Saeed Abedini, a formerly imprisoned Iranian pastor, said he supports Republican candidate Donald Trump for president and encourages others Christians to do so as well.
ChristianToday.com reports that Abedini, who was released last January after being imprisoned in Iran for three years, has revealed that Trump helped his family while he was imprisoned.
His family, including wife, Naghmeh, and his two children, live in Boise, Idaho. Abedini, who has since filed for divorce from his wife over allegations that he was abusive, said that Trump gave his family $10,000.
He added that Trump had been his advocate, petitioning for his release.
“I am finally free in a free country. Last year on the same day I was sick and in chains for Christ, and now I can vote to choose my next president,” Abedini said in a post on his Facebook page on Sunday.
“And most amazingly, I can vote for someone that I know fought for me and called my name so many times. He met my family and gave them a $10,000 gift. I think his ideas are more biblical than the other candidates,” he added.
In response to some Christians’ objections to Trump, Abedini said that God has used flawed men to accomplish his purposes in the past:
“God used kings in the Old Testament to accomplish His purposes. When we hear that this candidate or that candidate is not a strong Christian or has a past that disqualifies him to be the president of the United States, my answer is that we are a nation, a people who are also sinners, saved by grace,” he stated, also adding that he did not receive any help from Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton while he was imprisoned.
