TONIGHT ON "NEWSWATCH" THE
WIFE OF AMERICAN PASTOR
IMPRISONED IN IRAN TESTIFIED
BEFORE CONGRESS.
NEGHMEH JOINS US WITH THE FIGHT
TO FREE HER HUSBAND.
AND SAME-SEX MARRIAGE, WHAT
CHANGED THE ISSUE.
AND ONE HINDU WOMAN FOUND HOPE.
ALL OF THIS AND MORE TONIGHT ON
"NEWSWATCH." IT WAS AN EMOTIONAL
DAY ON CAPITOL HILL.
GOOD EVENING I AM LORIE JOHNSON.
A WIFE'S PASSIONATE PLEA FOR HER
IMPRISONED HUSBAND'S SAFETY
BRINGS TEARS ON CAPITOL HILL AND
STRONG REBUKE OF THE OBAMA
ADMINISTRATION.
NEGHMEH IS ASKING TO PUT
PRESSURE ON THE OBAMA
ADMINISTRATION TO HELP WITH THE
RELEASE OF HER HUSBAND CHRISTIAN
PASTOR SAEED ABEDINI.
THE IRANIAN REGIME ARRESTED
PASTOR SAEED LAST JULY DURING A
TRIP TO BUILD AN ORPHANAGE.
UP TO THE ARREST HE WAS SKYPING
DAILY AND CHANGED WHEN HE WAS
TAKEN INTO CUSTODY.
WE DIDN'T KNOW WHERE HE WAS
FOR A WEEK.
THEY KEPT SAYING MOMMY, CAN WE
HEAR HIS VOICE?
I COULDN'T EXPLAIN HE WAS
FISCALLY TA PHYSICALLY TAKEN TO
PRISON.
THEY SAID DOES DADDY NOT LOVE US
ANYMORE.
DOES DADDY NOT WANT TO HEAR OUR
VOICE ANYMORE?
I HAD TO TELL THEM THAT HE WAS
IMPRISONED BECAUSE HE LOVES
JESUS.
SHE SAYS HER HUSBAND, A U.S.
CITIZEN HAS BEEN BEATEN IN
PRISON AND INTERNAL BLEEDING.
ACLU WHICH REPRESENTS THE
ABEDINI FAMILY WAS OUTRAGED NO
ONE SHOWED UP FOR TODAY'S
HEARING.
JORDAN, WHAT DOES THAT SAY ABOUT
THE STATE DEPARTMENT'S CONCERN?
U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT SENT NO
ONE.
NEGHMEH CAME FROM OHIO.
THE STATE DEPARTMENT COULDN'T GO
DOWN THE STREET.
LACK OF CARE, FUNDAMENTAL
UNDERSTANDING ABOUT NEGHMEH'S
SITUATIONS.
THE LLED THEM AWOL AT
HEARING TODAY.
THEY HAVE BASICALLY BEEN VERY
NASTY TELLING NEGHMEH THEY
COULDN'T HELP FROM DAY ONE.
NEGHMEH AS A U.S. CITIZEN,
WHAT IS YOUR REACTION THAT THE
OBAMA ADMINISTRATION DIDN'T SEND
A REPRESENTATIVE TO THE HEARING?
I AM VERY MUCH SURPRISED AS
JORDAN MENTIONED THEY ARE CLOSE
TO WHERE WE HAD THE HEARING.
THEY COULD HAVE SENT ANY
REPRESENTATIVE TO BE PRESENT.
THEY AREN'T.
VERY DISAPPOINTING.
THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE
ADVOCATING FOR SAEED.
OUR FAMILY IS DEFINITELY
SUFFERING.
OUR KIDS ARE SUFFERING EVERYDAY.
MY FIRST PHONE CALL WITH THE
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE WAS
THAT THEY COULD DO NOTHING.
I REMEMBER CRYING OUT AFTER I
HUNG UP.
THE LORD SAID I AM GOING TO
DELIVER YOU.
