I received this from a Gideon Brother of mine & felt it was worth the time & effort to read. I am forwarding it to each of you in hopes that you too will take the few minutes to read it & voice your opinion as this man did. God Bless America Glenn > >From: Jill Zelle > > > >Sent: Wednesday, May 19, 2004 4:07 PM > >Subject: FW: Praying for the Election > > > >After I received this email, I emailed the pastor to validate the story > >prior to me forwarding it any further. I have included at the bottom > >his response to me. > >Jill > > > > > >Forwarded... > > > > I recently attended the National Pastors Convention in San Diego with > >several thousand pastors from many different denominations. During one > >of the general sessions, the MC introduced a pastor from Uzbekistan. > >He had traveled the farthest to attend the convention, so they wanted to > >interview him. I don't remember his name, and even if I did, I know I > >couldn't pronounce it. > > > >However, I do know this: I will never forget this man. > > > > Right away, I liked him. He was humble, sincere, and gracious. He > >apologized for his broken English, though I thought he spoke very well. > >As the MC interviewed him, he began to share about his ministry in > >his country that borders Afghanistan. He talked about the church he > >pastors of a few hundred people. He also shared how it is illegal in > >his country to be a Christian. You see, his church is an "underground" > >church. Amazingly, his city also has 3 "underground" Christian > >schools. He talked about how the Christians have been arrested > >and even killed in his country. > > Then, as the interview was about to end, he began to speak very > >urgently and passionately. He said something to this effect: "I would > >like all of you to know that my church and the Christians in my > >country are praying that President Bush will be reelected." I was > >stunned. I knew that this gathering had to include many pastors >>from all over the political spectrum and I was certain this > >would not go over well. Immediately, there were murmuring and > >rumblings throughout the audience and the MC seemed a little > >uncertain about what to do next. > > > > However, this pastor would not be denied. Grasping the microphone > >firmly in his hand, he continued, "The officials in my country are > >afraid of President Bush, so they don't persecute Christians as much. > >Under Clinton it was very bad for us. Many of us were arrested, put > >in jail, and some were killed. > >With Clinton, it was very bad. But under President Bush, it has been > >so much better, so we are praying for him." > > > > The murmuring ended. It was suddenly very quiet. The MC paused. > >Then he just asked us to stand and pray for this man and we did so > >with great passion. > > > > Choking back tears, I was immediately struck with this realization in > >my heart: this coming election was not just about me or my church > > or my country. > > This coming election would affect the entire world. And while there >> are many Christians and churches in this country that may not support > >and may even despise our current President, there is a group of > >Christians halfway around the world who are desperately praying for > >his reelection. > > > > All of the sudden, the election became something very different for > >me. It is not just about the economy, gay marriage, or weapons of > >mass destruction. > >It's about the persecuted church around the world. As believers, what > >issues should be more important to us? This transcends politics. This > >is about the Kingdom of God for which Christ suffered and died, and > >for those believers in other countries who are suffering and dying > >as well. > > > > I was also convicted in my heart about praying for our President. > >And I wonder, which church is praying more fervently for him: the > >persecuted church in Uzbekistan or the prosperous church in > >America? It makes you think. > > > > As the Apostle Paul said in Hebrews 13:3, "Remember those in > >prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are > >mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering." > > Remember, this election is not just about us. It's about them. > > James Lair (jlair@ojaiclc.org) > > Senior Pastor > > ___________________________________ > > Church of the Living Christ > > 190 E El Roblar Drive ~ Ojai, CA 93023 > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Jill Zelle [mailto:Jill@dazyusa.com] > > Sent: Wednesday, May 19, 2004 8:05 AM > > To: James Lair > > Subject: Praying for the Election > > > > I was forwarded your email about praying for the election and was very > >moved by it. However, before I forwarded it on further, I wanted to > >verify it. So much stuff goes around through the email and I wanted to make > >sure I didn't forward something that couldn't be substantiated. Thanks. > > > > James Lair's Response: > > > > Thank you for your email. I have been absolutely deluged with email > >regarding this. Please forgive this general response, but I am doing my > >best to get back to everyone who requests verification. > > > > I originally sent my email to only a dozen or so people, mostly family > >and friends. I have never asked anyone to forward it on. It has just taken > >on a life of its own. Never again will I underestimate the power of the > >internet. > > > > As I mentioned, I have been overwhelmed with responses. Most are > >favorable, some are not, and a few are downright hostile. It's a little > >frightening. We live in very divided times. > > > > However, it is my true personal experience. I attended the National > >Pastors Convention in San Diego on March 10-13th of this year where this > >all took place. They don't have a tape or video of that particular session, > >but they have now posted a transcript on their website at > >http://nationalpastorsconvention.com/andrey.php with the pastor's name. > > > > As you can see from the transcript, though I may not have quoted him > >word for word from memory, I think I certainly captured the essence of > >what he said. > > What my original email provides that the transcript doesn't is the > >climate of the meeting and my heartfelt reaction to what he said. I was so > >moved by this experience and I still feel the same way. > > > > In addition, I have received many email messages from Christians in > >other countries who wholeheartedly agree with this pastor's words. Our > >perspective here in America is sometimes so limited. I have also received > >email from people who actually know this pastor, and they attest to his > >testimony and character. > > > > Thanks again for writing. > > > > Sincerely, > > > > James Lair > > > > > > > > PS. Because my email address is now circling the web, I have now > >received over 2000 viruses. My virus checker has caught every one of them, but > >now people are receiving phony email messages with viruses with my email > >address attached. I am so sorry for this, but I am at a loss about how to > >correct it. Most likely, I will have to soon change my email address. > >