Reverend Ben Cooper: 0:01

Hello, and welcome to our podcast here at Elim church in Swanley, you're joining myself, Reverend Ben Cooper and Sandra this morning as we're in the world of the persecuted church, as we always do this podcast once a week, looking into the suffering church, the persecuted church. And this week, we're going to be into Iran having a look through around Sandra's got a great bit of information on Iran this morning. And we thank you so much for sharing everything we do here in Elan church in Swanee for the podcast through social media stuff, and everything that we are doing. So we hope and pray you are all well, it's great to have you with us today. And we welcome Sandra. Good morning, Sandra. How are you today? Good morning on Well, thank you. I understand you're a bit of work yesterday. Yes, I did. All of a sudden, yes. Just out the door with my bag? And was there teaching a six class in half an hour after I just eaten my lunch? Oh, well, there you guys. And you'll find it very difficult for work, aren't you in the world of teaching? Is it is it is quite tricky at the moment that's due to classes being isolated. Yeah, you know, if one goes off, then they all go go teacher goes off. And so there's a lot of issues within in schools that men do pray for, for the schools. And, and yeah, we do need to sort of look how else we can do that, you know, the teaching. So I'm looking at online teaching and things like that, yeah, we probably got to strengthen you and keep you safe as you're going to the schools and also praying for the teachers and everybody involved in the world or the educational departments at this moment for the pandemic and COVID. So, my god bless all of you, Sandra, what do we have? Let's have a look. Okay, so we did start Iran last time. And we just gave really an overview of then what what's going on in around the background, to the setup, and the types of persecution that our brothers and sisters face. And so we said that it's an Islamic Republic. And Christianity is seen as a Western influence and threat. And that's increasing more and more that they're using that though that this sort of terming of this, they are Yes, a threat, and they are against national security. And in the examples I'm going to share with you, you're going to you're going to see that and how Christians are and targeted and how they are then

