Please go to prayer for the believers in Iran. Brother Youcef Nadarkhani was recently assaulted and imprisoned by Iranian state agents in what seems like a widespread persecution of Christians.

Brother Youcef Nadarkhani

Brother Youcef’s original “crime” was simply saying a few words of protest against the extreme indoctrination of his children in their elementary school. He was eventually charged with “apostasy” and sentenced to death in 2010. That decision was upheld by the Iranian Supreme Court in 2011 after appeals. By the grace of God, he was acquitted of apostasy in September of 2012, but was subsequently found guilty of “evangelizing.” He returned to prison, completed his sentence, and was released in January of 2013. Recently, he and deacons Mohammadreza Omidi, Yasser Mossayebzadeh, and Saheb Fadaie have been charged with “acting against national security” by “promoting Zionist Christianity.”

They were pursuing appeals, when unexpectedly, the Iranian government launched widespread arrests. We have received reports that a group of officers forced their way into the Nadarkhani home after their teenage son opened the door. The son was shot with a taser and knocked to the floor. Then Brother Youcef was physically assaulted, tasered, and arrested, all in front of his terrified family. Neither Brother Youcef nor his son offered any resistance to the attackers.

Brother Youcef has been transferred to the notoriously brutal Evin Prison in Tehran, where many Christians and opponents of the Iranian regime are held. Although this prison is known for its brutality and lack of medical treatment, we know that by the Promises of God, the Angels of the Lord will encamp about our brother to protect him from harm.

Evin Prison in Tehran

Please join us in prayer for these servants of the Lord and their families, who are probably suffering even worse than the imprisoned brothers. Remember, the prophet taught us that prayer is the most powerful weapon ever placed into the hands of man. Neither government sanctions, nor rhetoric, nor even a nuclear bomb can compare with what one true believer can do when he or she goes to prayer before the Almighty God. The prayers of the Bride of Christ can change the world.

Here is the previous article that was posted about Brother Youcef: Iranian Persecution