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AND BEYONDIRANIRANISSUE 18NEWS AND INSIGHT ON THE PERSIAN-SPEAKING WORLD FROM ELAM MINISTRIESEach person can reach a communityIN THIS ISSUE:AS THE SAMARITAN WOMAN IN JOHN 4 TRANSFORMED HER TOWN, IRANIANS ARE ENCOUNTERING JESUS AND REACHING THEIR COMMUNITIES6 powerful testimoniesDON’T MISS:
Iran and Beyond Magazine is published by Elam Ministries. Copyright © 2024. All rights reserved.Some names, places and photos have been changed for security reasons.Elam was founded in 1990 by senior Iranian church leaders with a mission to strengthen and expand the church in the Iran region and beyond.We serve through the following initiatives:• Training leaders• Planting churches• Sending Scriptures• Women, men & marriage ministry• Children & youth ministry• Discipleship• Books & resources• Ministry among refugees• Humanitarian reliefFor more information about these ministries, visit elam.com/what-we-doABOUT ELAM MINISTRIESDiscover the story of Iran’s church through the generations as you click the icon to watch a 4-minute video. ELAM MINISTRIES5755 North Point ParkwaySuite 217Alpharetta, GA 30022Tel: 770 664 8800Email us:1
Each person can reach a communityDear friends,Each new believer in Iran could mean a whole community reached with the Gospel.I love John chapter four where the Samaritan woman has a life-altering encounter with the Messiah at the well. at meeting propelled her to tell everyone in her town about Him. As a result, “many more became believers” (vs 41).We are seeing a similar pattern in Iran’s growing church.Seemingly unlikely people have astonishing encounters with Jesus, realize He is the answer to their longings, and cannot help but tell others. Hungry hearts are ready to hear, and so the Gospel spreads.is is why we are committed to nurturing every single seeker, and helping every new believer be discipled and nd fellowship. eir whole community could be forever changed as a result.In this magazine you will meet Iranians who, because they were carefully nurtured, have gone on to reach countless others for Christ:• Setareh and Saeed, courageous church planters who are sharing Jesus even in prison• Arvin, a government spy who posed as a Christian then genuinely met Christ and is now leading a house fellowship• Mehran, who is part of a team nurturing hundreds of Iranian and Afghan seekers and new believers onlineYours in His grace,David Yeghnazar Executive Director, Elam MinistriesP.S. Every day, new individuals put their trust in Jesus. anks to your partnership, they are being discipled, equipped, and are going out to have kingdom impact.2
Unwanted and abusedI was the rst child in a very poor, conservative and dysfunctional family in Iran. My mother had really wanted a son, and she hated herself for giving birth to a daughter. roughout my childhood, she beat and abused me. I only completed two grades at school. I was a servant at home, did all the household chores and became like a mother to my younger sister.Ten years of hellWhen I was a teenager, my mother tired of me and I was married o to a man 20 years older than me. I was very afraid of him. From the very rst day, he physically abused me and treated me with contempt. During our marriage, God gave me a son and two daughters. But I was never my husband’s rst choice. He brought other women home for sex regularly, oen ignoring me Like the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4, Norah has a deeply painful past. But this has been no barrier for God’s plan for her. Norah shares her astonishing story of rescue and redemption:I was rejected, abused, and suicidal. Now I’m reaching many for Christ.”NORAH’S STORY“3
completely. For ten years, I lived in this hell, suering with deep depression. en he married one of my relatives. Men in Iran are allowed to have multiple wives.e day aer their wedding, I was thrown out of the house. I was in the kitchen when my husband came and dragged me out, pulling me along the ground. Crying and begging didn’t help. e weather was freezing, and it had snowed heavily. He told me he had never loved me. He warned me never to try to see the children.“My heart turned to stone”My husband fabricated a case of prostitution against me in order to divorce me, bringing many false witnesses to court. ose who knew me, who had never seen any indecent behavior from me, swore false oaths against me. at was when my heart turned to stone. I asked myself, “Is there a God? Can He hear me? Where is He? What wrong did I do to deserve this suering from childhood?”I lost all hope. To get by, I had to sell my body. Life taught me to become a hard-hearted, promiscuous woman. Saved by a strangerFor my deep self-loathing and hopelessness, suicide seemed the only solution. One day I went to the subway, planning to throw myself in front of a train. But suddenly, a woman in her 50s grabbed my hand. “Come, let’s sit and talk,” she said. She must have noticed my soaking wet clothes and my desperation.e woman, Maryam, took me to her home to rest and eat. Aer showering, I watched her carefully dry my clothes by the heater. I lost contact with her aer I le, but something about Maryam’s kindness made me change my mind about suicide. Not long later, I decided