Pictured above: Shahla told her moving story at the Danish European Mission meeting on April 14, 2018 in Sct. Johannes Church in Herning, Denmark.
The revival in Iran continues. Thousands upon thousands of Iranians are coming to faith these days. But as a Christian convert, sharing your faith with other Muslims often comes at a high price, and the authorities are taking notice. Shahla is an example of an Iranian Christian who has had to endure extreme pressure because of her faith. She has told us her story.
"Before the revolution, Islam was presented as a very nice religion that was wrapped up very nicely. But after the revolution, that fine wrapping was unwrapped, and then we saw, what the true face of Islam was." This is how Shahla opens her story about Iran and her journey of faith.
Iranian Shahla, who prayed five times a day and fasted during Ramadan, chose to become an atheist when she grew tired of God not answering her prayers. During a short trip to the UK, she read the Gospel of John and accepted Jesus as her savior that same day.
A pivotal event
Back in Iran, Shahla shares her faith with other Iranians and leads many to Jesus. "But one day, a decisive event occurred. I got arrested and went to jail," says Shahla. The intelligence service had previously arrested other Christians who had mentioned her name under severe torture. "If you tell us everything about who you were with, we'll let you go," the intelligence people had said to her. Shahla insisted she had nothing to say, and the agent responded with a punch on her shoulder. 
Image: It's been five years since Shahla was released from prison, and telling others about Jesus is still her passion.
Shahla gave thanks to God in prison
Although Shahla was initially shocked and complained to Jesus that she had ended up in prison, it was in God's word and in God's embrace that she found her comfort. One of the verses that strengthened her was 1 Thess. 5:18: "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." "And I sang praises, said hallelujah 1000 times every day and clapped in the cell, and I quoted this verse many timese every day. And that gave me great strength,"explains Shahla.
Torture in prison led Shahla closer to Jesus
"I won't go into detail about the torture experiences I had in prison, but I will tell you about, how to GOut intervened," says a very emotional Shahla. "There were several days when I was blindfolded and should stoe with the face against a wall for many hours, but that was the least of the torture experiences, I had. They had only blindfolded me. mine eyes physically, but it actually gave me the opportunity to feyepieces more on Jesus. The prison stay gave me the opportunity to spend many hours In prayer. The that Being alone in a prison cell is a strange experience. I used dage and nights together with JesusJust him and me. I started to understand how much han love me and has Caring for meand how much he wants me to mature in ham and come to understandswitching off His deep love,“ Shahla tells us.
On her first day in prison, Shahla had a special experience. "I am was in totalt shock, buts I sad the On the dirty floor with many questions in my mindthat I could not find an answer to. Why am I here? Why me? Suddenly I had a vision of Jesus. DIt was as if thea thick cement wall was lowered, and There stood Jesus. His face was fullt of love and peace. He said my name, and then said he: -Shahla, don't be afraidbecause I'm with you!" Shahla says with tears in her voice. "This message is not just for me, but for all of us: - I'm with youg. Don't be afraid," Shahla continues.
The killer ran over and hugged Shahla
After a period of solitary confinement in a very dirty and smelly small cell, Shahla was transferred to live with a woman who had been imprisoned for 11 years and was awaiting her death sentence. The woman was labeled the most dangerous of the inmates. She was deeply criminal. She had committed murder, smuggled drugs and committed numerous other crimes.
On the day of the woman's court hearing, Shahla told her: - Jesus will perform a miracle for you today. “DWhen she arrived back From the court, she ran over and gave me a hug. She was really happy., and I asked her, what had happened. She was Narrated. me, that she Anyway should not be sentenced to death." On a later occasion, Shahla had the opportunity to pray for salvation with her. This experience touched Shahla so deeply that she said to God: "I don't care how long I have to stay here [in prison], because the joy of this salvation makes me forget the hard days.“
God gave other blessings in prison
Shahla describes the 287 days of imprisonment, of which she spent four months in solitary confinement, as a very horrible and violent experience. Something you can only understand if you have experienced it yourself. "Despite the fact that being in prison was a violent and horrible experience, I still thank God for, that he gave me other blessings - just getting close to him," says Shahla.
After her release, Shahla managed to escape from Iran. Today she lives in a European country and works for the Danish European Mission's partner, Elam.
You can help keep the revival in Iran alive by praying for the country and by giving a copy of the New Testament to an Iranian. It only costs 40 kr. per copy. Thank you if you want to lend a helping hand to Iranian Christians so they can give the New Testament to searching people in Iran at this time.
