Posts Tagged ‘Christian’

Dangerous Follower

Sunday, January 27th, 2013

Do you fear for your life because of your faith?  If you live in America, the answer is most likely…no.  It's a freedom that many in this country take for granted everyday.  I'm reminded when I openly walk into church on Sunday and talk about the sermon or worship with friends & family over a meal.  I see it even more clearly when I read about minister's being punished for following the same God that I do.

Pastor Abedini

The news of Pastor Saeed Abedini just flashed across the tv screen.  Sentenced, 8 years in one of the most brutal prison's in Iran.  His crime?  Threatening the national security of Iran by being a leader in Christian house churches.  His role in that ministry dating back to the early 2000's.  He's been in jail there since September 2012.  Waiting…

Pastor Abedini has a family, a wife (Naghmehz) and two small children who are currently here in America.  He was born in Iran but is an American citizen who serves in Boise, Idaho at Calvary Chapel.  He travels back & forth to Iran and has been working on building an orphanage.  On a visit there in August, government officials pulled him from a bus and arrested him all because he is a Christian.

How dangerous is it for you to love Christ? 

I can't imagine what this family is going through.  I think of my own husband preaching, freely and openly over the last 16+ years.  Never have we had to worry that he'd be carted away or placed in one of the most deadly prisons just for sharing Christ.  Loving Jesus will cost you.  For some of us, the cost might be old friends or family.  For others, it might be their very life.

Friends, we must pray.  Pray for Pastor Abedini and the many others who serve God yet live with the threat of dying for their faith.  While it never makes sense to us….God is ever aware of what it means to love Him in a world filled with sin.

Join Pastor Abedini's Facebook page — HERE

Foot Of The Cross

Sunday, October 17th, 2010

Today, we drove over to Bloomington to visit our sweetboy and attend church with him. It was great! He’s involved in a college church plant called Foot Of The Cross. {Thank you Indiana Southern Baptists for such a ministry} He plays in the worship band and helps set up early on Sunday mornings. Pretty cool, huh? I mean, hello? He’s a 20 year old college dude……sleeping in on a Sunday morning sounds more like what he would rather do. But, not him. He really likes his church and the people who lead it. So, 6:30am is his wake-up & get rolling call.

I’m so glad we went. The worship was genuine and the preaching solid. It felt comfortable and challenging at the same time. I loved the way Pastor Mat taught about the power of the Holy Spirit and spoke bravely about living to testify. Great words for an old Christian like me and for the new.

It was a great day! Thank you FOTC folks for making us feel so welcomed and for loving on our boy. As a parent who’s had to let that first chick out of the nest…..it feels amazing to know there are wonderful followers of Jesus reaching out and ministering to him.

Dear Lord
I lift up this church and its ministry to you. May they continue to grow and bless those you’ve placed in their path. I can see your hand all over what they’re doing. Thank you for the many who love you and share you every week at FOTC. I’m extra thankful for what they’re doing to minister to my son. What a blessing!
Amen

Gates & Gavin sipping complimentary Starbucks at Barnes & Nobles