[Faith-talk] FW: [masterslist] Fw: Severe Restrictions against Assembly of God Churches in Iran

[Eric Calhoun]

Original Message: 
From: "Allan Thompson" <allan1.thompson at cox.net>
To: <masterslist at yahoogroups.com>
Subject: [masterslist] Fw: Severe Restrictions against  Assembly of God
Churches in Iran
Date: 
Thu, 29 Mar 2012 22:02:01 -0400

Severe Restrictions against Assembly of God Churches in Iran
"The truth will set you free"
Jesus Christ of Nazareth 33A.D.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: ANS at Assist-Ministries.com 
To: USASSIST at sheperd.com 
Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2012 9:16 PM
Subject: Severe Restrictions against Assembly of God Churches in Iran


      ASSIST News Service (ANS) - PO Box 609, Lake Forest, CA 92609-0609
USA 
      Visit our web site at: www.assistnews.net -- E-mail:
assistnews at aol.com


      Wednesday, March 28, 2012 

      Severe Restrictions against Assembly of God Churches in Iran

      By Jeremy Reynalds
      Senior Correspondent for ASSIST News Service 
      IRAN (ANS) -- Christians and Churches in the Islamic Republic of
Iran are now banned from preaching the Gospel to non-Christians, holding
Persian language services, teaching and distributing The Bible, or holding
Christian classes.


      According to a story by the Farsi Christian News Network (FCNN),
since Mahmoud Ahmadinejad took control of the government of the Islamic
Regime, he been working to fulfil a promise he made to a group of
influential people to eradicate Christianity in Iran. 

      FCCN said the promise was a means to secure their electoral support
prior to his election. A promise he had made to a group of influential
clergymen, as a means of securing their support prior to his so-called
"election".

      FCNN said Assembly of God churches were targeted from the beginning
and measures have reached unprecedented levels. 

      FCNN summarized some of the other anti-Christian methods being used
against Christians and churches.

      For example, FCNN said, church leaders are placed under
psychological pressure by being served with illegitimate threats.

      There are also "unacceptable" restrictions on special events,
particularly against Persian speaking churches. 

      FCNN said in spite of its fervent claims of respect for Jesus, the
Islamic Regime forced Tehran's Assembly of God Church to hold Christmas
celebrations behind closed doors. It also raided a church in Ahvaz during
its religious celebration, as well as detaining the congregants and closing
down the building.

      FCNN said all churches attendees are closely monitored and every
visitor is scrutinized so closely they sometimes don't enter. Surveillance
cameras are also used in some instances. 

      FCNN said the Central Church of Assembly of God in Tehran used to
hold a special Persian language service on Fridays. That was moved to
Sundays on orders from the Islamic Regime, in the hope of discouraging
working people from attending the service.

      FCNN said there are also unprecedented restrictions on Bible sales
or other Christian literature. These restrictions are primarily applied to
the sale of Persian Bibles, books, and tracts specifically written for new
converts.

      FCNN said book sale restrictions started about a year ago.
According to new directives from the Islamic Regime, sale of Christian
books, and even visits to the church bookstore are now limited to
registered church members and that on Sundays only.

      FCNN said Christians in the Islamic Republic believe that the
restrictions on sale and distribution of the Bible is getting tighter. 

      Reprinting of previously available Bibles are now forbidden, and
new printings are prohibited. Until a year ago, FCNN said, it was still
possible to obtain cheap copies of new Bible translations. However, it is
now very difficult to do so, and used copies of the Bible are being sold at
ever increasing prices as demand rises. 

      FCNN said there are also restrictions on worship services. Islamic
Republic officials have demanded that the Assembly of God church in Tehran
not play music if there are any Persian language worshipers present.

      FCNN said music is now only allowed during Armenian and Assyrian
church services. Armenian and Assyrian musicians have been warned not to
play music during any Persian language service. 

      By an unwritten order of the "Minority Specialists," FCNN said,
even uses of specific words are banned. They include names such as Israel,
Jerusalem and Mount Zion. They are to be erased from worship songs and
prayers, and substitute words used. 






--------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Jeremy Reynalds is Senior Correspondent for the ASSIST News
Service, a freelance writer and also the founder and CEO of Joy Junction,
New Mexico's largest emergency homeless shelter, http://www.joyjunction.org
He has a master's degree in communication from the University of New
Mexico, and a Ph.D. in intercultural education from Biola University in Los
Angeles. His newest book is "Homeless in the City."


            Additional details on "Homeless in the City" are available at
http://www.homelessinthecity.com. Reynalds lives in Albuquerque, New
Mexico. For more information contact: Jeremy Reynalds at
jeremyreynalds at comcast.net.    

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
      ** You may republish this story with proper attribution.
      Send this story to a friend.   Share
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
        
If this story has been forwarded to you, click here for your own
subscription to Assist News.
If you no longer wish to receive Assist News via e-mail, click here to
unsubscribe. 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----

      ASSIST News Service is Sponsored By
     

     

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----