Sandra Robson: 2:36

tried and, you know, put into prison under these charges of national security. So the big thing is that there are an increasing number of converts from Islam. And and some would say that is a revival going on. It's quite amazing. How many are coming to Christ. We haven't got no figures. Not really any numbers. We knew that there were about 350,000 350,000 350 300 Yeah, 350,000 Muslim backed Christians are inside of ran. But there are but now the there could be more than that. And that was the last the last known count. And what's that information you've got there, son? What is that booklet if anyone would like to know where to find information? What book Have you got with us today? Right? Well, I was looking at this last time this is praying for the persecuted church. And this is Barnabas Fund, and they bring this out every year. So this is an overview of every country that they are involved with around the world at an in depth view. Yes, six figures. Yes, that's right. It gives you an overview, it tells you about, you know, the background of the country, it will talk about what is the Constitution, then it will explain you know, about the power structure and the government, and then how that affects Christians. And it gives you some examples as well. So it's a very good resource, a real good resource. Yes. Good bit of information in there. So that's a great story to hear. 350,000 converted over into Christianity in Iran. Yeah. And we pray that and we continue to pray, this is great news that there is a powerful move of God in Iran. Really good stuff. But it's the same old strapping on that we hear that Christians are influencing us in the wrong way. And they're a threat and everything that goes like that, but it's really still powerful to hear that there could be a revival, even though there be there is persecution, and then we've got all these labels out there in Iran. God is moving. Yeah, God is moving because as we know, you know, they're there. I'm gonna tell you a bit about what's happening with COVID and later, but the thing is that, you know, they're the people are experiencing really harsh conditions, you know, there, there's a lot of pressure on the actual people, you know, through sanctions and through COVID. And so it's a very, very difficult time for people in general. And so I think they are starting to think what is life about? And, you know, what are we doing? What are we following? Does this make sense? I think it's giving them that opportunity. And as I said, there's also a lot of supernatural things happening with the dreams and visions people have very bad, the amazing things through TV, radio, internet, it's, you know, it's really important that all they all these different multimedia things, the positive things, you know, are really having a big impact on people knowing about Jesus in Iran, this is good, this is good. They do face persecution, and more is is coming online, as there are fines and arrests, many are in prison many times over and in the in and out of prison. Yes, yes. And in my testimony is I'm going to share with you explain how that happens and why that happens. And also, many of them have been forced into exile. And as we said, a lot of them are young Christians. And, you know, there's an awful lot of pressure put on them to, you know, renounce your faith, if you don't want to do that, then leave the country and they're encouraged to do that. But also now they're bringing online prison and then internal exile. So there's nowhere else in the country being put somewhere else in disappeared. Almost. Yeah, I was gonna say in a prison somewhere like they got to be under the grip of the law somewhere. They're not just disappeared, or or do you mean when they while they're putting in internal exile means it's sort of like being on bail. The idea is that they're put somewhere else away from their friends, their family, their church or inactions, and they have to report to the local police. And that's how they finish off their sentence. So they're given a time in prison, and then they're released, but they're sent somewhere else within the nation within the nation for a certain length of time, in and outside of family lives have free contact. So the idea is that they can't carry on their Christian activities. And they put them in a place where it should be very difficult for them to be a Christian as well. Right? Okay. Sure. We get Yeah, we get here we get Yeah. Yeah. So so the authority are really, really bringing the weight down on believers. Yes. They're really bringing they've been for a long time I was it a new, a new move of the state, or we're not quite sure on that side of things, really. And it's increasing and it is a developing move of the state. I looked back at as I say, Pastor youcef Nadkarni I told you about him and that that was a pivotal point in how Iran started to look at Christians and and how they can put pressure on them. Yeah, so they change tactics. You they used to do it that try for apostasy. So if you spoke against Islam or any other you know, thing to do with the way the Islamic Republic operated, it was put under apostasy that now what they're doing is they're making it an act against national security. And they're now developing this terrorist. Almost attitude. Yeah, that that you're, you're a threat. You're undermining the government, you're undermining society, you're undermining the law. You're that so that's how they're pushing it. And as I said last time, they're now wanting to introduce this new article 500 as part of the penal code, and that's going to bring even more pressure and try and push people from wanting to become Christians that they are They're going to make it even harder. So let's have a look at that now and how things have changed since the case of pastor Yusuf Nadkarni. So I became aware of what was going on Iran in Iran through this particular case. Yes. And so what happened was that in 2009, after going to his children's school to question the Muslim monopoly on Iranian education, which he felt was unconstitutional, he was charged with apostasy and sentenced to death in 2010. And that decision was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2011. Now, that's, in that time, 2010. That's when I became aware of all this through CSW. And I was shocked to hear that this could happen, that in just questioning asking a question and saying that about the way children were being taught in a school, you know, it wasn't that he was dropping