Merry Christmas!

Wishing you all a very blessed Christmas!

Below is the wonderful Carols by Candlelight service held on Sunday 22 December 2013 by Lansdowne Baptist Church in Bournemouth, UK. It includes the choir singing and a brass band. The pastor is Peter Baker. I hope you are blessed by watching this!

Here is the link to the video on You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-La9o44aVCA&list=PLo9HsE4Itoah6XXtTho0k5GgIbaUiwWx9

New Prisoner Alert Factsheet: VRUIR AVANESSIAN - Iran

 

P r i s o n e r    P r o f i l e

 Vruir Avanessian

Prisoner Name: Vruir Avanessian

Location: Iran

Date Arrested: December 2013

Date Revised: 19 December 2013

Pastor Vruir Avanessian, 61, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison on Dec. 5, 2013 for anti-government activities and the promotion of ideas contrary to the sanctity of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Pastor Avanessian was arrested Dec. 27, 2012 as he gathered at a private home with other Christians to celebrate Christmas. The pastor is an ordained minister in the officially-registered Assemblies of God Church in Iran and of Armenian heritage, Iran's largest Christian religious minority. He has served as a pastor for more than 17 years.

One of the most concerning aspects of Pastor Avanessian's case is his serious medical condition. The pastor suffers from heart disease and diabetes. He undergoes kidney dialysis three times a week at a private clinic in Tehran, and has been retired from active ministry due to his medical condition. He was unable to attend his own court hearing because he was receiving dialysis at the time. The court was fully aware of the pastor's health, and issued the three-and-a half year sentence anyway. Friends and family are extremely concerned about Pastor Avanessian's ability to withstand the rigors of prison.

Pastor Avanessian's initial court hearing was held on Sept. 7, 2013. The hearing was held behind closed doors and was closed to the public. After that hearing, the judge stated that until a verdict was announced, Pastor Avanessian was to remain at home and avoid all contact with other Christians. After the verdict was handed down, he was given 20 days to file a complaint.

According to Mohabat News and other sources, the Iranian government has been on a campaign of arresting Armenian-Iranian Christian leaders who are actively involved in the evangelisation of Farsi-speaking Iranians. In recent months several of these leaders have been summoned or  arrested by security forces and warned to completely stop their ministry activities or leave the country within 90 days. The central branch of the Assemblies of God Church in Tehran, the largest Farsi-speaking church in Iran, was ordered to be closed in May 2013, and its leader arrested.

What You Can Do?

• Pray for Pastor Vruir Avanessian. 

• Post this PrisonerAlert.com Prisoner Profile on the bulletin board in your church, Sunday School class or Christian school.

• Share a copy with your pastor, members of your Bible study group or other Christian friends.

• Write to Paster Vruir Avanessian.

Address for Vruir Avanessian:

Evin Prison
Saadat Abad
Tehran
Islamic Republic of Iran

Please Note!

When writing a letter, never mention the name of the source of your information or the name of any organization such as Voice of the Martyrs or Prisoner Alert. It is not dangerous for a prisoner to receive letters from individuals, but if an organization is mentioned they may be accused of links with 'foreign organizations' and receive harsher sentences. Also, please do not state anything negative about their government. For the latest information, including letter writing tools and helps, please visit PrisonerAlert.com.

Visit www.prisoneralert.com for updates on this prisoner.

Vruir Avanessian is also a talented singer! Below is a video of one of his songs:

Vruir Avanessian-Shahre Nasereh وروير آوانسيان شهر ناصره 

IRAN: Harsh Sentences for Believers Upheld

 Bulletin Date: 18 December 2013

On Oct. 12, 2013, an appeals court upheld the sentences given to four believers who have been detained in Shiraz since February 2012. The four, Homayoun, Korosh, Mojtaba and Vahid, were convicted on June 10, 2013, on charges of attending a house church, spreading Christianity, having contact with foreign ministries, propaganda against the regime and disrupting national security. They each were sentenced to three years and eight months in prison. Homayoun and Mojtaba have previous convictions, from 2008, for which they received suspended sentences.

On Oct. 20, four other believers were sentenced to 80 lashes each after being convicted of charges related to drinking communion wine. The men submitted an appeal, but it was rejected, according to a key source.

Across Iran, a number of other believers remain detained for their faith or Christian activities, and others  await court hearings

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Mohabat News

Photo: Iranian house church

Please Pray!

• Iranian Christians supporting these believers request our prayers that Homayoun, Korosh, Mojtaba and Vahid will know the presence and peace of Jesus each day.

• Please pray that others detained for their faith and/or Christian activities will also know the presence and peace of Jesus, and be released soon.

• Pray also that all officials involved will act justly, learn about Jesus and choose to follow Him.

"Therefore I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me. Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; when I fall, I will arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me." Mic. 7:7-8

The Voice of the Martyrs helps Christians in Iran by providing Farsi Bibles and by supporting Christian satellite broadcasts.

NIGERIA: Christians Killed and Displaced by Boko Haram

Bulletin Date: 11 December 2013

Nigeria

The Gwoza Christian community in southern Borno state has faced increased attacks from Boko Haram insurgents in recent months. Thousands have fled to refugee camps established near the Cameroon border.

As of May 2013, more than 60 Christians had been killed and thousands displaced from many villages in the Gwoza community. About 55 churches and 541 houses have been burned or destroyed. In addition, 180 houses have been vandalized, and some are now occupied by the insurgents. Most concerning is the plight of those who witnessed the murders of their family members.

The Nigerian government has offered no relief materials to save the dying children in refugee camps and has offered no compensation to the destroyed churches. Children suffer from malnutrition and disease, while
many adults suffer from peptic ulcers, high blood pressure and premature death due to repeated attacks on their villages by the insurgents.

Voice Of the Martyrs Sources

Please Pray!

• Pray for the Christians who have lost their loved ones, homes, churches and livelihoods.
• Pray that the government will step in and provide relief.
• Pray for the demise of Boko Haram and that its members will experience God's saving grace.

"Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust." Ps. 16:1

VOM staff are caring for some of the victims of these recent attacks. VOM also assists hundreds of pastors in Nigeria and also provides food, clothing and medical aid to Nigerian Christians who are attacked.

Borno State - Nigeria