NORTH FORK, Va. (BP) – St. Louis native, Chaplain Parker Thompson, can recall the moment – more than 60 years ago – he knew he was where God wanted him as an Army chaplain in the Korean War. With the war’s end in sight in the summer of 1953, fighting grew furious as the two sides hammered out an agreement over the transfer of prisoners of war. On the backside of a blood-soaked hill near some of the deadliest fighting of the war, Thompson waited for 10 to 20 troops – whoever could make … [Read more...]
Typhoon ravages islands of the Philipines
CEBU CITY, Philippines – Missouri Baptists are headed to the typhoon-ravaged islands of the Philippines, and leaders are asking for prayer, future volunteers and funds. Dwain Carter, director of Disaster Relief (DR) for the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) and Mike Beasley, a disaster relief “white hat” from Trimble Baptist Church, will leave Nov. 13 for The Philippines joining two Southern Baptists from Texas at the request of the United Nations and the Filipino government. They … [Read more...]
Missourians break the missionary mold: CP is godsend, CPA-turned-missionary says
SANTIAGO, Chile – David Stow does not fit the stereotypical mold of a missionary, yet his role as team leader over the International Mission Board’s (IMB) office of overseas finance in Chile allows him to see the impact that all Southern Baptists can make around the world. “Fifteen years ago, I thought missionaries were preachers and people who were outgoing evangelists,” David said. He described himself, on the other hand, as an introvert who grew up attending North Star Baptist Church, … [Read more...]
European Parliament calls on Iran to free Abedini
The European Parliament Oct. 10 passed a resolution that called for the exoneration and release of American Pastor Saeed Abedini, who is imprisoned in Iran simply because of his Christian faith. The American Center for Law & Justice (ACLJ), along with our European affiliate – the European Centre for Law and Justice – has been meeting with members of the European Parliament (MEPs) detailing the facts surrounding the illegal imprisonment of Abedini, a U.S. citizen. In a press … [Read more...]
Naghmeh Abedini shares at Annual Meeting
Nagmeh Abedini shares how God has taken the persecution of her husband and turned it into an amazing opportunity to share the gospel in prison and with world leaders. Nagmeh Abedini from MBC on Vimeo. … [Read more...]
Audio interview with Naghmeh Abedini, wife of imprisoned Saeed Abedini
Click here to listen to Harold Hendrick interview Naghmeh Abedini. Naghmeh (pronounced “Nog’ may”) Abedini is being used of God to call attention to persecuted Christians worldwide. She is the wife of an American citizen, and the native Iranian, Pastor Saeed Abedini, persecuted and imprisoned in the notorious Evin Prison in his native Iran for functioning as a Christian. At the time he was developing plans for building an orphanage there on family owned property. And, she will be sharing … [Read more...]
Captive in Iran: Incredible story of courage, love
DON HINKLE/editor dhinkle@mobaptist.org A powerful book by two Iranian Christian women who spent 259 days in the notorious Evin Prison in Tehran, Iran, in 2009, gives outsiders a look at the harsh conditions and brutal persecution Christians face within the prison’s confines. Captive in Iran is the story of Maryam Rostampour and Maziyeh Amirizadeh who – over a three-year period – covertly put New Testaments in the hands of 20,000 of their countrymen, knowing that Islamic laws in Iran … [Read more...]
Wife of imprisoned U.S. pastor in Iranto speak at Ministers’ Wives Luncheon
JEFFERSON CITY – Registration for the 2013 Ministry Wives Annual Luncheon is quickly filling. “Snapshots: Women Partnering in Gospel Advancement” is the selected theme for the 2013 Ministry Wives luncheon Oct. 29 in conjunction with the Missouri Baptist Convention’s (MBC) annual meeting. “Our desire is simply to encourage and remind our MBC ministry wives that they are part of a larger story, an army of women called to advance the gospel in our generation,” said Sandee Hedger, 2013 Task … [Read more...]
Obama urges Rouhani to release U.S. pastor as prayer vigils continue
BY STAFF WASHINGTON – American Pastor Saeed Abedini is now aware that President Obama urged Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to release him from wrongful imprisonment for his Christian faith in Iran. Early on the morning of Sept. 30 in Tehran, Abedini’s Iranian family was able to sit and visit with him – through a glass partition – during regular visitation hours at Evin Prison, said a spokesman for the American Center for Law & Justice (ACLJ), which is representing the Abedini … [Read more...]
Pastor, family make return to Congo for mission work
KINSHASA, Congo – It is a dark, occult-like world, but a Missouri pastor and his family took the message of Jesus’ love to the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo during a recent mission trip. First Baptist, LaBelle, Pastor James Renot and family took a two-week trip in June to Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, a place where they served as International Mission Board (IMB) missionaries from 2005-07. Now, few missionaries are there, with even IMB pulling out. “The obstacles … [Read more...]
Naghmeh Abedini tells of persecution against her husband
VICKI STAMPS/contributing writer BOISE, Idaho – Naghmeh Abedini’s life has been turned upside down. Her husband, Saeed, an Iranian-born pastor who is a naturalized U.S. citizen, is imprisoned in Iran’s notorious Evin Prison, known by human rights watchdog groups as one of the most brutal in all the world. Saeed was arrested a year ago at his parents’ home in Iran by five Revolutionary Guards who charged the house. He was sentenced to eight years in prison for threatening “national … [Read more...]
Ethnic ministry tracks popular at Send gathering
PLANO, Texas – More than 35 percent of the registrants at the 2013 Send North America Conference signed up for one of five ethnic ministry tracks. The final tally of registrants included 1,526 participants for the ethnic tracks, which included Hispanic Leadership and Mission, Black Church Discipleship and Development, Reaching People from a Muslim Background, Korean Leadership and Development and Leadership Development for Kingdom Development in Chinese Churches. Registrants from other … [Read more...]