IT IS HARD TO HEAR, SEE OUR
GOVERNMENT IS NOT DOING ALL THEY
CAN AND NOT SHOWING UP FOR THOSE
MEETINGS.
I KNOW ULTIMATELY GOD IS IN
CONTROL.
HE WILL BE GLORIFIED THROUGH ALL
OF THIS AND WILL DELIVER SAEED.
JORDAN WHAT ACTIONS SHOULD
THE WHITE HOUSE TAKE TO HELP
FREE SAEED?
THEY DIDN'T SHOW UP.
STATE DEPARTMENT INVITED US TO
COME BY AND MEET WITH THE
INDIVIDUALS PROBLEMATIC.
WE SHARED WITH THEM TODAY, STILL
OUR FRUSTRATION AND WHAT WE
EXPECT.
NO PROMISES AND NO CHANGE IN OUR
TUNE UNTIL THAT HAPPENS.
WE EXPECT A STATEMENT FROM
SECRETARY KERRY CALLING FOR THE
RELEASE OF ABEDINI POSSIBLY THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES,
EXPECT MORE DIPLOMATIC
ENGAGEMENT BEHIND THE SCENES
WHICH FOR THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE
BEEN HEARING ABOUT.
MUCH CLEARER RELATIONSHIP.
WE HAVE TO WORK WITH THE STATE
DEPARTMENT.
THAT HAS TO BE MADE CLEAR.
WE ARE NOT TO THE POINT YET.
THIS HEARING HAS CERTAINLY
ALREADY HAD A POSITIVE EFFECT.
IT EXPOSED THE PROBLEM AT THE
STATE DEPARTMENT AND GIVEN US
NEW PEOPLE TO WORK WITH.
WE HAVE BEGUN THE PROCESS.
JUST THAT ALONE IT WAS WORTH
GOING THROUGH THE DIFFICULT
PROCESS OF TRYING TO TELL THAT
STORY WHICH NEGHMEH DID
EFFECTIVELY.
ALL RIGHT.
GOOD TO SEE YOU BOTH, NEGHMEH
ABEDINI AND JORDAN SEKULOW.
THIS YEAR'S CPAC IS PROVE TO BE
A STAGE FOR WOULD BE
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES IN 2016.
AMONG THEM SENATOR MARCO RUBIO.
HE SPOKE DEFENDING CORE GOP
VALUES.
IN ORDER TO WORK TOGETHER
WITH PEOPLE YOU DISAGREE WITH
THERE HAS BEEN TO BE MUTUAL
RESPECT.
THEY HAVE TO RESPECT ME, TOO.
JUST BECAUSE I BELIEVE STATES
SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO DEFINE
MARRIAGE DOES NOT MAKE ME A BIG
GOT.
BECAUSE WE BELIEVE ALL HUMAN
LIFE IS WORTHY OF PROTECTION AT
EVERY STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT DOES
NOT MAKE ME A CHAUVINIST.
THE PEOPLE THAT ARE CLOSE MINDED
ARE THE PEOPLE THAT LOVE TO
PREACH ABOUT THE CERTAINTY OF
SCIENCE WITH REGARDS TO CLIMATE
BUT IGNORE SCIENCE THAT LIFE
BEGINS AT CONCEPTION.
DONALD TRUMP SPOKE AND HE
DISMISSED HIS CRITICS THAT
CALLED HIM A LIGHT WEIGHT AND
SIDE SHOW.
HE SPOKE EXCLUSIVELY DO TO OUR
DAVID BRODY OUR THE GOP'S
FUTURE.
THERE IS A FIGHT GOING ON HOW
DO YOU SEE THIS FIGHT WITHIN THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY?
I LARGELY AGREE WITH THE TEA
PARTY.
THEY HAVE TO STAY TRUE.
THEY GOT AWAY WITH IT LAST TIME.
THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS THAT
THE ELECTION RESULTS WERE SO
BAD.
YOU HAVE TO STAY TRUE TO YOUR
PRINCIPLES.
NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.
