"If it wasn't for the faithful service of previous generations, there wouldn't be a church in the small town on the border with Iran. And without that church, I would not be a Christian today. In that church, everything changed for my family," 16-year-old Mojgan tells Danish European Mission partner, Elam.
"My father was a devout Muslim and he was ready to become a martyr for Islam. He planned to travel from Iran to Europe to convert Europeans to Islam. He was a very angry man. My mother was also planning to travel to Europe - but secretly she planned to divorce my father when they got there.
My father was a devout Muslim and he was ready to become a martyr for Islam. He planned to travel from Iran to Europe to convert Europeans to Islam - Mojgan
But on the way to Europe, my parents were invited to church in the small town on the border. Because of the testimony they encountered in the church, my parents turned to Jesus and were completely transformed. My father, who used to be bitter and violent, is now gentle, caring and wise. My mother, who used to be troubled, is loving and always knows how to make us laugh. Today, they are amazing parents and they are deeply committed to their marriage.
For me, experiencing the change that God brought about in my parents' lives was groundbreaking. It was one of the key reasons why I became a Christian myself. Today, my siblings and I all love Jesus.
And we are not the only ones. There are thousands of young people in and around Iran whose lives have been transformed by Jesus. In the predominantly Muslim country my family now lives in, there are many children and young people in churches. They all come from a Muslim background. Like me, they have not only been saved themselves, but many of them have also experienced reconciliation in their familiesr.
It is certainly not easy to follow Jesus here. We face our own difficulties. Many are refugees without a home. Many are teased for their faith. Many of those still living in Iran face persecution. Some are seeing their parents put in prison.
On top of that, we have all the common challenges and temptations that other teenagers also struggle with. But we are a new generation of Christ-followers and we are trying to stand firm. Men and women made great sacrifices to share the gospel in Iran in the past. They were not allowed to to see the fruit of their labor: that many Iranian youth - like me - are being saved in this generation.
Now my generation wants to be faithful disciples and play its part in God's story. Thank you for standing with us," she concludes.
Thank you for praying for the church in Iran and reaching out to local Christians to give the New Testament to people longing to experience God's love. It costs DKK 40 to ensure that a copy of the New Testament is smuggled into Iran or neighboring countries where Iranians also live.