to nd work in childcare. Children were the only people I didn’t distrust. I saw an advertisement from a mother with cancer. She needed someone to take care of her six-year-old son. Despite fearing more rejection, I applied for the job.Discovering a house churchI went to her home and while I was waiting to be called in for interview the house’s intercom kept ringing, and guests kept arriving. Who were all these people?Suddenly, Maryam, the woman who had saved me at the subway, entered the house and asked what I was doing there. She turned out to be the aunt of the homeowner, the woman who would soon give me the job of caring for her son.at day I learned that Maryam had converted to Christianity in Europe 20 years earlier. e group of people were arriving for a house church meeting!Clay in the Potter’s handsMaryam took my number and as I shared my life story with her over a period of time, she shared about Jesus with me. One day, she sent me a clip of an Elam women’s TV show. In it, Mojdeh Shirvanian was teaching from Jeremiah 18 about people being clay in the Potter’s hands. is teaching moved me deeply: any clay, no matter how spoiled, can be reworked and remade by God. Maryam sensed that God was at work and challenged me: “Stop running and give your life to God, Norah.”at day, I did give my life to Christ. I was then discipled online through Safar by Nadia from Elam’s women’s ministry team. Her words were beautiful and blessed, drawing me closer to my Lord, who healed me.Baptized at a conferenceA moment of great joy for me was when I attended an Elam women’s conference in a country near Iran. ere, for the rst time, I was able to meet face to face with both Mojdeh, whose TV-teaching God had used to soen my heart, and Nadia who so faithfully discipled me. What a joy to be baptized by these two women during that conference!I thank God for his grace in leading me to Jesus despite my past suering. If I had a perfect life, I might not have found Jesus. Today, I am no longer rejected: I am chosen. No longer abused: rather, I am cherished. No longer wanting to die: but full of God’s abundant life!anks to evangelists like Maryam, Bible teachers like Mojdeh and disciple-makers like Nadia, many women across the Iran region are encountering God and nding healing, wholeness and new purpose. Norah is now an evangelist who has led dozens of other Iranian women to the Lord. 4Pictured: Mojdeh Shirvanian’s Bible teaching on a women’s TV show was an important part of Norah’s journey to faith.“I am no longer rejected: I am chosen.”
5After Mehran heard about Jesus, it took him eight years to find answers to his questions. Today, he’s helping countless other seekers find their answers more quickly via a special online platform, knowing each individual represents a community that could be reached for Christ.I had questions about Jesus for years. I want others to find their answers more quickly.” Mehran, would you tell us about your childhood in Iran?I grew up in a Muslim family, although we were not very religious. I was a young boy when the Revolution happened in 1979; I remember how dierent life became aerwards. My childhood was set against the backdrop of political upheaval and war. It was a bitter time.When did you first hear about Jesus?One day, when I was thirty years old, I went into my uncle’s shop and met a friend of his. We spoke about many things, and then he began to tell me about “Isa” or “Jesus.” I had heard of Isa in Islam, but the man he described was very dierent. I was curious to know more but because we were in a very public place it was not safe for me to talk with him there. We arranged to meet the next day. But that night, our daughter had a very high fever and we had to take her to the hospital. She was so sick. We stayed there for 25 days. I missed my appointment to talk with my uncle’s friend. I was sad not to get the answers I had wanted, but I was more afraid. I thought that my daughter’s sickness was punishment for doubting Islam, so I decided to forget about Jesus. How long did you wait to get your answers?Eight years in total. Four years aer my daughter’s sickness, I saw a Christian TV show online. I don’t remember what it was exactly, INTERVIEW WITH MEHRANPictured: Elam’s Engagement Platform, hosted on Kalameh.com, allows Persian speakers to discover more about Jesus.“
but it reignited my curiosity about Christianity. My heart longed for the truth, but I was frightened. I thought if I tried to nd out more, my daughter would become sick again.It was another four years before I found answers. I went to visit my sister’s family and what I saw there changed my life. My brother-in-law had battled drug addiction for many years. He had tried to get clean multiple times but had never managed. When I saw him during this visit, he was a totally dierent man. When I asked what had happened, he told me he’d been healed by Jesus. Jesus! e same Jesus I had heard about on TV. e same Jesus my uncle’s friend had started to share with me eight years prior.My brother-in-law sent me to the house of his nephew to learn more. I traveled 15 hours to get there. When I arrived, we sat down to eat dinner and he prayed, in Jesus’ name, and in my own language. My heart was so moved by