TONIGHT ON "NEWSWATCH" THE

WIFE OF AMERICAN PASTOR

IMPRISONED IN IRAN TESTIFIED

BEFORE CONGRESS.

NEGHMEH JOINS US WITH THE FIGHT

TO FREE HER HUSBAND.

AND SAME-SEX MARRIAGE, WHAT

CHANGED THE ISSUE.

AND ONE HINDU WOMAN FOUND HOPE.

ALL OF THIS AND MORE TONIGHT ON

"NEWSWATCH." IT WAS AN EMOTIONAL

DAY ON CAPITOL HILL.

GOOD EVENING I AM LORIE JOHNSON.

A WIFE'S PASSIONATE PLEA FOR HER

IMPRISONED HUSBAND'S SAFETY

BRINGS TEARS ON CAPITOL HILL AND

STRONG REBUKE OF THE OBAMA

ADMINISTRATION.

NEGHMEH IS ASKING TO PUT

PRESSURE ON THE OBAMA

ADMINISTRATION TO HELP WITH THE

RELEASE OF HER HUSBAND CHRISTIAN

PASTOR SAEED ABEDINI.

THE IRANIAN REGIME ARRESTED

PASTOR SAEED LAST JULY DURING A

TRIP TO BUILD AN ORPHANAGE.

UP TO THE ARREST HE WAS SKYPING

DAILY AND CHANGED WHEN HE WAS

TAKEN INTO CUSTODY.

WE DIDN'T KNOW WHERE HE WAS

FOR A WEEK.

THEY KEPT SAYING MOMMY, CAN WE

HEAR HIS VOICE?

I COULDN'T EXPLAIN HE WAS

FISCALLY TA PHYSICALLY TAKEN TO

PRISON.

THEY SAID DOES DADDY NOT LOVE US

ANYMORE.

DOES DADDY NOT WANT TO HEAR OUR

VOICE ANYMORE?

I HAD TO TELL THEM THAT HE WAS

IMPRISONED BECAUSE HE LOVES

JESUS.

SHE SAYS HER HUSBAND, A U.S.

CITIZEN HAS BEEN BEATEN IN

PRISON AND INTERNAL BLEEDING.

ACLU WHICH REPRESENTS THE

ABEDINI FAMILY WAS OUTRAGED NO

ONE SHOWED UP FOR TODAY'S

HEARING.

JORDAN, WHAT DOES THAT SAY ABOUT

THE STATE DEPARTMENT'S CONCERN?

U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT SENT NO

ONE.

NEGHMEH CAME FROM OHIO.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT COULDN'T GO

DOWN THE STREET.

LACK OF CARE, FUNDAMENTAL

UNDERSTANDING ABOUT NEGHMEH'S

SITUATIONS.

THE LLED THEM AWOL AT

HEARING TODAY.

THEY HAVE BASICALLY BEEN VERY

NASTY TELLING NEGHMEH THEY

COULDN'T HELP FROM DAY ONE.

NEGHMEH AS A U.S. CITIZEN,

WHAT IS YOUR REACTION THAT THE

OBAMA ADMINISTRATION DIDN'T SEND

A REPRESENTATIVE TO THE HEARING?

I AM VERY MUCH SURPRISED AS

JORDAN MENTIONED THEY ARE CLOSE

TO WHERE WE HAD THE HEARING.

THEY COULD HAVE SENT ANY

REPRESENTATIVE TO BE PRESENT.

THEY AREN'T.

VERY DISAPPOINTING.

THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE

ADVOCATING FOR SAEED.

OUR FAMILY IS DEFINITELY

SUFFERING.

OUR KIDS ARE SUFFERING EVERYDAY.

MY FIRST PHONE CALL WITH THE

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE WAS

THAT THEY COULD DO NOTHING.

I REMEMBER CRYING OUT AFTER I

HUNG UP.

THE LORD SAID I AM GOING TO

DELIVER YOU.

