It took three long years before Pastor Saeed Abedini was released from his Iranian prison to be reunited with his wife Naghmeh and two kids, but for Harvest Christian Fellowship Pastor Greg Laurie, everything happened in "God's perfect timing."
"Christians around the world have been praying faithfully for the release of Pastor Saeed Abedini," Laurie told The Christian Post. "It did not happen as quickly as we had hoped, but it happened in God's perfect timing. Now we want to remember to continue to pray for Saeed, his wife Naghmeh, and their children as they are finally reunited, as well as the rest of his family."
Naghmeh's happiness over the release of her husband knows no bounds, according to Laurie's wife Cathie.
"She is still waiting for information from the State Department as to when and where she could be reunited with her husband," Laurie said. "Saeed's sister, Zeebandeh Abedini, said the family had been on an emotional roller coaster and that Saeed's parents had been in tears since news of the U.S.-Iran prisoner exchange broke out.
"She (Naghmeh) also quoted Psalm 30:11–12, 'You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, to the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever' (NKJV)," added Laurie.
Aside from Abedini, three other American prisoners also regained their freedom after the United States successfully negotiated its prisoner exchange deal with Iran. They are Washington Post reporter Jason Razaian, former U.S. Marine Amir Hekmati, and Nosratollah Khosravi-Roodsari.
These men were exchanged for seven Iranians who were earlier sentenced or awaiting trial in the U.S.
Meanwhile, Reverend Franklin Graham, who has been working closely with Naghmeh while her husband was in prison, also shared the good news of Abedini's release on his Facebook page.
"We have just received word that Saeed Abedini, who has been imprisoned in Iran for his Christian faith, has been released along with three other Americans who were held there. I praise God for answered prayer and thank all of you who have prayed faithfully for his release!" he wrote.