hearing a prayer like this. Aer dinner he shared the story of the Bible with me, from Genesis to Revelation. God’s plan for our salvation through his son Jesus was so clear. So beautiful.I opened my heart to Christ that night. And I never looked back. It was worth waiting eight years to know Jesus for eternity.How did you begin serving in ministry?My family later moved out of Iran and became members of an above-ground Iranian church in our new city. Aer a few years I began serving as a volunteer in that church. Later, I was invited to serve full-time with Elam. We did a lot of evangelism and I saw more than 500 people give their lives to the Lord. You now serve through Elam’s Engagement Platform. What is that? Elam’s Engagement Platform is an online chat function on our ministry website, kalameh.com. It’s designed to help Persian-speaking seekers and believers to get access to resources, discipleship and fellowship as easily as possible – this is particularly important in Iran where the hostility of the regime to the church makes accessing these things dicult. Of course, our site is blocked in Iran by the government but VPNs allow Iranians to by-pass that. Anyone can come to us and share their needs through a simple online form; we have team members available to talk with people and answer questions. Mostly it’s about making the right connections for people’s needs. We supply Persian Bibles and Christian books, connect for discipleship through Safar, prayer ministry; almost every way that Elam serves Persian speakers can be accessed through our engagement platform.What excites you most about this ministry?People coming to Jesus! Since we started about two years ago, we’ve seen hundreds of people come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Getting to talk with people who specically want to know about the Bible or the character of Jesus has been such a blessing for me. I love to spend time with people like that – people like me. I could only dream of a platform like this before I became a Christian. To be able to have your questions answered with care like this… it’s amazing. I really feel that God provided this platform for us; we have not provided it ourselves.Why do you and your team take such trouble over each individual?e team works with the understanding that every message and request they receive represents a loved, valued individual that has a role to play in the kingdom of God. It is my passion to share the message and love of Christ with these seekers and believers. We know that, like the woman at the well in John 4, each person we interact with has the potential to reach their village, town or community with the love of Christ. 6This chat platform is enabling thousands of Iranians and Afghans to get a Bible, ask their questions about Jesus, and find fellowship! Please pray for me and the team as, every day, we serve people across Iran and beyond.Mehran“l”
A monumental dayAram’s mind raced as she headed briskly along the street toward the most important business meeting of her life. An experienced Iranian business woman, Aram was on the verge of signing a contract worth more than a million dollars. is was a monumental day: the culmination of a year’s worth of work. Aram was sure today would change her life. Little did she know, the pending change was not the one she anticipated. An unexpected meetingAs she walked, Aram was suddenly stopped by a young woman she had never met before. e woman said she was eager to give Aram a gi: a New Testament in Persian. Aram took the book without stopping to talk much, eager to be on her way. But, a few feet down the road, Aram felt the stress of the day weighing heavily upon her, and turned back to see if the woman was still there. Maybe this Christian would pray for her. She needed all the help she could get today.e woman shared a little about Jesus and then prayed that Aram would have peace as she went to her meeting. As they parted ways, Aram felt a little lighter.A red bookAs Aram’s meeting began, everything was going smoothly. e paperwork was in order, all the signatories were present, and everyone was happy to proceed. All that was le to do was to sign.en Aram went to retrieve a pen from her purse. As she did so, she Aram’s life changed forever when a tenacious evangelist gave her a New Testament. Today, the impact of that moment continues to ripple out to others.7Saved twice, thanks to the New Testament
accidently shied the New Testament so that it poked partially out, making the title “e Gospel of Jesus Christ” clearly visible. e men around her noticed and suddenly stopped. ey asked Aram if she was a Christian. “No, a lady just gave it to me as a gi,” she explained, but it was too late. e meeting was ended; they no longer wanted to do business with her. For the following week, Aram was confused, heartbroken and resentful. She was angry that this small book had brought an end to all her work. Saved from ruinBut a week later Aram saw a news headline that shocked her to the core. All the men who had signed the contract had been arrested for breaching international sanctions. Some of them received lengthy prison sentences and others, hundreds-of-thousands of dollars’ worth of nes. e only reason Aram was not