Gary and I had an enormous opportunity to hear the testimony and story of Marziyeh Amirizadeh and Maryam Rostampour Saturday evening. I will say time and again these two are the most eloquent and graceful women I have ever had the pleasure to meet, there is no doubt in my mind they have encountered Jesus. Their story penetrated my soul and made me even more aware of the persecution that so many of my Christian brothers and sisters endure in other countries and gave Gary and I a hunger for a deeper and more profound relationship with Jesus Christ. Both Marziyeh and Maryam shared their stories of being arrested and held captive in horrendous conditions in Iran’s most notorious prison named Evin. The horrible torture that men and women face for being in a religious minority is disgusting and devastating. Our heart simply shatters for the persecuted around this globe.
Gary and I both often pray for those being displaced, beaten, beheaded, hanged, raped, sold into slavery, mocked, scorned, and tortured. Many of my friends and fellow Christians in every part of the world are so consumed with our own comfort and lives that we have become over complacent and turn a blind eye to the brutality in the world. We can no longer ignore this global crisis. Gary and I are committed to changing the perspective in our family and friends. We have signed countless petition’s to a number of nations and embassies around the word. These petitions make world governments aware that the Global Community of Christians are cognizant of the mistreatment of Christians and religious minorities in every part of the word and we are calling for the Holocaust to stop and imminent release of the captured. I’m personally writing one letter a week to Pastor Saeed in Iran. After hearing the testimony and story from Marziyeh and Maryam I will do this and pray that it make a difference. Please read Captive In Iran for more information and how these letters can benefit not only the prisoner but touch the heart of the prisoners, guards and the persecutors.
We are praying and believing Jesus will return and if this persecution is to continue, we will still place our hope and faith in Christ. There will be a day when the United States is no longer a Super Power and we will fail to protect the blessed land that has been gifted to us due to our foundation in Christ being forgotten and ignored. If our own national ignorance brings forth torture on our very own soil, so be it.
Gary and I continue to pray for strength and courage for those facing persecution to remain steadfast in their faith and that their pain, suffering and ultimate demise will not go in vain. We also continue to pray for our government and its leaders. In the early 1930’s the United States of America after countless pleads for help chose to ignore the initial warnings of the Jewish Holocaust. We eventually entered WWII in 1941. With today’s media, technology and social outlets sending continuous information, pictures and videos we cannot turn a blind eye and portray ignorance this very moment. We must speak up for the current Genocide. For those who choose to remain silent and do nothing, we pray for your courage. In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.
The Bible tells us in Romans 15:1 Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves.
Proverbs 25:26 Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.
Please pray with us.
In Christ
The Haynes Family
Gary and I have found that The International Christian Concern website at Persecution.org to be a fantastic resource. You can click on Advocacy link and then on current petitions. Please continue to pray and pray boldly and with courage and consistency for those in torment.
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