Central Assembly

“The mere mention of courage has been in decline for a long time. A 2012 paper in the Journal of Positive Psychology that tracked how frequently words related to moral excellence appeared in American books — both fiction and non-fiction — over the 20th century, found that the use of the words “courage, bravery and fortitude” (which were grouped together) had fallen by two-thirds over the period.”
Jemima Kelly, “The west is suffering from a crisis of courage,” The Financial Times (8-22-23)

> Courage is not:

* Stubbornness
* Recklessness
* Certainty

OUR STORY . . .

> Have I decided whose side I am on?

> Have I discovered the grace of disgrace?

An Iranian Armenian pastor, started the 10-year prison sentence he received last year for “propaganda contrary to and disturbing to the holy religion of Islam.” [Pastor] Avedian was arrested while leading a worship service in a Tehran home in 2020. The Assemblies of God meeting place was shut down 10 years ago for holding services in Farsi.

Iranian security forces have arrested thousands of Christians in the past few years… Worldwide persecution of Christians is rising. In a 2024 listing of the top countries which persecute Christians, Iran is #9. The complete 2024 top 10 list is: North Korea (No. 1), Somalia (No. 2), Libya (No. 3), Eritrea (No. 4), Yemen (No. 5), Nigeria (No. 6), Pakistan (No. 7), Sudan (No. 8), Iran (No. 9), and Afghanistan (No. 10).
“Pentecostal Begins 10 Years in Prison,” CT magazine (Dec. 2023), p. 16

1…And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.

> For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

> 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

(Hebrews 12:1b-3)