The Iranian population is simultaneously affected by the conflict in the Middle East and a rebellion against the regime, which is causing more and more young people to reject Islam.
Formerly Muslim, Iranian Christians are responding in prayer for peace and sharing the message of Jesus Christ - who can bring true peace to hearts in troubled times.
A Christian in western Iran who lives not far from the area where the rockets were fired on April 13 in the attack on Israel says: "I heard every rocket being fired. It was loud and scary. The sky was lit up. I prayed that God would have mercy on us all. That no one would be lost and that the war would not escalate."
A Christian leader says: "The common perception is that the Iranian regime is trying to appear decisive while exposing the entire population to the risk of retaliation. Of course, everyone in Iran is talking about this crisis - at home, at work and in taxis. We must pray for everyone as this is actually an opportunity to share the Gospel with people as they are now speaking openly about their fear of war."
Testimony from Iranian family
Yours truly personally met leaders of the underground church in Iran in a neighboring country to Iran.
One day I had breakfast with a small family: husband, wife and their little daughter. For safety reasons, we won't use their real names here, but will call the father Farid and the mother Shirin. Farid shared how the family had come to faith in Jesus. He said that he had had a hard time before he became a Christian: "I served in the mosque with practical tasks, like changing light bulbs, so in that way my wife and I honored Islam. But I wasn't feeling well and was contemplating suicide. I said: God accept me and change my life. At this time, I was also going bankrupt in my shop, so I sold my goods to have some money for after the bankruptcy."
"I had a friend who helped me. He had a copy of the New Testament in his car. He told me about Jesus. I was curious and wanted to find out what Christianity was. On the one hand I was skeptical and wanted proof that it was true, but on the other hand I could feel my heart softening. I read the Gospel of John 8:32, which says, 'You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.' Three months later, my wife and I converted to Jesus."
“On the one hand, I was skeptical and wanted proof that Christianity was true, but on the other hand, I could feel my heart softening." - Farad
Women, Life, Freedom
Farid and Shirin go on to talk about interesting developments in Iran, where there is a clear tendency for more and more young people in particular to opt out of Islam.
"Back then, we wouldn't have been a minority that actually followed the Muslim rules, but today we would be. Mahsa Amini's death in Iranian police custody in 2022 has accelerated a trend where Islam is losing popularity. Under the slogan: 'Women, Life, Freedom' there were large protests against the regime. When we testified about our new faith seven years ago, many people rejected us, but today many accept the gospel."
Although many ordinary Iranians, especially young people, reject the clergy, this does not mean that new Christians do not face resistance - especially leaders of underground churches that I meet in neighboring Iran.
Read more about persecution, discrimination and harassment of Christians in Iran
The resistance
Despite popular protests, the regime in Iran has a firm grip on power and its police and intelligence services monitor convert Christians.
Currently, several leaders of the underground church in Iran are serving long prison sentences and more are being arrested for short periods as the regime tries to pressure and threaten them to keep their faith to themselves.
Farid quotes a scripture to me from Revelation 2:9-10 where it says:
I know your tribulation and your poverty - but rich you are! (...) Do not fear what you will suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison so that you will be tried and you will be in tribulation for ten days. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Iran is experiencing a severe economic crisis due to many sanctions against the country, so Farid and Shirin can relate to the poverty experienced by the church in Smyrna.
And as the leader of an underground church, Farid is actually facing prison - and the couple have a young daughter.
The value of having Christian brothers and sisters
At the end of the conversation, Farid looks down. He says that he is emotionally affected and explains: "We're used to our testimonies, but by you sitting and writing down what I'm saying, I feel that Jesus is showing me the value of my testimony."
That was encouraging for me to hear. I am sent by the Danish European Mission, among other things to report to Danes who pray for and financially support the underground church in Iran.
Farid says: "Thank you for any of the new wills. We will go back and tell our brothers and sisters that there are people behind us."
Shirin adds: "When we hand out the New Testament, we say: 'This is a precious gift'. Some people kiss the book, some cry and hug it to them when they get a copy of the New Testament. People have so much anger against Islam, but in the New Testament they taste the love of God."
Thank you so much for praying for the church in Iran and for the country's leaders at a time of great tension in the Middle East.
PS: It costs 40 kr. to ensure that a copy of the New Testament can be printed and smuggled into Iran or a neighboring country where there are Iranians.
PPS: With your gift, you can also support families of Christian prisoners of conscience, where a parent and breadwinner is imprisoned for their faith. The families receive support to buy food, pay rent, electricity, water, heating and other necessities.