YOU CAN WATCH MORE OF THE
INTERVIEW WITH DONALD TRUMP
ALONG WITH DAVID'S INTERVIEW AND
TEXAS GOVERNOR RICK PERRY AT
CBNNEWS.COM ON "THE BRODY FILE."
REPUBLICAN SENATOR ROB PORTMAN
HAS COME OUT IN SUPPORT OF GAY
MARRIAGE.
HE CHANGED HIS MIND AFTER
LEARNING HIS SON IS GAY.
MARRIAGE IS ONE OF THE MANY
ISSUES CONSERVATIVES ARE
DISCUSSING AT CPAC.
KANSAS CONGRESSMAN TIM SHULSCAMP
SAYS REPUBLICANS NEED TO DO A
BETTER JOB SPEAKING OUT
EXAMINING THEIR CORE PRINCIPLES.
IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO
COME BACK AND SAY WHAT ARE OUR
CORE PRINCIPLES?
WHAT DO WE BELIEVE IN THEY DON'T
CHANGE BASED ON THE FACT THAT MY
SON OR MOTHER DON'T ACCEPT THEM.
THEY ARE CORE PRINCIPLES BECAUSE
THEY ARE RIGHT.
TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE IS A CORE
PRINCIPLE THAT IS RIGHT THAT
WILL LAST THROUGH TIME.
FOR MORE WE TURN TO BISHOP
JACKSON IN MARYLAND.
HE KNOWS THE PARTMAN FAMILY.
MANY PEOPLE ARE SHOCKED WITH
THIS CHANGE IN STANCE, WAS IT
SURPRISING TO YOU?
ABSOLUTELY WAS SURPRISING TO
ME.
I WENT TO THE SAME JR. HIGH AND
HIGH SCHOOL WITH ROB PORTMAN,
BEHIND ME IN SCHOOL.
I WORKED FOR HIS FATHER FOR
ABOUT A YEAR WHEN I FIRST GOT
OUT OF COLLEGE.
THEY ARE A SOLID FAMILY.
HE IS A GREAT SENATOR, GREAT MAN
AND I THINK THIS REPRESENTS A
REAL CHALLENGE FOR SOCIAL
CONSERVATIVES WITHIN THE
CONSERVATIVE MOVEMENT AND
REPUBLICAN PARTY.
THAT IS MANY, MANY PEOPLE ARE OF
THE OPINION THAT THEY CAN JUST
THROW SOCIAL ISSUES LIKE
TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE UNDER THE
BUS.
I THINK IT IS SOMETHING OF A
DEFECTION AND REPRESENTS A
POTENTIAL SPLIT IN THE VERY
FABRIC OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
ACCORDING TO A RECENT PEW
STUDY, HALF OF ALL AMERICANS
SUPPORT GAY MARRIAGE.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR
CONSERVATIVES TO HOLD TRUE TO
TRADITIONAL VALUES?
NOT ONLY IS IT IMPORTANT
BECAUSE OF GOD 'S LAW AND YOU
KNOW THE AMOGO DAY, IMAGE OF GOD
REVEALED IN MALE AND FEMALE
COMPONENTS OF MARRIAGE.
I BELIEVE THE WITNESS OF CHRIST
IS BEING SEEN IN THE TRADITIONAL
FAMILIES THAT HAVE A MOM AND DAD
THERE.
I BELIEVE THERE IS A SYSTEMATIC
TEARING DOWN OF THAT IMAGE IN
OUR CULTURE.
I THINK WE FAILED SOME WHAT,
LORIE, IN THAT OUR MESSAGING IS
THE PROBLEM.
YOU KNOW THE SCIENCE OF
APOLOGETICS THAT WE STUDY AS
CHRISTIANS REALLY IS TELLING THE
CULTURE WHY WE BELIEVE WHAT WE
BELIEVE.
IT SEEMS AS THOUGH WE KNOW WHAT
WE BELIEVE, WE ARE ARTICULATE
WITH THAT.
