After four years of torture, Iran released imprisoned Pastor Saeed Abedini to a very thankful wife.
Naghmeh Abedini shared her praise and gratitude on Facebook, thanking everyone from Franklin Graham to her local pastor:
I wanted to say thank you to all of you for having prayed and have wept with us, have signed petitions and have called your government officials. Thank you for having stood with our family during this difficult journey.
I want to thank the American Center for Law and Justice, Jay Sekulow, Jordan Sekulow and the entire ACLJ team (many of who worked behind the scenes and whose names might never be known…but I know who you are and pray for you and appreciate all you do) for being there for me and my family every moment of every day from the first moments of Saeed’s arrest until now. They did not stop and they did not give up until Saeed was brought home safely. They worked tirelessly. I can not express my gratitude enough. They are a gift from God in my life.
I am also very thankful for Rev. Franklin Graham. He stood by me and my family and saw us through this ordeal. He is a great spiritual example. May God’s anointing be continually on him and his family. God has blessed me not only with a spiritual mentor, but a friend.
I am thankful for George Wood of the Assemblies of God for answering my calls and text any time of day or night and having such fatherly love for me and my family. I have come to admire him as a great spiritual advisor and a godly and wise leader that we are all blessed with.
I want to thank my Pastor Bob Caldwell who has been with me through my spiritual journey and my Christian walk. He has been a father, friend, mentor, example and much much more to me.
I want to thank the countless pastors and friends that I have met over the years of travels who have been the hands and feet of Jesus to me. They have served me, loved on me,cried with me, and rejoiced with me. You are God’s special treasures in my life.
Thank you Jesus for being with us during the difficulties of life and bringing people who help us bear them. One battle has been won of Saeed’s freedom. There are many more difficult battles and a hard road ahead.
Our family still needs your prayers.
Love you all! You have become more than Facebook friends. You have become my family. Thank you
Iran released Saeed as part of a prisoner swap late Friday night. Graham himself spoke with Saeed early this week, according to Facebook.
“I talked with Saeed Abedini from Germany today, and I know he appreciates everyone’s prayers. He and the other hostages that were released are at a U.S. military medical center there, and there is no specific word as to when he will be able to leave. Continue to keep him and his family, as well as the other former hostages, in your prayers,” Graham writes.
ACLJ leader Jay Sekulow says the fight against Christian persecution is not over just because Saeed was released. Sekulow echoes what each individual involved has stated publicly: Christians must continue to pray and fight for an end to persecution.
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