Our partner shares how the people of Iran are longing to hear the Gospel:
"For twenty years I have been searching for the Gospel"
A middle-aged man was so happy when he received the New Testament in Persian that he said: "I have read many books about other religions in an attempt to find the truth. But I have not found the real truth yet. For twenty years I have been searching for the Gospel, and now I will read it and see if it is the truth."
The young believer who testified for him said: "I believe that this is the only truth". The man said: "I will read it and I hope it is true".
Many young people are challenging the strict demands of the clergy and seeking alternatives to Islam.
Saved from suicide
A church planter shared his great joy over the 1000 copies of the New Testament that his church network had received earlier this month. "These New Testaments are the best way we can share the love of Christ with the Iranian people. People in Iran really want to receive them here. I have personally handed out thousands over the past few years and there has only been one person who has refused." He went on to share a recent testimony and prayer request: "A few weeks ago, we witnessed to a woman who was about to commit suicide and we gave her a copy of the New Testament. Thank God she did not follow through with her plans. Please pray for the many others in Iran who are contemplating suicide. Pray that God's word will reach them too."
Women are forced into religious dress - but beneath this surface, many hearts are open to the gospel.
Policeman gets New Testament and lets Bible smuggler go free
In a room at Tehran International Airport, a customs officer begins questioning Karim, a young Iranian church planter. "Do these belong to you?" he asks. Karim had just been caught at customs on his way back to Iran with a suitcase full of New Testaments. "Yes they do," he replies, praying for courage in his quiet mind. "You know they're not allowed, so why are you bringing them into our country?" God gave Karim courage. "I have read this book, I have met Jesus Christ and he has changed my life. I want to share this book with others so they can meet Him too. If you read this book, you can meet Jesus Christ." Other officers now joined the discussion and in the confusion, another officer pulled Karim aside and said that he had always wanted to read the New Testament. Karim had a copy in his pocket and handed it to him without the others noticing.
Karim's courage had made an impression and he was allowed to leave with a warning.
Evangelists in Tehran
Some Christians trained by a Danish European Mission partner put together a team of evangelists to witness in Tehran. They prayed for a week and planned to distribute the New Testament in Persian and films about Jesus in a busy part of the city. They were excited to witness about Jesus, but were understandably a little nervous. They went to a very crowded park to reach as many people as possible. The team knew that the secret police were often in places with large crowds. "What should we do if the secret police catch us?" one of the group asked, to which the pastor replied: "Then we have to trust in God".
They went into the park two by two, and the pastor took a young man with him who was quite scared. They saw a Muslim family on a picnic and introduced themselves to them and started witnessing about Christ. The family followed the Iranian tradition of hospitality and invited them to join them for dinner. The daughter in the family told them: "Actually, we left today with the hope that God would speak to us in some way." So the Christians sat down with them and told them the good news while they ate. The pastor then gave them a copy of the New Testament and the girl was very happy. "I knew God would speak to us today. God has not forgotten us because He has sent you to us," she said. The family asked the two men to pray for them. After they prayed, they were given their contact information so they could stay in touch.
