What if this man was your pastor? At the      time of this writing, he is in prison in Iran awaiting the execution orders to be fulfilled.

Pray for Youcef Nadarkhani. He is the pastor of about 400 people in Rasht, Iran. He is one of hundreds of Christians imprisoned in Iran for their faith. Many have been executed without official acknowledgement.

What was Youcef's crime? He questioned teachers at his sons school because his sons were being instructed in Muslim when, as he pointed out, the Iranian Constitution permits parents to raise children in their own faith.

Youcef is 34. In October 2009, He was arrested and charged with apostasy. In September 2010 he was sentenced to die. In November 2010, the court issued a written verdict with a sentence of execution by hanging.

The case has gone back and forth in the various Iranian courts and Pastor Youcef is under incredible pressure to recant his Christian faith, or die.

The Court has essentially charged that because Youcef was born into a Muslim family, he was/is a Muslim. Judges have demanded that as such he must 'repent'. Records show that at the trial Youcef responded:

"Repent means to return. What should I return to? To the blasphemy that I had before my faith in Christ?"

The Judges replied that he must return to the religion of Islam. To which, he replied, "I cannot."

In February of this year, reports suggested that the execution order has been issued. (Meaning that he could be martyred at any time).

Pray for Pastor Youcef. Pray for his family. Pray for his church. These are your brothers and sisters in Christ.

It's amazing to me, how thinking about the Global Church changes/inspires/broadens your view of scripture. But that's what it means to become farsighted.

2 Timothy 3:10-12 
You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings-what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

Do you want to live a godly life? Are you living a godly life?