Image: Photo by Derek Sciba

"Thank you . . . for lifting me up and not forgetting me," Kenneth Bae (center) told supporters after North Korea released the US missionary 2 years into a 15-year sentence. The news came as Christians worldwide observed the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, which also celebrated Meriam Ibrahim’s release by Sudan. Still imprisoned: Saeed Abedini in Iran (for 2 years) and Asia Bibi in Pakistan (for 5). Bibi is 1 of 16 persecuted Christians tracked by Voice of the Martyrs, which lists 59 freed from prison since 2005 (including 7 last year).

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