among them was because of the little red book that had made an appearance during that meeting.When she heard the news, Aram knew in her heart that God had saved her: “It was this good news that saved me. is New Testament changed my whole life.” She thanked God for the book and the kind stranger who had given it, who Aram felt sure she would never meet again.Saved for ChristAer reading her now-precious New Testament, Aram became connected to a church in a country near Iran, gave her life to Jesus, was discipled and got baptized. Soon, she was invited to an Elam women’s conference. ere, Aram shared with the delegates the miraculous story of her double salvation, speaking warmly about the evangelist who had shared so boldly and selessly. She didn’t know who or where this woman was, but she was thankful to have met her.A remarkable reunionWhen Aram nished, a young woman stood up and Aram recognized her as the very one who had given her the New Testament. Her name was Darya. e women were overjoyed to be reunited.Darya explained that at their rst meeting she had been a student on Elam’s three-month church-planting course. “We were heading home from an aernoon of street evangelism,” Darya recalled, “and I had just one New Testament le. I remember thinking, is must go to someone who really needs it. But nobody was around.”“at’s when I saw you, Aram. I felt God conrm you were the person I needed to give the New Testament to. But you were on the other side of the road, and you were walking so fast and looked so successful and unapproachable! But I felt a push that I had to go and share, so I did.”Fruit that brings more fruitToday, Aram and Darya remain friends. Aram rejoices that Darya was obedient to God that day. Darya in turn rejoices that God has allowed her to see fruit from the seed she planted. Aram now serves the youth group in her church, helping many teenagers walk closely with the Lord.anks to faithful partners who make it possible to train evangelists like Darya and provide God’s Word, Aram was saved twice. Countless others like her are being saved as they receive the New Testament. 8GOD IS USING THE NEW TESTAMENT TO GROW HIS CHURCHThe New Testament is forbidden in the Persian language because Iran’s government knows that when Iranians read it, many want to become followers of Jesus. This banned book has become notorious: many want a copy.Over and over, we hear stories of people encountering Jesus on the pages of the New Testament. 2.7 MILLION PRINTED SO FAR: THANK YOUSince the New Millennium translation was published in 2003, 2.7 million New Testaments have been printed to meet the growing demand (as of summer 2024). Evangelists like Darya distribute them in countries close to Iran where many millions of Iranian tourists flock yearly, while courageous Christians also share them in Iran, despite the risks.It costs $8 to print and distribute a New Testament. Please click the icon to partner with us to provide more Scriptures for Iran and beyond.
IMPACT OF DISCIPLESHIPArvin was a government spy, posing as a Christian. Then he genuinely met Christ.Thanks to faithful discipleship, Arvin has led many in his family to Christ and is now facilitating regular fellowship for them.9
Something is not right From the beginning, Kamran sensed something was not right about Arvin, a new believer in Iran whom he was discipling.As Kamran video-called Arvin regularly to study the Bible and walk through the Safar discipleship journey, Kamran prayed and asked the Holy Spirit for guidance. Finally, aer Safar step seven, which is about the Holy Spirit, Kamran’s suspicions were conrmed.at night, Arvin called Kamran aer midnight, weeping. rough his tears Arvin confessed that he had been lying: “I am not who you think I am.” Arvin revealed that he was not a Christian, but rather a member of Iran’s feared security police. He was undercover, acting as a spy. Kamran took a deep, steadying breath. All of a sudden, his previous unease made sense.Convicted by the SpiritArvin told Kamran he now genuinely wanted to give his life to Jesus. Kamran wondered what had brought about this change. Arvin explained that aer discussing the Holy Spirit earlier that day, he had been convicted by the Spirit that the Gospel was true. “Brother,” he asked, “can we start Safar again, from step one?”Happily, Kamran began the discipleship journey again with Arvin, fueled anew with the truth and power of Christ. ey soon reached step eight, about sharing the Good News with others. Eager to share ChristImmediately Arvin – now excited about his new faith - put this into practice. He shared the Gospel with his wife and daughter; within a week they had both accepted Christ. A week later, he had the chance to share with his sister and niece, who fell to her knees and gave her heart to Jesus too. Arvin and Kamran rejoiced at how God was at work as they continued their discipleship journey together.en Arvin shared with Kamran that he wanted to share the Gospel with his parents. Given they were devout Muslims, Kamran knew this would be a dicult and risky pursuit so they started praying diligently for Arvin’s parents over many months.An unlikely place to meetSince a growing number of Arvin’s relatives were now confessing faith, Kamran