“There is no one to teach me about Jesus. … I don’t know anything, I don’t have a Bible,” an elderly woman in Iran cried on a recorded message as she reached out to a group of Iranian Christians for help.
She is among many Iranian believers today who are searching for biblical teaching in a country where Christians are regularly imprisoned and killed for their faith. Fellow Iranian Christians gathered online Aug. 29 as Iran Alive Ministries’ President Hormoz Shariat shared insights on the rising instability in the Middle East and the ministry’s ongoing evangelism and discipleship efforts in Iran. Iran Alive uses satellite broadcasting and the internet to reach the Iranian people with biblical teaching.
During this forum, attendees heard from Iranian believers about how recent events in the Middle East and the oppressive rule of the Iranian government have sparked a revival causing many Muslims to turn to faith in Jesus Christ.
“Iran has the fastest growing evangelical population in the world,” said Shariat in an earlier news release. “The majority of Iranians have already rejected Islam. In fact, a British survey of 50,000 Iranians found that less than 1/3rd of Iranians consider themselves Muslims.”
Window of opportunity
There is hope, Shariat noted. Since 2019, Iran Alive Ministries has been equipping and training Iranian believers through their 4:12 Leadership Training School — a comprehensive three-year program designed to disciple, equip and mobilize Iranian believers.
“While the government prepares for war and internal strife,” he said, “millions in Iran are waiting for hope and freedom. We must prepare our Christian brothers and sisters for a pivotal gospel movement in Iran.”
In August, the ministry reported it has 4,000 students enrolled in their school, which Shariat said are “all passionate about deepening their faith and expanding their influence for Christ. However, our current resources, staff and volunteers only allow us to train 1,000 of these students.”
Iranian believers are “desperately need this training as they face an overwhelming number of difficult challenges,” the organization said in a news release.
“According to many persecution watchdog organizations, the church in Iran is one of the most persecuted in the world due to severe governmental restrictions for practicing Christianity,” they noted in their news release. “No church gatherings are permitted in Iran. Even owning a Bible is a punishable crime and obtaining a copy of God’s Word is extremely dangerous and difficult.”
Despite these challenges and dangers, Iran Alive Ministries’ 4:12 Leadership Training School classes are full of believers ready to be trained, they reported.
Source » thebaptistpaper