anything, it was all hanging on a cot, just a question he questioned, he said, you know, is it right under the Constitution, the Christian children, I mean, this is my this is my interpretation of it, as it says, He questioned the Muslim monopoly on Iranian education. So what he was saying was, he wasn't saying they couldn't do and you know, that that teaching, but he was saying, surely Christian children should be allowed to also learn about their own beliefs, I presume, and in just in questioning, and you know, suggesting this that was seen as threat, inflammatory coming against coming well, or coming against Islam itself, and the Prophet Mohammed and his teachings. And so that's how they can then make it a charge of Apostasy. So it means that he has converted to Christianity. So he is not part of the belief system system. And, and so they can then say, you know, they can charge charged with that. And so that's how, and at the time, the charge for apostasy was the death penalty. And this was 2010 2010. And they still live going going about today? Well, they, they don't seem to use it. And that's the thing. Now they don't they don't use it. What they do is they've gone from being looking at and imprisoning people and religious church terminology to using this more acting against national security and law type language, which is sort of following along the lines. I thought of China. Yeah, yeah. So let's see what what it says happened here, to give you an idea of how things work, and how these people, these brothers and sisters end up in and out of prison, and, and so on. And the pastor was repeatedly asked to renounce his faith during court hearings in order to avoid the death penalty, but he refused. And at this time, we were praying for him. And we were sending emails to the consular. And, you know, we were here getting emails back saying that he had been brought out against the firing squad, and then they'd taken him back in again. So he was under extreme pressure. But all this was to get him to renounce his beliefs basically, to run out. So yes. So he refused. And then through pressure, so CSW and others they made this case more widely known to the UN to the European Union. And they then made what how do you say they said to the aeration officials, you know, this isn't good you should you know, this is against the Constitution. You can't put a man to death for this. Okay, so fighting is cold. Yeah, a bit like a baby. A really big big pillow. And this was really it is really important that it became such a once it blows up like a big mushroom. It slows down. Yes. Okay and embarrassed, obviously is embarrassing, but we were we were very humble, humble, we were told to give, send these emails and show our appreciation and you know that we not against the system, but that, you know that this, the Constitution must be upheld and that, you know, ask for a pardon. So, so lots of people emailed the I can't remember. But anyway, that was an official. And we asked that, and pasternack Naka Khan, he would be pardoned. And around a particular special time, there's a special particular festival where prisoners could have this pardon. And so we were praying at that particular time that this would happen. And it did. And as you know, he actually came to England. And he was at the CSW conference, and he thanked us for his prayers. So that is, how important they are and how powerful they are. Because it CSW said that it was only through those prayers, that they got that and that door door open to say something, you know, in the European Parliament and in and that somebody picked it up, and in the UN and somebody picked it up. So it's really, you know, really, really important, you know, and you know, that we make the representations as well, that if we have the opportunity to email, if you know we do that, and because these things do matter, because countries do not like to be embarrassed. They don't you know, and they want to do trade with people and all these things. So but at that at the root of it is prayer. That is at the root of it. Anyway. So that was what happened. So he was released. And then they did other things like they put his lawyer in jail for 10 years and stripped him of practicing law, which I didn't realize that happened years imprisonment. Yeah. Any any current practice law for fight in his case? Yeah. So that was sort of like, okay, we've had to let him out. So now we're going, Yeah, we're going to be I do do that. Because we can't get at him. So we'll get at you, and stop you from fighting any more cases. So I didn't realize that. And, and then the next thing that's happened is so he was at a prison. And then since then he has continued to be a pastor, he's continued to preach the gospel and do other things. And so he has been re arrested several times. And, and in July 2017, they were found guilty and sentenced by Judge Ahmed has the head judge of the 26th branch of the Islamic Revolutionary court in Tehran, who is accused of overseeing miscarriages of justice and is subject to a financial sanctions in the United Kingdom. So that, that that's it the you know, there are people who are not following the law. So we pray for those, that there will be those who will. And we know that there are some that do as we heard last time about that alley that a legal adviser, who did look back and say we can't do this. So again, that's an important place to pray. And he's been rearrested in in in different raids, and now he's been taken to even prison to serve his sentence with some others. And he's been given an additional two years of eternal exile on top of a 10 year sentence. These are so harsh. Yeah, it brutal. Yeah. All because you're following Jesus. Yeah. Oh, because you are a Christian, you are a believer, you're a disciple. But as the scripture says, as they personally could cure me, Christ said, so where they persecute you, but interesting what you said there, Sandra, the prayers, prayers, prayers, prayers. We can't emphasize this enough. And we know in the book of Acts, is that great text where the disciples in prison, and it says the church was praying earnestly, yeah, Ryan pray, prison door was open, the angel came down and made a way out. So it's really important for us and listeners that we might be in the West, we might be quite far removed from the nations that we're talking about. Physically, but we pray, we pray and we pray. And that's why it's important, I believe, to to get the literature so we can target the prayer.

