Last week believers around the world rejoiced that Christian convert from Islam Naser Navard Goltapeh was released from prison in Iran.
Naser had served nearly five years of a ten-year sentence in Tehran’s Evin Prison for running an illegal “house church” and for his alleged links to Christians in other countries.
The reason for his release is unknown, but it is a reminder to us that the Lord does hear our prayers.
Naser Navard Goltapeh served five years in prison for supposedly “acting against national security” in helping to run an illegal Farsi (Persian)-speaking congregation in Iran
At Barnabas Aid we are convinced that prayer can and does make a difference in the lives of our persecuted brothers and sisters.
When the Apostle Peter was in prison, the Christians in Jerusalem gathered and were “earnestly praying to God for him” (Acts 12:5).
Yet when Peter was miraculously freed, and made his way to the home where the believers were gathered for prayer, they did not believe at first it was really him! (Acts 12:15)
Perhaps we too can find ourselves doubting that our requests on behalf of our persecuted and suffering family will be granted. But we can be encouraged that the release of Naser demonstrates that the Lord is both able and willing to work through the prayers of His people.
Let us therefore “always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people” (Ephesians 6:18).
