We originally posted the story of Pastor Nardarkhani over a year ago.  It has been a while since we were able to update the status of Pastor Youcef.  Good news GREAT NEWS comes today…..  FREEDOM !!  What an amazing testimony to faith…

Hat Tip WeeWeed (Fox News) Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, who was originally sentenced to death in  his native country for his Christian faith, was acquitted of apostasy charges  and released from custody.

Nadarkhani, 32, was imprisoned for three years and waiting execution for  refusing to renounce his Christian faith. His charges were lowered to  evangelizing to Muslims, which carried a three-year sentence. He was released  with time served, according to the American Center for Law and Justice, a  Washington-based watchdog group that had been campaigning for the pastor’s  release.

“Today our sources in Iran reported that Pastor Youcef was acquitted of  apostasy and released from prison. After languishing in prison for almost three  years, he has been reunited with his family,” Jordan Sekulow, executive director  of ACLJ said in a statement to FoxNews.com.

“While we are working on confirming the exact details of his release, some  sources report that the court alternatively convicted Pastor Youcef of  evangelizing to Muslims, sentencing him to three years and granting him time  served.  Pastor Youcef’s story is an example of how the world can join  together to ensure that justice is served and freedom preserved.”

Nadarkhani was originally called to Saturday’s hearing to answer to “charges  brought against him,” leading to speculation that the new charges from the  Iranian Supreme Court could be for a security-based crime, a charge often handed  down to cover-up prisoners being held and sentenced on faith-based charges.

“While we praise the release of Pastor Youcef, we must recognize that Iran  felt obligated to save face among its people and continue its pattern of  suppressing religious freedom with intimidation tactics,” Tiffany Barrans, a  legal director for ACLJ said to FoxNews.com.

“International attention to this matter saved this man’s life, but we must  not forget the human right of freedom of religion includes the right to freedom  of expression.”

Nadarkhani’s attorney, who also has been jailed, maintained that the married  father of two faced execution because he refused to renounce his religion.   (read more)

Let us give thanks and rejoice in his courage, strength and faith.  Awesome, just awesome.