Reverend Ben Cooper: 20:00

So there there is a there is a set place where we can maybe go to Iran and read about Iran and maybe just pray over Iran and, and you've got names mentioned in there. So it's good to get the information in front of you. So it's great that we can pray as a blanket prayer. But if we can get the literature, Barnabas CSW open doors, wherever that wherever that may be, but target your prayers to a certain area, a certain nation, it's really important prayer, prayer changes things. And I think also, it brings us home to us when we identify an actual person, I felt that myself when I was, you know, made aware of this pastors

Sandra Robson: 20:44

plight, that, you know, this was a real person, and he had a family and you know, and I really got into knowing this brother. And and when I saw him, it was just so wonderful. And like you said, about pizza. It was it was like, wow, you know, he's here. Yeah, yeah. And he and he preached to us. And he said, at the time, he said, If I go back to prison, don't worry, that's okay, good. If that's what God wants, I will go back to prison. But I need, yeah, but I need to do His will. And I need to preach the gospel as he calls me to. And he said, just like, Paul, I'm just, I'm just an ordinary human being. And God has given me this opportunity. And I must do what he calls me to do. And he said that, if you send me to prison, there's a reason for that. And he will give me things to do. And so he he really did encourages, and it was very inspiring at the time. And we were asked, What would we do because of that, and I felt, I need to tell people about this, I need to let people know what's going on, and how we can help, and how important and how powerful prayers were. And every little bit that we can do makes a difference. Yes, CSW and a said, you know, that they have they have very good at advocacy. And so they have said to the Iranian government, the authorities, through the channels, they can, that the charges against this pastor and the others are excessive, and founded and effectively criminalize the faith the country Pope purportedly recognizes in its constitution. And we did say that it is recognized and see us who urges the Iranian authorities to know these sentences. And that was on the 11th of May this year, and to ensure that due process is observed in all trials involving religious minorities in Iran, because it's Christians, and other minorities also this are persecuted and brought under these these charges of being

Reverend Ben Cooper: 23:06

against the state. Sandra, just talking about that pastor that you see at the conference, yes. You said it became a very personal walk as well that you felt that you partnered with him. Yes. Is that because obviously you targeted and you looked and you and the information came up in your pathway, you was praying for them, he was on their journey with them. That must be a very powerful thing to do to to be praying for someone knowing that they're in real hard trouble, that they're locked down there under severe pressure. And then suddenly you see them. Yeah, it must have been so great. So beautiful. To see that there is the person there is a miracle in front of your eyes. Yeah, it was very encouraging. And it made me think never give up. Even if you can't see it, even if you you know, don't think anything's happening. Don't believe that. That's the enemy's lies. Don't believe so, so important. We know not everybody will get out and we know difficult things are going to happen to people, but God has His people there. And he because this must witness to the people. They're about why is this? Yes. Yeah. And that's why he's coming under so much pressure because they know that he's like a figurehead. That you know, he that people think wow, this guy you know that this happened. That was an international outcry. Now he's in prison again, I don't know how much they actually know within the country. But you know, I'm sure because of social media and these things they can find out about these things. And I think that affects them. And in some of the the testimony, if we have time to go into it, another guy that is as really recently

Sandra Robson: 25:00

And affected me and encouraged me and I felt would encourage people. And, you know, he, he's saying, you know, similar similar things about how, you know, because of what's gone before it's enabled him to stand in the time he's in now. So, so the sufferings of martyrs, yeah and the apostasy time and pass the Nadkarni have now enabled young Christians now to be 10 days later to stand. And he is standing because he wants others to stand later. And that's why he says, if the next generation Yes, if the past has got free the past have been to prison, this family's done this that family's done, yes. If they made it, if they got through that, we will do that. Yeah, God, God is with us. God is with them. If they went for it, we can go for it. salutely they came out, we can come out and weak and also they feel they can make it better, the Lord will make it better. And that through that suffering, will come for more freedom. And that they have that eternal hope all the time. That's it, you know,

Reverend Ben Cooper: 26:23

it, I find it very difficult to grasp. I sit in the West, I sit in the UK, we've all the trappings of this material world. And I listen to these week after week, and it brings a tear to your eye to think how would I be there? You know, you hear these stories of these men and women been torn apart from their children and their families separated and exiled within the nation. Everything stripped away from them, but they don't give

Sandra Robson: 26:59

up. No, it's by God's grace. They said it's by God's grace. But I can't get it. I can't.

