Prayers for imprisoned pastor (Iran) and missionary (N. Korea) -- Pres. Obama at National Prayer Breakfast (Feb. 7, 2014)

from Feb. 2, 2014 posting at Obama Food-o-rama blog sponsored by Google Blogger (http://obamafoodorama.blogspot.com/) "Let us never forget those who are persecuted today, among them Americans of faith," President Obama said at the breakfast. "We pray for Kenneth Bae, a Christian missionary who’s been held in North Korea for 15 months, sentenced to 15 years of hard labor." "His family wants him home. And the United States will continue to do everything in our power to secure his release because Kenneth Bae deserves to be free." Iranian-American pastor Saeed Abedini, whose wife and two children live in Idaho, has been held captive in Iran since he was arrested in the summer of 2012, "on charges related to his religious beliefs," according to the State Department. He has visited Iran over the last decade to set up Christian houses of worship. "We pray for Pastor Saeed Abedini. He's been held in Iran for more than 18 months--sentenced to eight years in prison on charges relating to his Christian beliefs," President Obama said. "And as we continue to work for his freedom today, again, we call on the Iranian government to release Pastor Abedini so he can return to the loving arms of his wife and children in Idaho." Abedini's wife Naghmeh Abedini in December told lawmakers in a joint subcommittee hearing for the House Foreign Affairs Committee that he has been subjected to torture, and told that if he converts back to Islam, he would be set free. Today (Friday February 7, 2014) was the first time President Obama has publicly raised the issue of Abedini, according to Jordan Sekulow, Executive Director of The American Center for Law & Justice, which is working to secure the pastor's release. The President previously discussed Abedini's release in a private phone call with Iran's President Rouhani last Fall, Sekulow said. President Obama closed by offering prayers for all those imprisoned for their beliefs. "I hope that somehow they hear our prayers for them, that they know that, along with the spirit of God, they have our spirit with them as well, and that they are not alone," he said. The event is annually hosted by Members of Congress and organized on their behalf by the secretive conservative Christian organization The Fellowship Foundation, more widely known as "The Family." Every President since Dwight D. Eisenhower has attended the breakfast since it began in 1953. The President and Mrs. Obama sat at the head table with breakfast Co-Chair Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX), a vociferous critic of the President, and Co-Chair Rep. Janice Hahn (D-CA). Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA), Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss), former Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and gospel singer Yolanda Adams were also at the head table at the Washington, D.C. Hilton Hotel.