IT IS HARD TO HEAR, SEE OUR

GOVERNMENT IS NOT DOING ALL THEY

CAN AND NOT SHOWING UP FOR THOSE

MEETINGS.

I KNOW ULTIMATELY GOD IS IN

CONTROL.

HE WILL BE GLORIFIED THROUGH ALL

OF THIS AND WILL DELIVER SAEED.

JORDAN WHAT ACTIONS SHOULD

THE WHITE HOUSE TAKE TO HELP

FREE SAEED?

THEY DIDN'T SHOW UP.

STATE DEPARTMENT INVITED US TO

COME BY AND MEET WITH THE

INDIVIDUALS PROBLEMATIC.

WE SHARED WITH THEM TODAY, STILL

OUR FRUSTRATION AND WHAT WE

EXPECT.

NO PROMISES AND NO CHANGE IN OUR

TUNE UNTIL THAT HAPPENS.

WE EXPECT A STATEMENT FROM

SECRETARY KERRY CALLING FOR THE

RELEASE OF ABEDINI POSSIBLY THE

PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES,

EXPECT MORE DIPLOMATIC

ENGAGEMENT BEHIND THE SCENES

WHICH FOR THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE

BEEN HEARING ABOUT.

MUCH CLEARER RELATIONSHIP.

WE HAVE TO WORK WITH THE STATE

DEPARTMENT.

THAT HAS TO BE MADE CLEAR.

WE ARE NOT TO THE POINT YET.

THIS HEARING HAS CERTAINLY

ALREADY HAD A POSITIVE EFFECT.

IT EXPOSED THE PROBLEM AT THE

STATE DEPARTMENT AND GIVEN US

NEW PEOPLE TO WORK WITH.

WE HAVE BEGUN THE PROCESS.

JUST THAT ALONE IT WAS WORTH

GOING THROUGH THE DIFFICULT

PROCESS OF TRYING TO TELL THAT

STORY WHICH NEGHMEH DID

EFFECTIVELY.

ALL RIGHT.

GOOD TO SEE YOU BOTH, NEGHMEH

ABEDINI AND JORDAN SEKULOW.

THIS YEAR'S CPAC IS PROVE TO BE

A STAGE FOR WOULD BE

PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES IN 2016.

AMONG THEM SENATOR MARCO RUBIO.

HE SPOKE DEFENDING CORE GOP

VALUES.

IN ORDER TO WORK TOGETHER

WITH PEOPLE YOU DISAGREE WITH

THERE HAS BEEN TO BE MUTUAL

RESPECT.

THEY HAVE TO RESPECT ME, TOO.

JUST BECAUSE I BELIEVE STATES

SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO DEFINE

MARRIAGE DOES NOT MAKE ME A BIG

GOT.

BECAUSE WE BELIEVE ALL HUMAN

LIFE IS WORTHY OF PROTECTION AT

EVERY STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT DOES

NOT MAKE ME A CHAUVINIST.

THE PEOPLE THAT ARE CLOSE MINDED

ARE THE PEOPLE THAT LOVE TO

PREACH ABOUT THE CERTAINTY OF

SCIENCE WITH REGARDS TO CLIMATE

BUT IGNORE SCIENCE THAT LIFE

BEGINS AT CONCEPTION.

DONALD TRUMP SPOKE AND HE

DISMISSED HIS CRITICS THAT

CALLED HIM A LIGHT WEIGHT AND

SIDE SHOW.

HE SPOKE EXCLUSIVELY DO TO OUR

DAVID BRODY OUR THE GOP'S

FUTURE.

THERE IS A FIGHT GOING ON HOW

DO YOU SEE THIS FIGHT WITHIN THE

REPUBLICAN PARTY?

I LARGELY AGREE WITH THE TEA

PARTY.

THEY HAVE TO STAY TRUE.

THEY GOT AWAY WITH IT LAST TIME.

THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS THAT

THE ELECTION RESULTS WERE SO

BAD.

YOU HAVE TO STAY TRUE TO YOUR

PRINCIPLES.

NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.