Reverend Ben Cooper: 27:07

I hate to say it, but I cannot get myself into that position. Obviously, because that's not my calling. That's not my area. So God strengthens you. When your Gosh, what a subject what a subject. Yeah, this is this gets me every week, every time we do these. Yeah, it gets me it freezes me it. It limits my speech shot. I get lost for words, because I try to visualize myself in that situation. And to think how horrific to go through just to be put on trial, some countries for six years, without even coming to court. You're just locked away. You're just locked away in these holes, these these places where our God help us please, Jesus. Help us help us in the UK. Yeah, please, God help us. You've got to move God, you've got to move. Because when you hear stories like this, I feel so guilty. But the devil is a liar. And I've been born in the UK,

Sandra Robson: 28:13

by His grace. And I can pray. Yeah, and I think it shows just the heart of God. When I look at these things, and also the comfort of God, when we say about Lord comfort, the prison is no be their comfort. I don't think we realize how big that comfort is, and how its expressed. And more and more I read these things, the more and more I see the greatness of God. And, you know, a say that. So this is now we've so we've looked at that. Yeah. The past with that case, we've looked at now how they've gone into this acting against national security. So now they want to push this on another level. They because they brought a crack down there. They're resting more and more believers. And they're looking for a way to restrict things even further. So they've now come up with the the desire to change the penal code, and increase and develop the penal code with this article 500. Some are read what is the hope of the authorities what they want to bring in? They've got it passed to one level, but it needs to pass another level before it actually comes into being law. So it's, it's

Reverend Ben Cooper: 29:43

it's getting stronger,

Sandra Robson: 29:44

it's getting stronger. So again, it's the pray. You know, that's another prayer point. Yeah,

Unknown: 29:49

for this

Sandra Robson: 29:50

not to be implemented, but this is what they want to do. So, amendments to Article 500 of the Islamic Penal Code Prove by arraign Iran's parliament in may mean that anyone found guilty of using mind control methods or psychological manipulation in the real or virtual sphere for deviant educational or propaganda activities that contradict or interfere with Islamic teaching in ways such as making false claims can be punished with imprisonment, flogging fines, or even the death penalty is so

Reverend Ben Cooper: 30:38

harsh.

Sandra Robson: 30:39

So I've written I've read it out from the actual

Unknown: 30:43

document document.

Sandra Robson: 30:44

Okay. And this is what the human rights lawyers say about it. They say this section has great potential to hurt converts from Islam to Christianity, and those Christians that desire to teach and proclaim their faith. Since any converts, claims can be seen as interpreting. As an any Christian sorry, proclamation can be interpreted as false propaganda against Islam, or attempts at psychological manipulation of Muslims. And any organization outside Islam can be classed as a sect. So the law, he says the law should protect citizens, including Christian converts and Bahais against the government. But in a ran the law has become a tool to justify the government spying and treatment of converts and other unrecognized minorities. Yeah, there we go. What a great bit of information. It's so good to have the information in front of you, and Sandra's got so much stuff. And this is good. This is really good. So we pray. So all the listeners, what do we do, we pray, we get this information, you can get it online, you can find it, it's easy to get the resource and you can just maybe put that on your fridge, maybe put that in your prayer diary, your prayer journal, and just just to pray into all this stuff. So there are ways that we may never ever see the ones that we're praying for. But we can we can with the prayers of a righteous person are powerful and effective. So the information is important that we read it that we see it. It's readily available for every one of us. So we must pray over this stuff. Yeah, so they're using the law and to oppress. The idea is to deter people from becoming Christians to bring fear and security disruption and stop the growth of the church and also maintain their power and increase control. And what are they doing at the moment? Well, these are live cases and things that we you know, can pray about and give you an idea of the sort of things they're doing. And Iranian authorities are taking a two year old girl away from her adoptive parents, Miriam and Sam because they are Christians, and the biological mother is a Muslim. According to Article 18, despite the ruling judge, initially acknowledging that Lydia felt a sense of emotional attachment to her adoptive parents, there was zero chance and and there was zero chance of another family being found for her because of our health. He later ruled against the couple. Lydia is now likely to grow up in an orphanage. Miriam and Sam are unable to have their own children. And they've been banned from the employment with their specialist professions. While Sam has been sentenced to years imprisonment and two years internal exile, all because of that out house church activities deemed propaganda against the state. They are appealing the decision so we pray that appeal will be upheld. I pray that Lydia will be able to stay with her adoptive parents and Miriam and Sam's appears will be successful. And that this the articulating which is the freedom of religion, that it will be upheld. And there will be a judge that is willing to stand up Stand up for the good at this. That will go Wow. So they've taken up

