American Pastor Saeed Abedini, who is imprisoned in Iran, has sent a letter to President Barack Obama thanking him for visiting his wife Naghmeh and two young children last week.
The American Center for Law and Justice, which has worked for years for Abedini's release, announced that he had given a letter to the president to a family member who visited him in prison.
"I was personally encouraged that you were in my hometown of Boise, Idaho, and made time to visit my wife and children," Abedini wrote. "They have a heavy burden to carry in my absence. And your presence helped them to relieve some of that burden."
"Thank you again for standing up for my family and I and thousands of Christians across the world who are persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ," he continued. "President Obama, you have my prayers from inside of these walls. I pray for God's guidance, wisdom and blessing for you as you lead this great nation."
Pastor Saeed, a U.S. citizen, was jailed more than two years ago for his faith and has been tortured and denied medical treatment at various times in the Iranian prison system.
While President Obama was in Idaho, he promised to Abedini's family that he would make his freedom a "top priority," telling them he "will try" to get him home in time for his son Jacob's birthday in March.
ACLJ Executive Director Jay Sekulow also expressed thanks to the president.
"We will continue working with the Obama administration., the State Department, the United Nations and world leaders toward Pastor Saeed's freedom," he said./ CBN news