YOU CAN WATCH MORE OF THE

INTERVIEW WITH DONALD TRUMP

ALONG WITH DAVID'S INTERVIEW AND

TEXAS GOVERNOR RICK PERRY AT

CBNNEWS.COM ON "THE BRODY FILE."

REPUBLICAN SENATOR ROB PORTMAN

HAS COME OUT IN SUPPORT OF GAY

MARRIAGE.

HE CHANGED HIS MIND AFTER

LEARNING HIS SON IS GAY.

MARRIAGE IS ONE OF THE MANY

ISSUES CONSERVATIVES ARE

DISCUSSING AT CPAC.

KANSAS CONGRESSMAN TIM SHULSCAMP

SAYS REPUBLICANS NEED TO DO A

BETTER JOB SPEAKING OUT

EXAMINING THEIR CORE PRINCIPLES.

IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO

COME BACK AND SAY WHAT ARE OUR

CORE PRINCIPLES?

WHAT DO WE BELIEVE IN THEY DON'T

CHANGE BASED ON THE FACT THAT MY

SON OR MOTHER DON'T ACCEPT THEM.

THEY ARE CORE PRINCIPLES BECAUSE

THEY ARE RIGHT.

TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE IS A CORE

PRINCIPLE THAT IS RIGHT THAT

WILL LAST THROUGH TIME.

FOR MORE WE TURN TO BISHOP

JACKSON IN MARYLAND.

HE KNOWS THE PARTMAN FAMILY.

MANY PEOPLE ARE SHOCKED WITH

THIS CHANGE IN STANCE, WAS IT

SURPRISING TO YOU?

ABSOLUTELY WAS SURPRISING TO

ME.

I WENT TO THE SAME JR. HIGH AND

HIGH SCHOOL WITH ROB PORTMAN,

BEHIND ME IN SCHOOL.

I WORKED FOR HIS FATHER FOR

ABOUT A YEAR WHEN I FIRST GOT

OUT OF COLLEGE.

THEY ARE A SOLID FAMILY.

HE IS A GREAT SENATOR, GREAT MAN

AND I THINK THIS REPRESENTS A

REAL CHALLENGE FOR SOCIAL

CONSERVATIVES WITHIN THE

CONSERVATIVE MOVEMENT AND

REPUBLICAN PARTY.

THAT IS MANY, MANY PEOPLE ARE OF

THE OPINION THAT THEY CAN JUST

THROW SOCIAL ISSUES LIKE

TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE UNDER THE

BUS.

I THINK IT IS SOMETHING OF A

DEFECTION AND REPRESENTS A

POTENTIAL SPLIT IN THE VERY

FABRIC OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

ACCORDING TO A RECENT PEW

STUDY, HALF OF ALL AMERICANS

SUPPORT GAY MARRIAGE.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR

CONSERVATIVES TO HOLD TRUE TO

TRADITIONAL VALUES?

NOT ONLY IS IT IMPORTANT

BECAUSE OF GOD 'S LAW AND YOU

KNOW THE AMOGO DAY, IMAGE OF GOD

REVEALED IN MALE AND FEMALE

COMPONENTS OF MARRIAGE.

I BELIEVE THE WITNESS OF CHRIST

IS BEING SEEN IN THE TRADITIONAL

FAMILIES THAT HAVE A MOM AND DAD

THERE.

I BELIEVE THERE IS A SYSTEMATIC

TEARING DOWN OF THAT IMAGE IN

OUR CULTURE.

I THINK WE FAILED SOME WHAT,

LORIE, IN THAT OUR MESSAGING IS

THE PROBLEM.

YOU KNOW THE SCIENCE OF

APOLOGETICS THAT WE STUDY AS

CHRISTIANS REALLY IS TELLING THE

CULTURE WHY WE BELIEVE WHAT WE

BELIEVE.

IT SEEMS AS THOUGH WE KNOW WHAT

WE BELIEVE, WE ARE ARTICULATE

WITH THAT.

