I want to encourage everyone to pray for our persecuted family throughout the world. One urgent matter that the Moderator of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church (ARPC) has brought to our attention is the unjust treatment and accusations against American missionary Andrew Brunson. I have copied the Moderator’s open letter to the ARPC below. Please join me as we pray and fast for justice and Andrew’s quick release.
Call for a Day of Prayer & Fasting
As we learned last week, Andrew Brunson, former ARP minister and missionary to Turkey (presently a member of the EPC) and son of Ron and Pam Brunson, who has been unjustly imprisoned, has been indicted. His court date is April 16 at 9 a.m. Turkish time and 2 a.m. EDT. No evidence has been put forth to substantiate any of the accusations against Pastor Brunson.
Therefore, following the example of our own Mississippi Valley Presbytery, as Moderator of General Synod, I call for a day of prayer and fasting, on Saturday, April 7, in advance of Andrew’s court date.
Please consider taking a portion or the whole day to fast and pray as able. Pray that Andrew’s attorney will be allowed to access files that have been sealed to this point and review the evidence in order to prepare a proper and effective defense. Pray that our own national leaders including incoming Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, and the President, will engage effectively with the Turkish government to secure Andrew’s release and safe return home. Petition unto the Lord on behalf of Andrew that his faith would remain strong and that the comfort of the Scriptures and Holy Spirit would sustain him, on behalf of his family bidding their anxious fears be stilled, on behalf of Andrew’s captors that their hearts be changed, and on behalf of his fellow prisoners and others that the light of the Gospel would penetrate their souls and that they be brought to a saving faith in Jesus Christ.
As you make these petitions, remember all of our brothers and sisters throughout the world who suffer under the hand of oppressors and enemies of the Gospel. Pray that the Lord would hear our cries, that the schemes of the evil one will be thwarted, and that the cross of Christ would be lifted high through faithful Christian witness. Pray that this persecution would give courage and boldness to other workers in the Muslim world. Pray to the end that one day it will be certain that, the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.
Let us set apart April 7 as a day to unite our voices again on behalf of Andrew Brunson and let us not despise the day of small things!
Moderator Lee Shelnutt
(I added emphasis to highlight certain important details)
