Posts by Jonathan L.

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1. 

   What Do We Expect? Part 4 of 4

   Posted on February 19th, 2013 by Jonathan L.

   We’re concluding a four-part series in which Pastor David Platt instructs our prayers for the persecuted from the book of Acts. If you missed  part 1 – “Why Do We Pray?” ,  part 2 – “Who Do We Pray To?” , or part 3 – “What Do We Pray For?” , we invite you to check them out. In what was the worst persecution believers had experienced up to that point, Peter and John were thrown into prison for proclaiming Christ. Immediately upon their release, amidst increasing disapproval from outside authorities, the believers prayed the words now found in Acts 4:24-31. Teaching from this passage, Pastor David now answers the question, “What do we expect?” ‘Sovereign Lord, who (Continue reading…)

2. 

   What Do We Pray For? Part 3 of 4

   Posted on February 14th, 2013 by Jonathan L.

   We’re in the middle of a four part series in which Pastor David Platt instructs our prayers for the persecuted from the book of Acts. If you missed  part 1, “Why Do We Pray?” , or part 2, “Who Do We Pray To?” , we invite you to check them out. Then, keep your eyes peeled the final post in the series early next week. In what was the worst persecution believers had experienced up to that point, Peter and John were thrown into prison for proclaiming Christ. Immediately upon their release, amidst increasing disapproval from outside authorities, the believers prayed the words now found in Acts 4:24-31. (Continue reading…)

3. 

   Who Do We Pray To? Part 2 of 4

   Posted on February 12th, 2013 by Jonathan L.

   We’re in the middle of a four part series in which Pastor David Platt instructs our prayers for the persecuted from the book of Acts. If you missed part 1, “Why Do We Pray?” , we invite you to check it out. Then keep your eyes peeled for part 3, coming later this week.  In what was the worst persecution believers had experienced up to that point, Peter and John were thrown into prison for proclaiming Christ. Immediately upon their release, amidst increasing disapproval from outside authorities, the believers prayed the words now found in Acts 4:24-31. Teaching from this passage, (Continue reading…)

4. 

   Why Pray for the Persecuted? Part 1 of 4

   Posted on February 6th, 2013 by Jonathan L.

   Over the next couple of weeks, we’ll be highlighting a four-part series in which Pastor David Platt instructs our prayers for the persecuted from the book of Acts. In what was the worst persecution believers had ever experienced up to that point, Peter and John were thrown into prison for proclaiming Christ. Immediately upon their release, amidst increasing disapproval from outside authorities, the believers prayed the words now found in Acts 4:24-31. Teaching from this passage, Pastor David first answers the question, “Why pray for the persecuted?” ‘Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the (Continue reading…)

5. 

   Suffering Like Christ

   Posted on February 1st, 2013 by Jonathan L.

   As many of you now know, Pastor Saeed Abedini was sentenced to eight years in prison for his faith in Christ. This could prove to be far worse than a normal eight-year sentence, though that in itself would be unjust and difficult. Evin Prison, where Pastor Saeed is supposed to serve his time, is one of the most brutal prisons in the world. According to reports from survivors, time spent in Evin is comprised of  regular beatings, malnutrition, horrible living conditions, torturous interrogations, and Islamic propaganda. Full reports can be found on ACLJ and FOX News websites. This leaves us (Continue reading…)

6. 

   Pastor Saeed Sentenced to 8 Years

   Posted on January 28th, 2013 by Jonathan L.

   Pastor Saeed Abedini, previously mentioned on our blog, was put on trial last Monday in Tehran, Iran. Handling his case is Judge Abbas Pir-Abbassi, infamous for harsh rulings and sentences, and thereby deemed a “hanging judge.” The  American Center for Law and Justice reported that ”the regime alleged that Pastor Saeed intentionally sought to sway the minds of Iranian youth by turning the youth toward Christianity and against Islam, the official religion of Iran.” In addition to this, he is also being accused of creating “a network of Christian house churches.” Perhaps this was the scariest thought to the current Iranian regime. The growth (Continue reading…)

7. 

   New World Watch List

   Posted on January 24th, 2013 by Jonathan L.

   Open Doors released their updated World Watch List earlier this month.  The list ranks the countries in which Christians are most persecuted for their faith.  As they note in a press release earlier this month, persecution is on the rise in a lot of African countries.  They point to an increase in the influence and thinking of Muslim extremist groups such as Boko Haram in Nigeria. One of the African countries that is feeling the effects of this extremism is Eritrea .  Located in the Horn of Africa right next to Ethiopia and Somalia (numbers 15 and 5 on the list, respectively), (Continue reading…)

8. 

   Pray for the Persecuted: A Tale of Two Cities

   Posted on January 18th, 2013 by Jonathan L.

   The following was posted by Eric Parker earlier this week on the Radical blog .   Persecution comes in many different forms and on many different levels throughout the world today. We  previously  brought attention to news surrounding pastor/speaker  Louie Giglio  and his recent withdrawal of his acceptance to deliver the benediction at the Presidential inauguration on January 21. This was due to the controversy generated around a sermon that he preached in the 1990′s condemning homosexuality in particular, and sin in general. There are many implications that flow from this, but at the very least, one of those implications is the further restriction of (Continue reading…)

9. 

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   Secret Church Simulcast: A Great Option

   Posted on January 16th, 2013 by Jonathan L.

   Good Friday (March 29) will be upon us sooner than we think, and what better way to celebrate Christ’s redeeming work on the cross than to study the consummation of that redemption in “Heaven, Hell, and the End of the World”? At Secret Church, you can do just that. And while not everyone can attend in person, you can still participate in a very real way. Yes, and this is where it gets crazy. You can actually tune in with your closest friends and family as well as with your brothers and sisters from around (Continue reading…)

10. 

    Pastor Youcef Released, Others Arrested

    Posted on January 14th, 2013 by Jonathan L.

    Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani was released for a second time on Monday after being re-arrested on Christmas day.  This is the latest development in the three-year-long roller coaster of Pastor Youcef’s arrest and imprisonment in which, at one point, he was sentenced to death.  According to an  Open Doors prayer update , his latest January 7 release came “with orders to report back in 30 days to complete some documentation.” Pastor Youcef’s release is great news.  However, it may be some of the only good news to be found concerning Christians in Iran these days.  The same Open Doors prayer update  reports that just two days (Continue reading…)

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