PERHAPS WE HAVEN'T GIVEN
WONDERFUL PEOPLE LIKE THE
PORTMANS THE WHYS IN A
PERSUASIVE ENOUGH MANNER.
EVEN THOUGH YOUR SON MAYBE GAY,
IT DOESN'T DIMINISH HIM AS A
PERSON.
WE SAY MARRIAGE IS NOT INTENDED
FOR HIM.
VERY INTERESTING INSIGHTS.
BISHOP JACKSON, SO GREAT TO SEE
YOU, THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.
COMING UP, HOW A MURDER IS
CAUSING CHRISTIANS TO REACH OUT
TO THEIR MUSLIM NEIGHBORS IN THE
PHILIPPINES.
A CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN LIBYA
HAS BEEN TORCHED.
THE LATEST EXAMPLE OF CHRISTIAN
PERSECUTION IN THE MIDEAST.
UNIDENTIFY ATTACKERS BURNT THE
BENGHAZI CHURCH WHICH SERVED
MANY EGYPTIAN CHRISTIANS.
FORCES STOPPED ATTACKERS BEFORE
THEY COULD DO MORE DAMAGE.
THEY REPORTEDLY ABUSED BY
MILITIAS FOR ALLEGEDLY SPREADING
THE GOSPEL.
SENSELESS KILLING OF PASTOR AND
HIS FAMILY HAS STIR UP A
CHRISTIAN FAMILY IN THE
PHILIPPIN
PHILIPPINES.
LUCILLE TALUSAN TELLS US
REPORTER: SONGS OF WORSHIP
ECHO AS SEVERAL CHRISTIANS PAY
THEIR LAST RESPECTS TO PASTOR
RAY AND FAMILY.
PASTOR, RAY, WIFE, DAUGHTERS 14
AND 8 WAYLAID BY IDENTIFY
GUNMAN.
THIS IS THE EXACT SPOT WHERE
THEY WERE GUNNED DOWN.
HERE MORE THAN 30 EMPTY SHELLS
WERE FOUND.
ACCORDING TO NEIGHBORS, THE
SUSPECTS WHO ARE MUSLIMS ARE
KNOWN IN THE AREA TO BE VIOLENT
AND HUNGRY FOR POWER.
[ FOREIGN SPEAKING ] THIS
CRIMINALS ARE PROTECTED BY HIGH
RANKING OFFICIALS IN THE TOWN.
A FAMILY MEMBER SHARES HOW
PASTOR RAY IS A GREAT LOSS TO
THE MINISTRY.
HE PLANTED CHURCHES IN THE
MOUNTAINS.
EVERY SUNDAY HE TRAVELED THREE
HOURS ON HIS MOTORBIKE TO TEACH
THE WORD OF GOD TO THE PEOPLE
THERE.
IT IS DIFFICULT TO ACCEPT WHAT
HAS HAPPENED.
THEIR DEATH HAS INSPIRED US TO
SHARE THE GOSPEL TO PEOPLE U.
THIS PASTOR WHOSE IDENTITY WE
WILL HIDE SAID THE DEATHS SERVE
AS AN EYE OPENER TO THE CHURCH.
WITHIN THE EVANGELICAL
CHURCH, THEY NEED TO CHANGE
THAT.
WHO ELSE CAN REACH THESE PEOPLE
EXCEPT US?
WITH THE LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST.
ONLY ANTIDOTE TO OUR PROBLEM.
THE PEOPLE OF GOD.
TO ME, I TAKE THIS AS A
CHALLENGE TO RISE UP AND REALLY
WIN THEM TO THE LORD JESUS
CHRIST.
AMAZINGLY THE ELDEST DAUGHTER
16-YEAR-OLD ELIZA WHO IS THE
LONE SURVIVOR IS COPING WELL
WITH THE DEATH OF HER LOVED
ONES.
MY FATHER NEVER STOPPED
TELLING US HOW GOOD GOD IS.
I HAVE ACCEPT ED ACCEPTED WHAT HAPPENED TO
MY FAMILY BECAUSE I KNOW THEY
ARE IN HEAVEN WITH THE LORD.
