The words are from an employee of our partner organization regarding Iran. He is deeply involved in helping the underground church and ensuring that new wills are smuggled into the country.
Due to COVID-19, Iran's borders were closed for periods in 2020, making it difficult to smuggle Bibles and New Testaments into the country. However, the hunger to read the Bible did not diminish. Neither harsh persecution nor a pandemic that has hit Iran very hard has stopped the movement of people seeking Jesus.
"We have never seen such openness. Many people are turning to Jesus." says David from our project partner Elam. A contributing factor is the frustration of many Iranians with clerical rule. Iran is the only country in the world to be run by clerics - and when the economy falters and the regime is corrupt, the Islamic leaders become the target of frustration. Yes, the frustration also affects Islam itself.
Popular support for clerical rule is waning, thousands are seeking alternatives to Shia Islam, not only in the Christian faith but also elsewhere, such as neo-religion. A poll conducted by researchers at the secular Dutch Gamaan Institute found that 800,000 Iranians had become Christians.
Ordinary people are thus less and less likely to persecute Christians. It is rare for Christian converts to be persecuted by their family. On the contrary, there are many examples of other family members coming to faith when a family member becomes a Christian.
The persecution comes mainly from the clergy. Those active in the underground church are arrested and imprisoned, and some are given long prison sentences. In 2020 alone, 6 Christians were sentenced to 5 years in prison, while one was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Danish European Mission's intercessors and donors play a major role in the work for the church in Iran. It is a privilege that we from Denmark can be part of the revival in Iran through Bible smuggling and intercession for the persecuted Christians.
