By Stefan J. Bos, Special Correspondent Worthy News
(Worthy News) - A U.S. pastor who spent two years in a Turkish prison for activities linked to his faith warns of upcoming persecution of Christians in the United States.
Pastor Andrew Brunson, 52, told an online event of the "Global Prayer for US Election Integrity" that he felt "a new urgency" for the United States following his return two years ago. For most of my life, I've been focused overseas. For the first time in my life, I really, I have an urgency for this country, for the United States," Brunson said.
"And not just with this election. This election does not precipitate it, but it has been growing in me these last two years,” he added.
"I believe the pressures that we're seeing in our country now are going to increase. And one of these pressures is going to be hostility toward people who embrace Jesus Christ and his teaching, who are not ashamed to stand for him," Brunson stressed.
“My concern is that we're not ready for this pressure. And not being prepared is very, very dangerous on several levels."
Brunson claimed God allowed him to be thrown into a Turkish prison to better prepare others for the upcoming trials and tribulations that they will endure.
LONG-TIME MISSIONARY
Pastor Brunson served as a missionary in Turkey for over 20 years. Police detained him in a 2016 crackdown following a coup attempt against Turkish President Erdogan.
The pastor, who denied involvement in the coup, had established the Izmir Resurrection Church, known for preaching the Gospel and supporting Syrian refugees – some of them Kurds.
The Turkish government reportedly accused Brunson of being “a CIA agent and plotting with Kurdish terrorists” to carry out the alleged coup.
He was freed amid pressure on Turkey by the administration of President Donald J. Trump, who then welcomed Brunson in the White House.
"I think one of the purposes God had for me in my imprisonment was that I learned perseverance at a deeper level again and again and again, “ Brunson recalled. “I was repeatedly broken and finally He rebuilt me," the pastor said.
HELPING BELIEVERS
He noted that he had to learn how to help other believers to persevere. Brunson expects persecution to come whether or not President Trump is successful in his election legal challenges. “Whoever ends up prevailing in this election, I believe that persecution is still coming and it's coming quickly and it's coming soon," Brunson added.
A Democratic group advising self-declared U.S. President-elect Joe Biden suggests that the new administration will curtail religious freedom, Worthy News reported this month. It proposes banning limiting Christian worship and outlawing creationism in education or work, among other measures.
The 28-page document of the Secular Democrats of America PAC was presented to Biden’s administration by Democratic Representatives Jamie Raskin and Jared Huffman — both co-chairs of the Congressional Freethought Caucus.
“So if President Trump prevails, it will delay persecution at a government level, “Brunson said. But he warned: “This will not keep us from the hostility that's rising in our society toward followers of Jesus.”
He said believers should realize that “ Jesus was the most loving, kind person in history, and yet he was called evil and people are not going to just disagree with us.”
However, "They will say that we are evil and they will justify everything they do to us because they will paint us as evil people." Therefore, “What is heavy on my heart, is that we need to prepare ourselves to prepare our own hearts," Brunson added.