I WILL BE MISSING THEM.
I KNOW GOD HAS A PURPOSE FOR MY
LIFE.
I WILL FULFILL MY LIFE AND
FINISH MY STUDIES.
LUCILLE TALUSAN, CBN NEWS,
PHILIPPINES.
UP NEXT, THIS INDIAN WOMAN
PRAYED TO THE HINDU GODS HER
WHOLE LIFE UNTIL SHE GOT AN
ANSWER SHE DIDN'T EXPECT.
THE WOMAN IN OUR NEXT STORY
LIVED IN INDIA THOUGH REJECTED
BY HER HUSBAND.
WHEN SHE HAD PROBLEMS OR NEEDS,
SHE SOUGHT HELP FROM THE GODS OF
HER HINDU RELIGION.
UNTIL ONE DAY SHE HEARD A NEW
VOICE TELLING HER TO GO TO
CHURCH.
WHEN I WAS BORN THE
ASTROLOGYIST TOLD HIM IT IS NOT
WORTH RAISING ME AND END HER
LIFE AS A BABY.
IT POISONED HIS MIND
REPORTER: SHE HAD A STRANGE
RELATIONSHIP WITH HER FATHER,
ONE THAT WORSEENED OVER TIME.
EVERY BUSINESS FAILURE HE
ENDURED OR FINANCIAL LOSS HE
BLAMED ME.
HE BECAME AN ALCOHOLIC AND
ABUSED US, PHYSICALLY AND
VERBALLY
REPORTER: SHE SOUGHT COMFORT
AND ACCEPTANCE IN HER FAMILY'S
FACE.
EVERY TIME I WENT TO HINDU
TEMPLES, WHEN I CAME OUT THERE
WAS A VOID.
THAT VOID WAS SO STRONG.
HOPELESSNESS WAS ALWAYS THERE.
ROTTA TURNED TO EDUCATION IN
HER SEARCH FOR PURPOSE.
SHE EXCELLED IN HER STUDIES.
I DID MY MASTERS IN MEDICAL
PSYCHIATRIC WORK AND GOD A JOB
IN A CANCER HOSPITAL.
SHE PROVIDED CARE AND
COMFORT.
THIS DEEPENED THE EMPTINESS IN
HER OWN LIFE.
PEOPLE WERE SUFFERING, SOME
ASKED ME, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO
THEIR SOUL ONCE THEY DIE?
I DIDN'T HAVE ANSWERS.
I FELT DESPERATE.
I KIND OF FILLED MY VOID WITH
MORE EDUCATION.
REPORTER: ROTTA RECEIVED
SCHOLARSHIP TO STUDY IN AMERICA.
LIFE HERE SEEMED HARDER THAN
EVER.
THE CULTURE SHOCK WAS SO
GREAT.
I MISSED HOME.
MY FAMILY.
I COULDN'T CONCENTRATE MUCH.
MY GRADES STARTED GOING DOWN.
SHE WAS ON THE VERGE OF
LOSING HER SCHOLARSHIP.
I HAD ONLY $36 IN MY ACCOUNT.
MY SOCIAL SECURITY CARD STAMPED
UNAUTHORIZED FOR WORK
REPORTER: FEAR OF BEING
HOMELESS TOOK OVER.
I WAS AFRAID OF THE FUTURE.
DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IN
THIS FOREIGNLAND.
REPORTER: SHE SOUGHT HELP
FROM THE ONLY SOURCE SHE KNEW.
I CRIED OUT TO THE GODDESSES.
I AM CRYING TO ALL OF YOU.
I HEARD THESE ARE MAN MADE
IMAGES, I AM A HOLY GOD, GO TO
CHURCH.
YOU WILL FIND ME.
I REJECTED THAT THOUGHT.
IN MY DESPERATION WHEN THE
THOUGHT WAS SO STRONG, I NEEDED
AN ANSWER.
REPORTER: A FELLOW STUDENT
INVITED THOR CHURCH.