Reverend Ben Cooper: 35:00

From a family, yeah. And rather leave her in an orphanage and to be with a Christian family. Yeah. And then another one that doesn't make very much sense is this is it. So that was open doors. And this is from release International. And there's is to pray for a renewed strength for a Christian convert who's 65 years old? Ishmael and maiga been arch difficult. Apologies, I'm not saying it correctly. And who must serve two years in jail after losing his appeal against convictions of being a member of a group, hostile to the regime, and propaganda against the state, say 65 years old? And he's got to serve two years, five years? Oh, yeah. But I just wanted to bring these up, because they bring in these terms of group hostile to the machine and propaganda against the state. So these are the sort of terms they use. And this is the sort of language that they're now using to

Sandra Robson: 36:09

bring these, you know, the people and prison sentences and make it legal London and law. So, but, but such there's

Reverend Ben Cooper: 36:24

hope, there's hope, there's

Sandra Robson: 36:25

hope. There's hope there is hope. And I have a mazing test. And let's have

Unknown: 36:32

this so

Sandra Robson: 36:35

I'll give you this one. This is about a lady. And just again, to show you how they're coming to Christ, the sort of things that they're doing, and how things have worked out for them as well. So six years ago, I had the good news and committed my heart to Jesus. My entire family gave outs to Jesus entire family,

Reverend Ben Cooper: 37:01

come on, this is good.

Sandra Robson: 37:04

I started to serve God in a local house church where I met my husband, and he believed to evangelize and preach. And as a result, he was fired from his job. Oh. And, and the rest of the family have also suffered discrimination as well. My husband's sister lost her job and was detained. And her pension. Oh, yes, sorry. I read that again. My husband's sister lost her job and was denied her pension on account of her face

Reverend Ben Cooper: 37:43

denied her pension.

Sandra Robson: 37:44

Yeah. Yeah. Another relative, although a student with excellent grades was banned from going to university, when her Christian identity was discovered, her husband and electrician was also dismissed from his work. So after my wedding, I kept serving God until I and my father and my husband were arrested by intelligence officers. We were sentenced to one year in prison. Okay, separated.

Unknown: 38:19

Yeah.

Sandra Robson: 38:21

And they were given, they had to raise 40,000 pounds in bail, if they weren't to go to prison. So they either had to raise that money or go to prison. And of course, like, that's the note when the prison enormous amount of money, isn't it. during which time the authorities were constantly forcing us to deny our faith as we continued with appeals and hired a lawyer. So we had to carry out our sentence. And we spent about two and a half months in prison. We were constantly threatened that if we did not deny Christ, we would be kept in prison beyond our sentence. And during that time, and she has developed multiple sclerosis,

Reverend Ben Cooper: 39:17

okay,

Sandra Robson: 39:18

and she hasn't been allowed to receive her medication or God. But one day, they were allowed out of prison on an on escorted and released release. And they managed to escape to another country. Wow. Yeah.

