Christian Sisters Released From Iranian Prison

Two sisters jailed in Iran for more than eight months after refusing to renounce their Christian faith were released Wednesday.

Maryam Rustampoor, 27, and Marzieh Amirizadeh Esmaeilabad, 30, were arrested March 5 on charges of "acting against state security" and "taking part in illegal gatherings."

During an August court hearing, the women were pressured to renounce their faith in verbal and written form, but both refused. "If we come out of prison we want to do so with honor," they said after the hearing, according to Elam Ministries, which supports Christians in Iran and has advocated for the women's release.

As a result of their response, the judge sent the sisters back to prison "to think about it," Compass Direct News reported. At a court hearing in October, the judge dropped the anti-state charge, but the women still faced charges of propagation of Christianity and apostasy.

"Words are not enough to express our gratitude to the Lord and to His people who have prayed and worked for our release," the sisters told Elam Wednesday.

Rostampour and Esmaeilabad were held in the notorious Evin prison, a facility that has drawn criticism in recent years for its human rights violations. Sources say the sisters were put in solitary confinement and subjected to intense interrogations.

Esmaeilabad also suffered from spinal pain, an infected tooth and intense headaches but was reportedly denied medical attention for a time. In October Rostampour had severe food poisoning.

"Maryam and Marzieh have greatly inspired us all," said Elam director Sam Yeghnazar. "Their love for the Lord Jesus and their faithfulness to God has been an amazing testimony."

Open Doors, a group that advocates for persecuted Christians, launched a campaign to free the women. The group called on supporters to contact Mohammad Khazaee, Iranian Ambassador to the United Nations, and to the Iranian government requesting the sisters' immediate release.

David Yeghnazar, Elam's U.S. director, said it is not clear why the women were released, but he credits prayer. He notes that roughly 17,000 people have spent a least a month interceding for Iran as part of Elam's Iran 30 prayer campaign.

"We're not sure of the exact reasons for their release, but certainly people have been praying for their situation," he told Charisma.

Although the U.S. State Department designated Iran as a country of "particular concern" for its religious repression, hundreds of thousands of Iranians have reportedly come to Christ in recent years. Many converts report having dreams and visions of Jesus that led them to salvation.

Yet amid the growth of underground churches, government intimidation of Christians has been increasing. Elam leaders say last year there were more than 50 known cases of arrests and imprisonment, and some cases of torture.

Despite their release, the sisters may face further legal battles. "They've been told there will be a future court hearing, so prayers continue to be needed," David Yeghnazar said. "What we don't want to happen is that people think, 'They're out. We don't need to keep praying for them.' ... I really believe that people's prayers are making a difference."

African Missions Support Group

The Vision:

The African Missions Support Group seeks to raise support for Missionary activities in Africa from Africans in Diaspora and Interested Supporters for the propagation of Christianity in Africa in the next decade of the 21^st Century.

Rationale:

Missionary work in Africa is in dire need of help. This is as a result of a combination of factors. The changing landscape of Africa, the increasing terror threats and Islamic attacks on Christian Institutions and Missionaries -the most recent being the Boko Haram violence in Nigeria, where 3 Pastors were decapitated, as well as the resource gap that is occasioned by the challenges of poor infrastructural and human capital development, corruption and bad leadership in many African countries. Added to this is the Islamic agenda for Africa, which is a new frontier of spiritual warfare that must be engaged strategically. For example, South Sudan ( a predominantly Christian and animist part of Sudan, which is due for independence, has suddenly been thrown into warfare through the sponsorship of break away groups to neutralize the plan for independence, among many other issues.

The AMSG is therefore designed to create a pool of resources to support new Missionary activities across Africa. The new Missionaries would be professionals who engage the development process, as well as propagate the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Our Mandate: ‘Occupy Till I Come’ Luke 19:13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. Christ’s clarion call to believers to continue to press forward the Mandate till every nation hears the Gospel, even as we awaits the Second Coming of our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ. If you cannot go, then your resources can send others!

Our Needs: We require:

• v Educational and Health Volunteers/Missionaries
• v Infrastructure Support: Buildings, Homes, Schools and Education Support Centres.
• v ICT Equipment and Software Support- including web development.
• v Materials Support – Borehole facilities, Books, Clothes, Shoes, Toys etc.
• v Strategic Development Advisors to engage local government and thereby direct development appropriately.
• v Effective Communication Strategists-The Church in Africa is doing much, but little awareness.

v Financial Support to carry out this Mandate.

Our Strategy:

• ü We will build a College in Southern Sudan to help raise new leadership for the emerging Christian Nation.
• ü We will execute Medical Missionaries across communities in poor and very needy areas of Africa.
• ü We will build Libraries to Support Missionaries and Bible Schools.
• ü We will provide Leadership Training for Young Christian Workers especially in underserved areas.
• ü We conduct Community Prayer Outreaches to break the Power of Satan in many traditional Communities in partnership with other Ministries.
• ü We will donate, books, clothes, shoes and food to the very needy in the areas of missionary assignments.

Our Accountability Statement: We will provide an annual audited report to our supporters and bear true allegiance to Christ in the management of resources. An International Advisory Board will oversee this initiative.

To support this vision, write or email the contact address below:

Lakeside Intl Christian Ministries, Plot 300, Lugbe FHA, Box 18063, Garki, Abuja, FCT, Nigeria. lakesidemin@gmail.com; +234-802-660-8087

Are You Coming to the Celebration?

Are You Coming to the Celebration? by Lara Odetoyinbo

So he answered and said to his father, "Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends." (Luke 15:29)

God is concerned with bringing people from death to life. His heart rejoices over each person who returns to Him from a time of rebellion. If your heart is like God's, you, too, will rejoice when a sinner returns to the Father.

Jesus' parable about the prodigal son is as much about the older son who remained as it is about the wayward son or the father. Year after year the older son labored for his father, waiting for a future reward. He had seen the brokenness his brother's rebellion had caused his father. Yet when his brother returned, the older son did not rejoice with his father. He felt no pleasure in seeing his father happy. His concern was for himself and the injustice he perceived he'd been dealt. He felt like a martyr and totally missed the blessing of celebrating with his father.

It is possible to serve God year after year and yet have a heart that is far from Him. You might be one of the hardest workers in your church and yet be filled with bitterness because others do not share your load. You can become so preoccupied with your spiritual labors that when God works miracles in the lives of those around you, you cannot rejoice.

If you serve the Lord out of duty or habit, but not out of joy and gratitude, you will feel like a martyr. You will envy those who are experiencing joy in the Lord while you feel weighed down by the work you are doing. This is not the abundant life your Father has planned for you. Come to the celebration, spend time with the Father, and share in His joy!