Iranian security forces closed
down the Jannat Abad Church, an Assemblies of God church in Tehran, this
past
week, leaving the 100-member church without a home this weekend.
Reports state that Iran’s
Revolutionary Guard’s Intelligence branch gave the order to close the
building
on Tuesday, June 5. Currently, only three Farsi-speaking churches remain
in
Tehran — including the Assemblies of God Central Church of Tehran, which
is
reportedly also being pressured, a Presbyterian and an Evangelical
church.
The forced closing of this AG
church follows the forced closing of another AG church in December 2011
in
Ahvaz, Iran, where the entire congregation was arrested and
interrogated.
Several months ago, Dr. George
O. Wood, AG general superintendent, met with President Obama concerning
his
administration speaking forcefully to Iranian leaders about religious
rights,
mentioning Yousef Nadarkhani, a Christian pastor who Iranian courts
sentenced
to death on charges of apostasy (abandoning Islam). It is believed at
least 20
other Christians are being held behind bars due to their faith in
Christ.
“Believers in Iran and many
other parts of the world literally place their livelihoods, their lives
and
their families’ lives on the line every time they enter their church’s
doors,”
states Greg Mundis, executive director of AG World Missions. “We need to
faithfully intercede for our brothers and sisters who are suffering so
greatly
for the name and cause of Christ.”
Wood echoes Mundis’ thoughts and concerns, stating that prayer is absolutely essential for the persecuted church. “We also need to continue to make our political leaders aware of the situation of the persecution of Christians world-wide and request local media begin covering the tragic story of the deprivation of human rights in respect to religious freedom that is occurring all over the world.”
AG News
Copyright ©2012 The
General Council of the Assemblies of God.