Reverend Ben Cooper: 39:37

Both of them. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Sandra Robson: 39:42

And then are somewhere else. Yeah. And it's saying that they dream of getting approval for a long term residency so that we can focus our relationship with Christ and study his word without fear of deportation. Until then, we continue to serve the Lord as we waste. on Him for His provision. And they ask the prayer for them is that God will provide all the needs for them. And the family including the residency and Health Cover,

Reverend Ben Cooper: 40:13

gobsmacked, this is what people are going for. Yep. And I'm sitting here in a warm little studio in Kent. And I think, Oh gosh, this, the suffering church really makes you look at your own life. It really makes you count your blessings. It really makes you think about things that you'll go through. And these stories are so powerful.

Sandra Robson: 40:38

Yeah.

Reverend Ben Cooper: 40:41

They make you to look differently at your own life and make you realize that yes, I live in a really blessed place. Please, Lord.

Sandra Robson: 40:51

So we got a time for another time. Yes. Come

Reverend Ben Cooper: 40:53

on, let's finish up with this testimony.

Sandra Robson: 40:55

Okay. So this is Abraham's testimony. And he has served seven years in prison, and now as an internal exile for two more years. And his beginnings, that faith is quite amazing that he moved to Tehran, and he was staying with friends. And he was just flicking the channels on the TV on the internet channels. And he came across the Christian channel. Hello. And he started to watch it. Because he was surprised that they were talking about Jesus. And it wasn't the Jesus that he'd been told about. And so he wanted to then find out who this Jesus was that they were talking about. And he was then able to through the internet, made contact with these people and ask them more questions. And within a short space of time, he became Christian glory. And his friends found out that

Reverend Ben Cooper: 41:58

his friends found out Yeah,

Sandra Robson: 42:00

and they blocked the channel. But he was not deterred by this. He had managed to get a Bible. And he went up on the roof. And for six months, he used to listen with his earphones in to the Bible and use a shortwave radio. So that encourages me to support the Transworld radio and

Reverend Ben Cooper: 42:26

light radio.

Sandra Robson: 42:28

Yes, very good. And they do give, you know, programs into these places. They're one of the ones you know, so it's, but it's wonderful. And, and he did that for six months until he could find his own place. Now, as you know, Bibles are illegal in Iran. So get that Bible fly, wonder

Reverend Ben Cooper: 42:54

where he got that from?

Sandra Robson: 42:56

And, and that is going to lead to some trouble.

Reverend Ben Cooper: 43:00

Yeah, well, coasts.

Sandra Robson: 43:03

So that phrase beta jobs, let's see what happens. All right. So he was very aware, from his social and political surroundings that sooner or later he would be arrested. But his priority, he said, is that people heard and received the Word of God. And this is his quote, I did this from a podcast, and release International, doing podcasts as well. And of from of testimonies of prisoners that have been released, and other people that they are in contact with, to encourage us in our prayers and to hear straight from them directly their experiences. And so

Reverend Ben Cooper: 43:50

these are real live. Yes. testimonies of people that have suffered in the suffering church.

Unknown: 43:55

Yes. Oh, this

Reverend Ben Cooper: 43:56

is great. So the way audio

Sandra Robson: 43:59

I've written down what he said from the audio I listened to, and I lived a normal life working at my job and sharing my faith with whoever was open and seeking on official forms. I wrote religious my religion as Christian. And I didn't hide it. The fact I was being watched or not, I don't know for sure. But I openly shared my faith and gave Bibles to many. Whether one of these turned me in or not, I don't know for sure. So then the interviewer asked him, How did you get arrested? I remember the morning they came into my house and started searching everywhere. They took me in for interrogation. They have many pieces of evidence, handwritten tracks, Bible verses and Bible information. I didn't deny any of it. Since I hadn't committed a crime. All I done was share my faith with others willing So I received a one year sentence in 2011. This is interesting what he says. He said, God put it in the judges heart to only give me 10 months. And I just thought about that. And I just thought, wow, Lord, when we pray when, you know, yeah, different organizations, CSW release International, open doors, and they say pray for this prisoner is, you know, the trial or the cases going through and pray that, you know, allowed to be a nose or the sentence will be reduced. prayers, press

