In recent days, two North Korean Christians were killed for the sake of the Gospel.  One was shot at the border as he courageously returned to his country after receiving Bible training in China.  The other believer died from torture in one of the despicable prison camps reserved for enemies of the state.  An estimated 70,000 Christians of all ages have been interned in these harsh prison camps, where Communist doctors conduct poisonous experiments on them with chemical and biological weapons.

In addition, this week Kenneth Bae, an American citizen detained in North Korea in November, was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor for “hostile acts.” Bae is a Christian and was in North Korea to feed starving orphans when he was arrested.

Please intercede on behalf of these dear suffering believers, who endure abuse and torture for their faith in Christ and who take great risks for the Gospel’s sake, knowing the Word of God is not bound.     

Over two billion people in the world have no access to the Gospel—no Bible, no church, no Christians, no hope. Since many of them live in countries closed to traditional missionaries, how will they hear the Good News? One way is that Christ is calling and equipping men and women with skills—professionals—to use their talents to reach people who are hard to get to. The Power of His Rising is an inside look at how this is unfolding in South Asia, where baristas and bakers, pilots and farmers are a force for the Gospel! It’s an amazing journey by land, sea and air—down crowded streets and remote rivers—to find light shining in darkness and persecuted believers singing because of Jesus! Dispatches from the Front opens yet another window to see Christ at work in the world through His endless life and relentless grace!

The 6th episode of the Dispatches from the Front series, set in South Asia, premieres this weekend! DVDs are available for purchase HERE beginning at 5 pm TODAY (Friday, April 19, 2013) at a special introductory rate of $10 (+S/H) from now through June 15th!

PREMIERING AT:

North Hills Community Church

• Sunday, April 21, 2013
• 8:30 am; 10:45 am; and 5:00 pm
• 4952 Edwards Road, Taylors, SC 29687

Heritage Bible Church

• Sunday, April 28, 2013
• 5:30 pm
• 2005 Old Spartanburg Road, Greer, SC 29650

VIEW THE TRAILER HERE:

Running Time: 65 minutes

Special Features include a PDF Study Guide as well as an Image Gallery and the song “The Power of His Rising” (MP3, chords and piano sheet music).

• When: Friday, June 14, 2013, from 9 AM to 3:30 PM
• Where: Colonial Baptist Church, 2221 Centerville Turnpike, Virginia Beach, VA 23464
• Download or Print the Invitation with Agenda:

• Registration: There is no charge for this conference, however we ask that you register to let us know of your plans to attend. You can do so by using the link in the above Agenda or by clicking the “Sign Up” button below. Attendees are responsible for their own meals and lodging. Coffee and snacks will be provided during the break.

• Recommended Hotels: 
  • The Founders Inn and Spa
    • 5641 Indian River Road, Virginia Beach, VA  23464, 1.757.366.5700 or online
    • Rates: use the rate code “FMI” to receive the discounted nightly rates for Colonial Queen or Two Queen Rooms below: Thursday, June 13: $105 per night + tax; Friday-Saturday, June 14- 15: $115 per night + tax (no booking deadline to get these rates)
  • Hyatt Place Chesapeake/Greenbrier
    • 709 Eden Way North, Chesapeake, VA 23320, 1.757.312.0020 or online.
    • Two different options: Rate is based on availability at time of booking – so book your rooms ASAP.  All reservations must be guaranteed with an acceptable form of payment. To cancel a reservation please do so by 3pm EST 24 Hours Prior to Arrival. Check-in time is 3pm. Guests may be checked-in earlier depending on occupancy levels and availability of ready rooms. Check out time is noon.
      • Special Nightly Rate of $109 + tax for 1 King or $119 + tax for 2 Queens (using the special code: “G-FRNT“ in the box labeled group/corporate #; or by referencing “Frontline Missions International room block rate”; rate available only if booked before May 13, 2013)
      • Special Nightly Rate of $86 + tax (using special code “30857” online in the box labeled group/corporate #; or by referencing the ”Chesapeake Churches Rate” on the phone; may not be available for any or all nights, as this is a general region rate)

 FUTURE 2013 PASTORS’ CONFERENCE: MORE DETAILS AVAILABLE SOON!

•  2013 PASTORS’ CONFERENCE: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK
  • When: Friday, November 8, 2013, from 9 AM to 3:30 PM
  • Where: The First Baptist Church in the City of New York, 265 West 79th Street (corner of 79th and Broadway, just steps away from the 1 train 79th Street station), New York, NY 10024
  • Agenda for this event is identical to the Pastor’s Conference in Virginia Beach.
  • Registration will open on September 1, 2013.

OTHER EVENTS HOSTED BY FRONTLINE IN 2013:

In 2013, Frontline Missions International will be hosting three Frontline Experience (FX) conferences in three different cities along the East Coast! Choose either a one-day conference in Virginia Beach or New York City or an extended two-day conference in Brevard, NC.

• FX-VB (Frontline Experience: Virginia Beach)
  • When: Saturday, June 15, 2013, from 9 AM to 5 PM (check-in begins at 8 AM)
  • Where: Colonial Baptist Church and Virginia Beach Theological Seminary, 2221 Centerville Turnpike, Virginia Beach, VA 23464
  • More Details about Applying and Registration Fees at www.FrontlineExperience.org.
  • Applications for this event are now open!

• FX-TW (Frontline Experience: The Wilds)
  • When: Friday, September 27, 2013, at 5PM thru Saturday, September 28, 2013, at 7PM
  • Where: The Fremont Center at The Wilds Christian Camp and Conference Center, 1000 Wilds Ridge Road, Brevard, NC 28712
  • More Details about Extended Conference and FX-TW Costs Available Soon.
  • Applications will open on July 1, 2013.