I SAT IN THE LAST SEAT.
I STARTED LISTENING TO THEM
WORSHIPPING.
THERE WAS SUCH JOY IN MY HEART I
COULDN'T EXPLAIN.
PEACE IN MY HEART.
THE PASTOR SAID GOD WANTS A
FATHER-DAUGHTER RELATIONSHIP.
ALL I HAD TO DO WAS REPENT FOR
MY SINS, INVITE JESUS AS MY LORD
AND SAVIOR.
I WAS A PRIDE-FILLED PERSON.
NO REASON I AM A SINNER.
I AM A GOOD SOCIAL WORKER.
I HAVE HELPED HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE
REPORTER: SHE REFUSED THE
PASTORS INVITATION.
ONE NIGHT SHE HAD A VISION.
WHEN I LAID DOWN AND TRYING
TO SLEEP IT WAS LIKE A MOVIE,
ALL THE THINGS NOT RIGHT IN THE
EYES OF GOD.
WHEN I SAW THAT, THESE ARE
WRONG, SINFUL IN THE EYES OF
GOD, I SHOULD ASK FOR
FORGIVENESS.
I GOT ON MY KNEES BY MY BED,
GOD, I ASK FOR YOUR FORGIVENESS.
I DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT JESUS.
I INVITE HIM AS MY ONLY LORD AND
SAVIOR.
REPORTER: THE EMPTINESS AND
LONELINESS STARTED TO DISAPPEAR.
I HAVE THIS GOD, THIS
PERSONAL GOD THAT WOULD CARRY ME
THROUGH AND GUIDE ME AND COUNSEL
ME AND MINISTER TO ME.
THE FEAR WAS TAKEN AWAY FROM ME.
FROM THEN ONWARDS MIRACLE AFTER
MIRACLE HAPPENED
REPORTER: SHE RECEIVED A
SCHOLARSHIP TO ANOTHER
UNIVERSITY AND MOVED INTO A
CHRISTIAN WOMAN'S HOME WHERE SHE
WAS MENTORED.
SHE IS MARRIED WITH A FAMILY OF
HER OWN.
JESUS GAVE ME THE SENSE OF
SECURITY AND PEACE AND JOY AND
HOPE.
WHEN YOU REALLY EMBRACE GOD'S
LOVE THERE IS NO FEAR, NO MORE
LONELINESS.
HIS LOVE SURROUNDS YOU AND
BLESSES YOU.
UP NEXT, DETERMINED TO MAKE A
LIVING HOW ONE PARALYZED IOWA
FARMER IS OVERCOMING THE ODDS TO
RETURN TO HIS FIRST LOVE.
A DETERMINED IOWA FARMER IS
NOT LETTING HIS HANDICAP GET IN
THE WAY OF HIS BUSINESS.
JAKE WOOKI WAS PARALYZED IN A
HUNTING ACCIDENT.
EVEN THOUGH HELP CAN'T FEEL
ANYTHING RIBS DOWN, HE IS
PREPARED TO GET IN HIS TRACTOR
AND PLANT HIS CROPS BY SPRING.
I WILL PLANT MY CROPS THIS
YEAR.
THAT IS MY GOAL.
WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF FARMERS,
NEVER HAD ANYONE AS DETERMINED
AS JAKE TO GET INTO THE TRACTOR
PRIOR TO PLANTING SEASON.
THE HOSPITAL IS ALLOWING JAKE
TO KEEP HIS TRACTOR OUTSIDE.
AS RETURNING TO FARM, JAKE WILL
HAVE PLENTY OF HELP FROM WIFE
AND THREE CHILDREN AND I IMAGINE
A BIT MORE THEN THAT, TOO.
THAT IS ALL FOR THIS EDITION OF
"NEWSWATCH."
YOU CAN E-MAIL YOUR COMMENTS AND
QUESTIONS AT "NEWSWATCH" AT
CBN.COM.
WE HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US AGAIN
NEXT TIME, HAVE A GREAT EVENING,
.VERYONE