PERHAPS WE HAVEN'T GIVEN

WONDERFUL PEOPLE LIKE THE

PORTMANS THE WHYS IN A

PERSUASIVE ENOUGH MANNER.

EVEN THOUGH YOUR SON MAYBE GAY,

IT DOESN'T DIMINISH HIM AS A

PERSON.

WE SAY MARRIAGE IS NOT INTENDED

FOR HIM.

VERY INTERESTING INSIGHTS.

BISHOP JACKSON, SO GREAT TO SEE

YOU, THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

COMING UP, HOW A MURDER IS

CAUSING CHRISTIANS TO REACH OUT

TO THEIR MUSLIM NEIGHBORS IN THE

PHILIPPINES.

A CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN LIBYA

HAS BEEN TORCHED.

THE LATEST EXAMPLE OF CHRISTIAN

PERSECUTION IN THE MIDEAST.

UNIDENTIFY ATTACKERS BURNT THE

BENGHAZI CHURCH WHICH SERVED

MANY EGYPTIAN CHRISTIANS.

FORCES STOPPED ATTACKERS BEFORE

THEY COULD DO MORE DAMAGE.

THEY REPORTEDLY ABUSED BY

MILITIAS FOR ALLEGEDLY SPREADING

THE GOSPEL.

SENSELESS KILLING OF PASTOR AND

HIS FAMILY HAS STIR UP A

CHRISTIAN FAMILY IN THE

PHILIPPIN

PHILIPPINES.

LUCILLE TALUSAN TELLS US

REPORTER: SONGS OF WORSHIP

ECHO AS SEVERAL CHRISTIANS PAY

THEIR LAST RESPECTS TO PASTOR

RAY AND FAMILY.

PASTOR, RAY, WIFE, DAUGHTERS 14

AND 8 WAYLAID BY IDENTIFY

GUNMAN.

THIS IS THE EXACT SPOT WHERE

THEY WERE GUNNED DOWN.

HERE MORE THAN 30 EMPTY SHELLS

WERE FOUND.

ACCORDING TO NEIGHBORS, THE

SUSPECTS WHO ARE MUSLIMS ARE

KNOWN IN THE AREA TO BE VIOLENT

AND HUNGRY FOR POWER.

[ FOREIGN SPEAKING ] THIS

CRIMINALS ARE PROTECTED BY HIGH

RANKING OFFICIALS IN THE TOWN.

A FAMILY MEMBER SHARES HOW

PASTOR RAY IS A GREAT LOSS TO

THE MINISTRY.

HE PLANTED CHURCHES IN THE

MOUNTAINS.

EVERY SUNDAY HE TRAVELED THREE

HOURS ON HIS MOTORBIKE TO TEACH

THE WORD OF GOD TO THE PEOPLE

THERE.

IT IS DIFFICULT TO ACCEPT WHAT

HAS HAPPENED.

THEIR DEATH HAS INSPIRED US TO

SHARE THE GOSPEL TO PEOPLE U.

THIS PASTOR WHOSE IDENTITY WE

WILL HIDE SAID THE DEATHS SERVE

AS AN EYE OPENER TO THE CHURCH.

WITHIN THE EVANGELICAL

CHURCH, THEY NEED TO CHANGE

THAT.

WHO ELSE CAN REACH THESE PEOPLE

EXCEPT US?

WITH THE LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST.

ONLY ANTIDOTE TO OUR PROBLEM.

THE PEOPLE OF GOD.

TO ME, I TAKE THIS AS A

CHALLENGE TO RISE UP AND REALLY

WIN THEM TO THE LORD JESUS

CHRIST.

AMAZINGLY THE ELDEST DAUGHTER

16-YEAR-OLD ELIZA WHO IS THE

LONE SURVIVOR IS COPING WELL

WITH THE DEATH OF HER LOVED

ONES.

MY FATHER NEVER STOPPED

TELLING US HOW GOOD GOD IS.

I HAVE ACCEPT ED ACCEPTED WHAT HAPPENED TO

MY FAMILY BECAUSE I KNOW THEY

ARE IN HEAVEN WITH THE LORD.

