Saeed Abedini, the 33-year-old American pastor imprisoned in Iran because of his faith, has been able to have an Easter message smuggled out to the world.
Abedini reportedly passed the message to family members who were allowed to visit him at the Tehran hospital where he has been held for the last five weeks.
The letter begins with wishing all a Happy Resurrection Day and then says that while he was praying in his hospital room, the Holy Spirit impressed upon him the massive number of Christians around the world today with a dead faith. That so many Christians around the world are not able to reach their spiritual potential because of their lack of faith.
Abedini goes on to say that most Christians want to experience the good things in life but don’t realize to experience the resurrection and glory of Christ we have to first experience death with Christ and die to ourselves and selfish desires.
Abedini was sentenced to 8 years in prison in January 2013 on charges that have no basis in fact. He had previously been harassed when living in Iran because he was helping home churches in worship and growth.
Over 200 people attending an Easter concert in Florida were stunned when a car smashed through the side of the church building leaving 21 injured.
Second Haitian Baptist Church was preparing for their final Easter event of the day around 8 p.m. Sunday when a car slammed through the brick outer wall of the building and rammed through several rows of pews before coming to a stop.
Fort Myers police say the car’s driver claimed the brakes in the vehicle failed as she was trying to find a place to park for the event. Officials are calling the incident “an unfortunate traffic accident.”
The congregation was seated and waiting for the concert to begin when the car came through the wall. Members of the church manually lifted the vehicle and then used car jacks to lift the car off people who were trapped beneath it.
Lee Memorial Health Systems reported 18 people were taken to area hospitals and none required surgery.
On this beautiful Resurrection weekend we wanted to wish you and your family a truly joyful and blessed Easter!
Thank you for your friendship!
Love,
“The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said…”
Matthew 28:5-6
Pastor Rick Warren released a video addressing his son’s suicide in one of the most direct manners since his death last year.
Warren told those viewing the video that the answer to everyone who has asked him how he and his wife made it through that difficult time in their lives was a simple promise: the promise of Easter.
Warren said that looking at the story of Easter through the lens of the three days is key for Christians working through the most difficult times of their lives. When we face tragedy, we’re facing the Friday when Jesus died and those following Him felt the loss of the one they truly loved. Once the shock passes, it’s like Saturday, where we look around wondering what to do and how to go on. Then Sunday arrives with a new hope because of the eternal life that arrives through the resurrection of Jesus.
He said that as Christians we will face those three days repeatedly over our lifetimes and that we need to focus on reaching the joy and victory that comes through our risen Lord Jesus.
Warren said the message he is delivering this Easter regarding his recovery from his son’s suicide and the importance of Christ’s resurrection is the most important of his entire ministry.
An Easter Prayer Breakfast was held at the White House Monday.
Invitations to the breakfast were sent to members of various denominations. The President addressed the crowd to speak about Christ and His love.
“We’re reminded how He loves us, so deeply, that He gave his only begotten Son so that we might live through Him. And in these Holy Days, we recall all that Jesus endured for us – the scorn of the crowds and the pain of the crucifixion, in our Christian religious tradition we celebrate the glory of the Resurrection – all so that we might be forgiven of our sins and granted everlasting life,” President Obama said.
The President also used the occasion to speak about the tragedy at Jewish community centers in Overland Park, Kansas, saying that nobody should have to worry about their security when gathering for worship.
The President then encouraged the Christians in attendance to not “remain on the sidelines.”
“I want to thank you for your ministries, for your good works, for the marching you do for justice and dignity and inclusion, for the ministries that all of you attend to and have helped organize throughout your communities each and every day to feed the hungry and house the homeless and educate children who so desperately need an education,” the President said. “You have made a difference in so many different ways, not only here in the United States but overseas as well.”
On Easter Sunday, 1989, I wandered into a wonderful church and heard the pastor tell me that I could be forgiven and saved by grace; I didn’t have to do it myself. That day my scarlet sins became white as snow. And for the next ten years, I went through God’s training program, conducted by the people of the church. Little did I know that God was preparing me to speak to millions of women and that I would be an instrument to help heal their scars from abortion, drugs, and sinful living. Nor did I know that He was also preparing me to be the wife of Jim Bakker. But I’m beginning to learn that broken and wounded people make the best healers. Continue reading →