• FX-NYC (Frontline Experience: New York City)
  • When: Saturday, November 9, 2013, from 9 AM to 5 PM
  • Where: The First Baptist Church in the City of New York, 265 West 79th Street (corner of 79th and Broadway, just steps away from the 1 train 79th Street station), New York, NY 10024
  • Agenda for this event is similar to FX-VB. More Details about FX-NYC Available Soon.
  • Applications will open on September 1, 2013.

The FX program is designed to equip spiritually mature, ministry focused individuals with the skills needed to minister in places where there is open and systematic hostility to the Gospel. If you have individuals or couples in your congregation who are interested in following Christ, making Him known, and accepting the risks of taking the Gospel to even the hardest places, the Frontline Experience is designed to help equip them for this pursuit.

Contact Us

Frontline Missions International • PO Box 829 • Taylors, SC 29687

(864) 451-5550 • office@frontlinemissions.info • www.FrontlineMissions.info

“Pastor Saeed Abedini Still in Prison as Trial Begins; Iranian Media Accused of Lying”

By Stoyan Zaimov , Christian Post Reporter

January 21, 2013|4:57 pm

“American Pastor Saeed Abedini has not been freed on bail and remains facing trial and possibly the death penalty in Iran, according to a statement by his wife released on the first day of his trial.

“‘This is all a lie by the Iranian media,’ Naghmeh Abedini shared in a statement to the American Center for Law and Justice, who are representing the pastor’s wife and two children in the United States. The group confirmed that contrary to an Associate Press report that says Iranian authorities have claimed that the pastor has been released, Abedini remains in Evin Prison in Tehran.

“‘This has been a repeated promise by the Iranian regime since Saeed was first thrown in prison on September 26, 2012. We have presented bail. After the Judge told Saeed’s lawyer that bail was back on the table, the family in Tehran ran around in circles today to make sure Saeed was let out on bail. But again the bail officer rejected bail. This is a game to silence the international media,’ Naghmeh Abedini explained.

“‘The lawyer in Iran was asked to make a statement, but that was before the family’s attempts today and before the regime again rejected bail. Dr. Sarbazi told me today that the regime is not dropping the charges against Saeed – this is the only act that would allow Saeed to leave Iran and return to the U.S,’ he added.

“Pastor Abedini appeared on Monday before Judge Pir-Abassi, a notorious ‘hanging judge,’ in Branch 26 of the Iranian Revolutionary Courts, where he was charged with attempting to undermine the Iranian government by creating a network of Christian house churches. The alleged evidence of the pastor’s activities dates back to 2000, when he converted from Islam to Christianity. Prosecutors are saying that Abedini has been trying to influence Islamic youths to convert to Christianity, which is a crime punishable by death in Iran.

“Dr. Naser Sarbazi, Abedini’s lawyer in Iran, was only allowed to see the court filing one week before the trial, and was given less than 24 hours to meet with the 32-year old pastor and prepare a defense, the ACLJ noted. The lawgroup say that Dr. Sarbazi still managed to present a strong case for why Pastor Abedini’s work was not a threat to the national security of Iran, and positioned that the American was motivated solely by his faith and was without a political agenda.

“A number of lay church leaders have apparently been summoned to court to testify tomorrow about the pastor’s work in Iran, but it is unclear how long the trial will go on for. It is also not certain what kind of sentence Judge Pir-Abassi is planning on giving Pastor Abedini, but a lengthy prison sentence or even capital punishment are possibilities. Abedini has spoken out about his fears of being put to death for his faith, and the judge in question was declared in 2011 by the European Union as an individual subject to sanctions for human rights violations for sentencing a number of human right activists to death.

“‘Judge Pir-Abassi could render his verdict as early as next week, which means there is still time for the leaders of the free world to speak out loudly on Pastor Saeed’s behalf,’ Jordan Sekulow, Executive Director of the ACLJ, urged in the press release.

“‘We know from past cases that strong international support is crucial, but the responsibility to support a U.S. citizen starts with our own government. While we patiently await Pastor Saeed’s verdict there is still time for President Obama and Secretary Clinton to stand publicly with this U.S. citizen,’ Sekulow added, pointing to a public petition to the U.S. government calling for more action to be taken on the pastor’s behalf.

“U.S. National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor has said that the State Department needs to take all necessary action to help Pastor Abedini.

“‘We remain troubled by the case of U.S. citizen Saeed Abedini, who was arrested by Iranian officials more than three months ago on charges relating to his religious beliefs,’ Vietor shared in a statement reported by The Jerusalem Post. ‘We call upon Iranian authorities to release him immediately.’

“Rep. Frank Wolf (R Virginia) added: ‘The president and secretary of state need to speak out over and over to draw attention to the dire situation of persecuted Christians in Iran and in the Middle East.’”

(Article Courtesy of The Christian Post at http://www.christianpost.com/news/pastor-saeed-abedini-still-in-prison-as-trial-begins-iranian-media-accused-of-lying-88645/).

After keeping him under surveillance, authorities in Tehran indicted him four months ago and put him in the notorious Evin Prison. Abedini could potentially be facing a death sentence for apostasy and proselytizing. His wife, Naghmeh, reported that her husband has endured harassment and torture in prison. Please intercede for both Pastor Saeed and his wife back in Idaho that they would experience a special sense of the Lord’s presence and strength as they suffer for Christ’s sake.