Saeed Abedini, an Iranian American Christian pastor, has been detained in Iran since the summer of 2012.
Initially incarcerated in Evin Prison in September 2012, he was sentenced to eight years in prison on 27 January 2013, on charges of undermining national security through private religious gatherings in Christian homes in Iran in the early 2000s. In November 2013, the Iranian regime moved him to Rajai Shahr prison, outside Karaj.
Saeed Abedini, who has not seen his son Jacob since he was four years old, wrote a letter to him for his seventh birthday in March.
‘To my dear beloved son Jacob,
‘I saw your beautiful birthday invitation that you had made me and I know how much you want me to be there on your birthday. Daddy loves you so much. I long to be there for your birthday and to make this reunion happen, but my chains are keeping me from you.
‘I want you to know that although I might not be there and you might feel my absence, there is One who always is. One who is always there with you and who can meet all of your needs under any condition. I might not be there on your birthday and that breaks my heart as your father. But I know the One who is there on your birthday, who is there for you and cares for you more than anyone could imagine. He is there with you and his name is I am who I am.
‘I am who I am. It means that God is there with you in every situation that you are going through. This is the name by which God introduced himself when meeting with Moses in the burning bush when God’s people were crying out to him and were feeling his absence. Today there are many people around the world who are experiencing the same things that the people of God were experiencing and that you are experiencing. They are crying out to God and might not be feeling his presence. They are wondering where is God in all of this. But I want you to remember that despite what you feel, he is always there with you.
‘Even though I am not there with you, I am is there with you. God came in human flesh in Jesus Christ all the way from heaven to the earth to give us the gift of salvation by being crucified on the cross for the punishment of our sin. So on this special day, I want you to accept this gift of salvation. Invite Jesus into your heart as you have invited me to your birthday.
‘So happy birthday to my big boy and my hero, Jacob Cyrus Abedini. Thank you for standing strong with me in this battle for the Glory of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
‘Your proud Dad, Saeed.’
