Update on Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani

Yay! Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani (32) has been acquitted of apostasy in Iran.

Pastor Youcef was arrected on Oct. 13, 2009, after protesting the government's decision to force all children (including his own Christian children) to read the Qu'ran. He was initially charged for protesting, but the charges were later changed to apostasy and evangelizing Muslims. He was sentenced to death in 2010.

The charges of apostasy were dropped in his trial this week, and Pastor Youcef was convicted on the lesser charge and sentenced to three years imprisonment. He has already served this time and was able to be released today.

In 2011, the Iranian Supreme Court offered to release Pastor Youcef if he converted to Islam, but he refused and remained in prison.

Praise God for this wonderful news!!

Matthew 5:10-12

You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution.

The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom.

Not only that - count yourselves blessed every time people put you down

or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me.

What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable.

You can be glad when that happens - give a cheer, even!

- for through they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds.

And know that you are in good company.

My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.

Keep praying - there are hundreds of others who are still being harassed or falsely detained in Iran for their faith.

Pray for Rimsha

Pray for 11-year old Christian girl Rimsha Masih.

She is being held in a Pakistani jail under threat of death because she allegedly was in possession of some burned religious materials - including parts of the Koran. This case comes under Pakistan's harsh blasphemy laws.

Rimsha Masih has Down's Syndrome!

She has been denied bail 'for her own safety"as authorities feel that her release would endanger her life and that of her family. Many enraged Muslins are calling for her to be burned alive. Many of Rimsha's family, and other Christians in the area have been taken into protective custody, or have left the area (the Christian section of Islamabad).

Rimsha Masih

Update on Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani:

Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani remains on death row for sharing his faith. He has been in prison since October 13, 2009

Youcef Nadarkhani and his two sons

Also: Pastor Behnam Irani
Pastor Irani is suffering terribly in an Iranian jail for preaching the Gospel in Iran. He has been severely beaten while serving out his sentence at Karaj's Ghezel Prison after his arrest in 2011. Pastor Irani is under a death sentence.

Pastor Behnam Irani

Update On Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani

Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani (husband of Fatema Pasindedih and father of two boys - Daniel, 9 and Yoel, 7) was arrested over 2 years ago on charges of apostasy - he converted from Islam when he was 19. and will not recant his commitment to Christianity. Iranian courts have found him guilty and condemned him to death.


Congress may be voting today on House Resolution 556, which condemns the Iranian government for their decision to execute this man, and calls for his immediate release.


GOOD NEWS: Iranian Pastor Youcef is still alive as no execution order has been issued as yet. International pressure seems to be working (a little) on the Iranian authorities


BAD NEWS: Pastor Youcef is still in prison with this judgment still hanging over him. The Iraian government usually acts quickly in death penalty cases, and he could be executed at any time - without further notification or appeal.


Please keep praying for this brother in Christ, and his family:

Fox News on Pastor Youcef

Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani

Please pray for this pastor in Iran (Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani) - he has been sentenced to death for leaving Islam and becoming a Christian - also because he is a pastor. He is awaiting a final ruling from the provincial court in Iran:

Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani continues to await a verdict on his impending execution. A member of his denomination, the Church of Iran, who requested anonymity, reports that Pastor Youcef is in deteriorating health from the psychological effects of solitary confinement, monitoring of all his phone calls with attorneys, and daily awaiting word of his immediate death. He has been given literature attacking Christianity as false and Islam as true in order to entrap him or induce him to recant. Therefore, his attorneys have advised him to remain silent and not respond to questions. He has also been physically hit by authorities. Pray for Youcef's strength to remain firm, for his mind to be toughened, for grace to endure his trial. Pray for increased international pressure on Iran and boldness and wisdom for Youcef. 

Sign this petition to ask US Sec. of State Hillary Clinton to pressure Iran to Save Christian Pastor:

Petition for Pastor Youcef

Also, email the Embassy of Iran in Canada and ask them to release Pastor Youcef: executive@iranembassy.ca