Pastor Andrew.

October 11, 2017

Our American brother Andrew Brunson is still behind bars in Turkey – a year after he was arrested – yet his faith remains strong.

He faces four life sentences based on allegations that he was involved in the plot to overthrow the Turkish Government last year. Andrew strongly denies these charges.

Pray that God will be with Pastor Andrew in his prison cell in Izmir.

In the midst of persecution and intense stress, Andrew has been inspired to write a worship song to our heavenly Father, which includes the lines:

You are worthy, worthy of my all
This is my declaration in the darkest hour Jesus, the Faithful One who loves me, always good and true You made me yours, you are worthy of my all.

I want to be found worthy to stand before you on that day With no regrets from cowardice, things left undone To hear you say, “Well done, my faithful friend, now enter your reward”
Jesus, my Joy, you are the prize I’m running for.

During a visit last week by a delegation from the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), Andrew expressed his thanks to those praying and lobbying for his release. ‘Knowing that I am not forgotten is important to me,’ he said.

• Please use the words of Andrew’s song to inspire your prayers for Andrew and his wife, Norine: pray that God will fill them both with His peace and joy. Stress has caused Andrew to lose three-and-a-half stone in weight.
• Pray that Andrew’s legal team will have wisdom and courage in negotiating his release.
• Thank God that the Turkish Government is coming under increasing scrutiny over Pastor Andrew’s case, due to international prayer and advocacy. Pray they will release him soon. Release Int.

(Sources: Middle East Concern, USCIRF)