Naghmeh Abedini: Hope Is Not in Government Officials

Naghmeh Abedini: Hope Is Not in Government Officials

CBNNews.com

Friday, July 17, 2015

Naghmeh Abedini, wife of imprisoned Pastor Saeed Abedini, asked for continued strength for her husband and for her and her family as they continue to fight for his release.

The release of Abedini and four other Americans were not included in a nuclear deal reached this week between world leaders and the Iran.

"The ups and downs have really allowed the Lord to refine me and teach me to keep my eyes on him and my hope on Him instead of governments and officials," she said.

"I want to believe the best for my family, for Saeed and for my children but I continue to be in contact with the State Department and the White House and continue to pressure them that he is released immediately," Naghmeh said.

"He is in the hands of hardliners that are chanting 'death to America.' These are the people that are holding him," she said.

CBN News spoke with Nagmeh Abedini, Saeed wife, who has testified to Congress on his behalf for his freedom. After the deal was reached, she expressed her deep disappointment in it andurged Congress once again to not forget her husband.

Click play to watch her interview. Naghmet Abedini on CBN News interview

Saeed Abedini revealed this week during a visit with his father that he believes he is now a target because he is an American citizen.

He and other Christians imprisoned in Iran fear what may happen next as many inmates are expressing anti-American sentiments since a nuclear deal was reached this week.

It's a threat Abedini knows all too well. On June 3, he was viscously attacked by fellow prisoners. He was punched in the face near his left eye and nose and both eyes were beaten black and blue. However, no bones were broken.

Despite the tensions, Abedini encouraged his fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who were disppointed in the nuclear deal that left him and other Americans in prison, saying the God was still in control.

"I know that so many of you have felt that I have been left behind after a deal was reached with Iran and I am still not home," he wrote.

He is in control and He is the One who beautifully writes the history over all governments, presidents, and any P5+1 negotiating team," he said.

Read Pastor Saeed's entire letter below:

I know that so many of you have felt that I have been left behind after a deal was reached with Iran and I am still not home.

I want you to know that as I wrote the thank you letter to President Obama after he had visited my family in January of this year (which he read at the national prayer breakfast), that God is in control of all countries and leadership in the world when the body of Christ comes together in united prayer. He is in control and He is the One who beautifully writes the history over all governments, presidents, and any P5+1 negotiating team.

We are all looking for a safer, more friendly world and because of this desire many of us are happy and others un-happy about the deal. Please join me in using these emotions that have been awakened to give fervor to united prayer for God's chosen people, America, and for the whole world.

Pastor Saeed,
In chains for Christ and chained together in unity

Watch video interview

Tired of Islam, Iranians Ask ' Who Is This Jesus?'

Tired of Islam, Iranians Ask 

' Who Is This Jesus?'

By George Thomas

CBN News Sr. Reporter

Thursday, July 24, 2014

UNDISCLOSED LOCATION - Christians are the most persecuted religious minority group in Iran. Iranian believers, especially those who convert from Islam to Christianity, face even more scrutiny.

Now one television channel operating from multiple secret locations is beaming messages of hope directly into the Islamic country and Iranian authorities don't like it one bit.

These are very busy and exciting times atMohabat TV as it carries out its mission of broadcasting Christianity into Iran.

"We are seeing a huge, huge number of Iranians who are reaching out to our channel and our phone center just to reach out and find out more about Jesus," Mike Ansari, who oversees the popular channel, said.

Thirsty for Truth

Since 2006, Mohabat TV has been beaming Christian programs via satellite to Middle East, Europe, and parts of Asia. But for the channel's cast, crew, production, and office staff, their main focus is the Islamic nation of Iran.

"Many of our viewers that are contacting us from Iran, they claim that Islam has not deivered to their expectations. So when they turn the channel on and see Mohabat TV they hear a new message of Jesus, of forgiveness of love of acceptance," Ansari said.

Nazanin Baghestani manages the phone call center operations for the channel.

"Persians are really thirsty for the truth, they really want to know who is this God that we talk about, who is this Jesus, is He real or is He just a prophet?" Baghestani said.

To answer those and many other questions, the channel has deployed Farsi-speaking Christian counselors in different time zones around the world.

Baghestani said they take an average between 8,000 and 10,000 calls a month from Iranians.

"That's when we open the subject, we preach the gospel and so many give their hearts, so many receive Him," Baghestani said.

Secret, Dangerous Broadcasting

But producing Christian programs for Iran is not without its challenges. The bulk of Ansari's productions for the channel are done outside of Iran from multiple secret locations for safety and security reasons.

"Our channel and our signals are getting jammed on a daily basis inside Iran. It is true that the phone calls are being monitored and people who try to contact us may get persecuted," Ansari said.

In June 2011 a Christian man's house got raided by Iranian authorities as he was on the phone with a Mohabat counselor.

CBN News obtained an audio recording of the conversation between the phone counselor and a member of Iran's secret police. On the recording the police officer describes what happened when he broke into the house of the Christian man.

The audio has never been released to the public until now.

"I arrested him once before then released him," the Iranian agent told the Mohabat counselor.

"I warned him not to go to the city and tell others that he is a Christian and tell them to come and become one, too," he continued. "He has caused problems for others. I just arrested him again. I swear to God I beat him up so much, I beat him so hard, he's almost dead, there is blood all over, I swear to God. I feel bad for him. Listen, lady, you guys have caused a lot of trouble for Iran's youth."

The young Christian man was reportedly killed shortly after the conversation. But Ansari said the threats are not stopping Iranians from watching the channel, which provides 24-hour Christian programming.

"Remember in Iran there is no such thing as a church as you and I know outside of Iran. So many Iranians who are curious or have recently given their hearts to be called Christians find it easier, more private and more safe to be at home watching the channel," he said.

Persecution Fueling Growth

The official religion of Iran is Islam. Christians are officially less than half of one percent of the population. The overwhelming majority are Muslim.

Christians are routinely imprisoned and labeled as threats to national security.

Open Doors, a group that has served the persecuted church for decades, has ranked Iran No. 9 on its list of 50 countries where persecution of Christians is most severe.

"We have programming on the channel that is geared just towards that to give them hope and encourage them and yet tell them that persecution is definitely a part of a Christians life, that when you become a Christian and you reside in a country that is not predominantly Christian," Ansari told CBN News from an undisclosed location.

The United Nations says at least 49 Iranian Christians are being held in jails. Among them is American citizen and Christian pastor Saeed Abedini, who is serving an eight-year prison term for refusing to recant his faith.

"We really don't want to see any of them jeopardize or being persecuted so we always tell them to act with wisdom and be wise about their new faith and the way they approach others," Ansari said.

Ansari said the harsh treatment of Christians is reportedly fueling the flames of church growth.

"We are seeing a new season right now, there are so many people who are reaching out on their own account. (It) seems that they are not afraid they just want to reach out and go beyond any kind of authority or limitations that may exist locally for them to just connect with somebody," he said.

Ansari, a native of Iran, is encouraging Christians worldwide to pray for Iran, especially now as they and millions of Muslims observe the holy month of Ramadan.

"Our goal is just to be out there and just tell them {Muslims} that there is another choice: that the prophet Jesus whom they know very well through Islam, He is more than a prophet -- that believing in Him can bring a sense of hope and a sense of new beginnings," he said.