY RADIO 90.3 FM (mjhill@ida.net)  
                                 

      I have a friend that is currently being held in custody by the Iranian government.  Saeed was once a depressed, Jew-hating Muslim who became a genuine born-again, on-fire believer in Jesus.  Now he loves the Lord (and Jews!) and has passionately sought to tell others the good news about the free gift of salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ.  Countless lives in Iran have been touched by this zealous evangelist.  However, Saeed’s effective ministry within the underground church has also caught the attention of the Iranian government.  Therefore, a few years ago, Saeed and his wife, Naghmeh (an American missionary) fled to America to continue their ministry through Calvary Chapel in Boise.  When Saeed came out to speak at Calvary Chapel Aberdeen over a year ago, he mentioned that he may face execution if he ever went back to Iran.

     Iran is comprised of 99.02% Muslim believers and 0.33% Christian believers.  The following is an excerpt from the Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) website that provides further background concerning the spiritual conditions in Iran:

     “Mission organizations are not allowed to enter Iran. Open witnessing to Muslims is banned, and the government sends spies to monitor Christian groups. Believers are discriminated against in education, employment and property ownership. Muslims who leave Islam can receive the death penalty and a new law was introduced this year that would mandate the death penalty for converts” (http://www.persecution.com).

     I was recently informed that Saeed went back to Iran to encourage the persecuted church.  This reminded me of how Paul and Barnabas went back to regions where they had preached the gospel in order to strengthen “the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, ‘We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God’” (Acts 14:22).  Saeed may have thought that the Iranian government had forgotten about him.  However, he was apprehended by security before he was able to board the plane to head back to America.  Yesterday (Saturday, September 5, 2009) he stood before the same judge who sentenced two young Christian women to death.  These young women now await their execution.  Jesus said, “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28).  Saeed knows that he has a place reserved in heaven because of Jesus in his life (1John 5:11-12).  Pray that he would continue to be bold and filled with God’s Spirit.  Also, if it is God’s will, pray that the Lord would allow these Christians to be released from prison. 

     Saeed reminds me of how Peter and John responded when they were commanded not speak or teach in the name of Jesus.  They boldly declared, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge.  For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:19-20).  Saeed is willing to obey God rather than man and to face the consequences in a country where it is illegal to share the gospel.  We live in a country where it seems that many people take their freedom for granted.  Yet, it appears our freedom is slowly eroding away.  When was the last time you used your freedom to share with someone about God’s free gift through Jesus?  (See Romans 5:15-18; 6:23.)

“Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you” (Mark 5:19).