I WILL BE MISSING THEM.

I KNOW GOD HAS A PURPOSE FOR MY

LIFE.

I WILL FULFILL MY LIFE AND

FINISH MY STUDIES.

LUCILLE TALUSAN, CBN NEWS,

PHILIPPINES.

UP NEXT, THIS INDIAN WOMAN

PRAYED TO THE HINDU GODS HER

WHOLE LIFE UNTIL SHE GOT AN

ANSWER SHE DIDN'T EXPECT.

THE WOMAN IN OUR NEXT STORY

LIVED IN INDIA THOUGH REJECTED

BY HER HUSBAND.

WHEN SHE HAD PROBLEMS OR NEEDS,

SHE SOUGHT HELP FROM THE GODS OF

HER HINDU RELIGION.

UNTIL ONE DAY SHE HEARD A NEW

VOICE TELLING HER TO GO TO

CHURCH.

WHEN I WAS BORN THE

ASTROLOGYIST TOLD HIM IT IS NOT

WORTH RAISING ME AND END HER

LIFE AS A BABY.

IT POISONED HIS MIND

REPORTER: SHE HAD A STRANGE

RELATIONSHIP WITH HER FATHER,

ONE THAT WORSEENED OVER TIME.

EVERY BUSINESS FAILURE HE

ENDURED OR FINANCIAL LOSS HE

BLAMED ME.

HE BECAME AN ALCOHOLIC AND

ABUSED US, PHYSICALLY AND

VERBALLY

REPORTER: SHE SOUGHT COMFORT

AND ACCEPTANCE IN HER FAMILY'S

FACE.

EVERY TIME I WENT TO HINDU

TEMPLES, WHEN I CAME OUT THERE

WAS A VOID.

THAT VOID WAS SO STRONG.

HOPELESSNESS WAS ALWAYS THERE.

ROTTA TURNED TO EDUCATION IN

HER SEARCH FOR PURPOSE.

SHE EXCELLED IN HER STUDIES.

I DID MY MASTERS IN MEDICAL

PSYCHIATRIC WORK AND GOD A JOB

IN A CANCER HOSPITAL.

SHE PROVIDED CARE AND

COMFORT.

THIS DEEPENED THE EMPTINESS IN

HER OWN LIFE.

PEOPLE WERE SUFFERING, SOME

ASKED ME, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO

THEIR SOUL ONCE THEY DIE?

I DIDN'T HAVE ANSWERS.

I FELT DESPERATE.

I KIND OF FILLED MY VOID WITH

MORE EDUCATION.

REPORTER: ROTTA RECEIVED

SCHOLARSHIP TO STUDY IN AMERICA.

LIFE HERE SEEMED HARDER THAN

EVER.

THE CULTURE SHOCK WAS SO

GREAT.

I MISSED HOME.

MY FAMILY.

I COULDN'T CONCENTRATE MUCH.

MY GRADES STARTED GOING DOWN.

SHE WAS ON THE VERGE OF

LOSING HER SCHOLARSHIP.

I HAD ONLY $36 IN MY ACCOUNT.

MY SOCIAL SECURITY CARD STAMPED

UNAUTHORIZED FOR WORK

REPORTER: FEAR OF BEING

HOMELESS TOOK OVER.

I WAS AFRAID OF THE FUTURE.

DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IN

THIS FOREIGNLAND.

REPORTER: SHE SOUGHT HELP

FROM THE ONLY SOURCE SHE KNEW.

I CRIED OUT TO THE GODDESSES.

I AM CRYING TO ALL OF YOU.

I HEARD THESE ARE MAN MADE

IMAGES, I AM A HOLY GOD, GO TO

CHURCH.

YOU WILL FIND ME.

I REJECTED THAT THOUGHT.

IN MY DESPERATION WHEN THE

THOUGHT WAS SO STRONG, I NEEDED

AN ANSWER.

REPORTER: A FELLOW STUDENT

INVITED THOR CHURCH.

