For those of you who have been praying diligently over the last 7 days counting down to Pastor Andrew Brunson’s trial, please continue your prayers. Yesterday, we learned that the judge adjourned the hearing until May 7 and remanded Mr. Brunson in custody. The accounts of yesterday’s trial are hard to read, but give us a glimpse into what we should be praying for as Andrew continues to suffer in Jesus’ name.
News outlet, Hurriyet, relayed,
Brunson sobbed before telling a court in the city of Izmir that he was in a single-person cell and suffering psychologically, according to Hurriyet newspaper. Brunson said he was taking pills to treat his condition and had asked to be transferred out of solitary confinement.
“I didn’t do anything wrong,” he said. “The state has always kept an eye on us. I’ve never done anything against Turkey. Rather I love Turkey. I am praying for Turkey for 25 years. I’m innocent. I want the truth to come out now. I do not agree with any of the claims or charges.”
The Wall Street Journal also reported,
As he was being escorted away, Mr. Brunson turned to his wife in the courtroom and said: “I am going crazy here, I love you.”
The State Department spokeswoman, Heather Nauert, said in a statement the U.S. had seen no credible evidence that Mr. Brunson was guilty of a crime. “We hope that the judicial system in Turkey will resolve his case in a timely, fair, and transparent manner,” she said.
Our hearts mourn over this news. Please pray for the conditions Pastor Brunson continues to face as we await his hearing on May 7.