Reverend Ben Cooper: 45:38

press always comes to an end, he

Sandra Robson: 45:40

believed that God, you know, spoke to that judge in some way and put in his heart only given 10 months. There's another God intervenes, profit judges,

Reverend Ben Cooper: 45:53

yes. Pray for judges, to the soften?

Sandra Robson: 45:56

Yes. As they hear, because they hear lots of cases, of course, and they're hearing the gospel all the time all the time. Back to what, you know, with the disciples. Yeah. When they stood against the authority, and they said, words in your mouth, yes. And you will testify to these people. Hallelujah, Jesus.

Reverend Ben Cooper: 46:14

And so this is happening that is happening. This is real life. So this is happening before our very eyes, we are hearing testimonies, soften the hearts Lord.

Sandra Robson: 46:25

So the court rulings are not given in writing because they don't want written evidence of convicting unjustly. And so they inform me and unofficially, however, the more severe sentences of many years from the churan Tehran court, they are logged, and you can see them on the internet, as you can see them. Yes. Apparently. And, and also he said, Well, you know, from the work of an organization, there is there is there.

Reverend Ben Cooper: 46:57

Wow, sorry, God, what, what a fantastic,

Sandra Robson: 47:00

yeah, and there is more. So, stories we continue, but it just, I think what God wants to show is, is about, you know, how important our prayers are at every step. And you know, just something that a lord might put in your mind, you know, to pray about, just pray about that thing. But you know, sometimes I think, oh, Lord, I pray that they'll have a blanket or they'll be able to have a visit or Yeah, just, you know, it's important, those little things that we might think of, as it says, you know, in Hebrews, doesn't it, it says, think of them as if you yourself was there, because you're in the flesh. Similar thing, we have a desire, like we would want books, we will want tapes, we would want encouragement, we would want to have good food, we would want to have good relationships, we would want to share the gospel, we would want opportunities to speak about Jesus. And, you know, the more we look at this, and the more we're going to see that and the more I pray that we're going to, I'm going to give you more things to pray about and the courage about as you hear about these brothers and sisters who are living for Jesus, in very difficult circumstances, but really showing us how, you know, the Christianity of faith works in action and how they're living it out. Like the day of x basically

Unknown: 48:31

is

Reverend Ben Cooper: 48:34

so great to have these, these stories, these testimonies and to hear and to see the answer of prayer. Yeah, prayer is making a difference that we never give up hope that we keep praying, we pray, there's a new angle come from this this morning as well. Sandra has mentioned the judge, we pray for the judges, we pray that God will soften our hearts and that comes to my mind. Exodus chapter five, verses one through to five when Moses says Let my people go to Pharaoh, the star of that great journey on the wilderness and we pray, God, we are sure that you will soften the hearts of judges, the judicial system, Lord, that you will make a way for our sisters and our brothers that you will open prison doors that the name of Jesus will be shouted across the prisons. Lord bless the judges. You are a winemaker. Come on, Lord, we'd love your Jesus Santa we thank you so much this morning. From the bottom of our heart here in Ealing church. You've been listening to myself Reverend Ben Cooper with our lovely sister Sandra this morning. As we've looked into a ran the table of this podcasting studio is awash with information. And we thank God for Sandra her time, a commitment actually a colon above everything else. She is cold to this ministry and God protect our sister, husband, David and Lord, make away. You've been listening to us here in church. Please share everything that of you that you hear that you say as well for other platforms that we use. We thank you so much. And once again Sandra, we'll catch you next week and may God bless you. Have a great week in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, amen.