I SAT IN THE LAST SEAT.

I STARTED LISTENING TO THEM

WORSHIPPING.

THERE WAS SUCH JOY IN MY HEART I

COULDN'T EXPLAIN.

PEACE IN MY HEART.

THE PASTOR SAID GOD WANTS A

FATHER-DAUGHTER RELATIONSHIP.

ALL I HAD TO DO WAS REPENT FOR

MY SINS, INVITE JESUS AS MY LORD

AND SAVIOR.

I WAS A PRIDE-FILLED PERSON.

NO REASON I AM A SINNER.

I AM A GOOD SOCIAL WORKER.

I HAVE HELPED HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE

REPORTER: SHE REFUSED THE

PASTORS INVITATION.

ONE NIGHT SHE HAD A VISION.

WHEN I LAID DOWN AND TRYING

TO SLEEP IT WAS LIKE A MOVIE,

ALL THE THINGS NOT RIGHT IN THE

EYES OF GOD.

WHEN I SAW THAT, THESE ARE

WRONG, SINFUL IN THE EYES OF

GOD, I SHOULD ASK FOR

FORGIVENESS.

I GOT ON MY KNEES BY MY BED,

GOD, I ASK FOR YOUR FORGIVENESS.

I DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT JESUS.

I INVITE HIM AS MY ONLY LORD AND

SAVIOR.

REPORTER: THE EMPTINESS AND

LONELINESS STARTED TO DISAPPEAR.

I HAVE THIS GOD, THIS

PERSONAL GOD THAT WOULD CARRY ME

THROUGH AND GUIDE ME AND COUNSEL

ME AND MINISTER TO ME.

THE FEAR WAS TAKEN AWAY FROM ME.

FROM THEN ONWARDS MIRACLE AFTER

MIRACLE HAPPENED

REPORTER: SHE RECEIVED A

SCHOLARSHIP TO ANOTHER

UNIVERSITY AND MOVED INTO A

CHRISTIAN WOMAN'S HOME WHERE SHE

WAS MENTORED.

SHE IS MARRIED WITH A FAMILY OF

HER OWN.

JESUS GAVE ME THE SENSE OF

SECURITY AND PEACE AND JOY AND

HOPE.

WHEN YOU REALLY EMBRACE GOD'S

LOVE THERE IS NO FEAR, NO MORE

LONELINESS.

HIS LOVE SURROUNDS YOU AND

BLESSES YOU.

UP NEXT, DETERMINED TO MAKE A

LIVING HOW ONE PARALYZED IOWA

FARMER IS OVERCOMING THE ODDS TO

RETURN TO HIS FIRST LOVE.

A DETERMINED IOWA FARMER IS

NOT LETTING HIS HANDICAP GET IN

THE WAY OF HIS BUSINESS.

JAKE WOOKI WAS PARALYZED IN A

HUNTING ACCIDENT.

EVEN THOUGH HELP CAN'T FEEL

ANYTHING RIBS DOWN, HE IS

PREPARED TO GET IN HIS TRACTOR

AND PLANT HIS CROPS BY SPRING.

I WILL PLANT MY CROPS THIS

YEAR.

THAT IS MY GOAL.

WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF FARMERS,

NEVER HAD ANYONE AS DETERMINED

AS JAKE TO GET INTO THE TRACTOR

PRIOR TO PLANTING SEASON.

THE HOSPITAL IS ALLOWING JAKE

TO KEEP HIS TRACTOR OUTSIDE.

AS RETURNING TO FARM, JAKE WILL

HAVE PLENTY OF HELP FROM WIFE

AND THREE CHILDREN AND I IMAGINE

A BIT MORE THEN THAT, TOO.

THAT IS ALL FOR THIS EDITION OF

"NEWSWATCH."

YOU CAN E-MAIL YOUR COMMENTS AND

QUESTIONS AT "NEWSWATCH" AT

CBN.COM.

WE HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US AGAIN

NEXT TIME, HAVE A GREAT EVENING,

.VERYONE