invited Arvin to take part in a residential training program on how to facilitate fruitful fellowship using Elam’s Weekly Fellowship resource.Arvin returned to his home city excited and equipped to host regular fellowship so his family members could ourish in their new faith.But there was a problem. Because of his job it would not be safe to host the fellowship in his home. He needed somewhere more secure, so he approached Kamran with an unconventional idea. Arvin proposed to host the Weekly Fellowship meeting in the home of his Muslim parents. Surprisingly, Arvin’s parents agreed. From discipleship to fellowshipAt rst his parents avoided the weekly meetings, choosing to stay in another part of the house. But, over the weeks, as they heard the worship and teaching in Persian rather than Arabic, they became curious. ey started opening the door so they could listen in. Later, they began sitting in the corner, listening but not participating. Not long aer that, they began asking questions.One night, aer the meeting ended, Arvin’s mother and father each had a question. Because he had been diligently discipled by Kamran through Safar, Arvin was able to answer their questions. Aer hearing what Arvin had to say, his father jumped up and declared, “Jesus Christ is Lord!” Aer months of prayer and of overhearing Christian teaching, both his mother and father were ready to trust in Christ.Today, Weekly Fellowship meetings continue in their home. Nine people now gather there regularly to worship the living God. As they bravely share the Gospel with their wider community, they are praying the number will continue to grow.By the grace of God, the faithful discipleship of one undercover agent paved the way for a new community of Christians in Iran. As thousands of new Christians like Arvin are discipled through Safar, the Gospel is reaching more families and communities. As these groups meet for regular fellowship using Elam’s Weekly Fellowship resource, more local expressions of the body of Christ are established in Iran and beyond. 10“I am not who you think I am.”He jumped up and declared, “Jesus Christ is Lord!”
1Hearing of ChristSome Iranians rst hear about Jesus through a friend or relative, Christian TV, or social media content. Some Iranians have a remarkable dream or vision of Jesus. For many though, it begins with receiving a New Testament. Tens of thousands of copies are given out in the Iran region each year. Please pray for: • Protection for brave Christians sharing their faith, both in person and online• Our eorts to distribute New Testaments across the region so that more Iranians can hear about Christ • Jesus to increasingly become the biggest conversation in Iran2Encountering Christ ose who hear about Jesus oen have big questions. Some are able to ask those questions to Christian friends or relatives, but many seekers are isolated. is is why we host a live chat platform on our Persian-resource website, to enable seekers to nd their answers and encounter Christ. See pages 5-6 to discover more. Pray for: • God to soen hearts as people explore the claims and person of Christ • e chat platform ministry team to have wisdom, clarity and zeal as they talk with each seeker • More people across the Iran region to encounter Christ and to go on to help others encounter HimEvery day more Iranians are turning to Christ. It is not easy to flourish in faith in a hostile context like Iran’s. This is why we are committed to providing a clear pathway that enables Iranians to meet Christ, grow as disciples and thrive in fellowship. We’d value your prayers for those who are on this journey. IRANIANS’ JOURNEYS OF FAITH: 4 THEMES FOR PRAYER 11
3Disciples of ChristOnce Iranians surrender their hearts to Christ, our vision is for them to be intentionally discipled from the earliest days. e Safar discipleship journey (www.safar.org) provides a clear and biblical pathway for a Christian to disciple a new believer one-to-one. ousands of Persian speakers are now walking closely with the Lord thanks to this 30-step journey. Please pray for: • A strong foundation of faith to be laid for new believers walking through Safar, and for passion and perseverance for those discipling them • Christian books and discipleship resources to reach those seeking to grow as disciples, including through Elam’s Kalameh app • A culture of deep discipleship to be cultivated across the Iranian church 4The Body of ChristWe want to see Iranian Christians not only endure in their faith, but ourish through having fellowship with others. Too many believers across Iran are isolated, which is why we created the Weekly Fellowship resource. Weekly Fellowship is designed for small groups without a trained leader, so everyone can participate in healthy Christian community. As believers grow as part of the Body of Christ, they increasingly want to help others hear of Christ. Pray for: • ose who are isolated to be encouraged and sustained through online friendships with other believers and digital resources • Our Weekly Fellowship resource to minister to the small groups who use it, taking them deeper into God’s Word • All believers in Iran to become connected to others for fruitful, in-person fellowship IRANIANS’ JOURNEYS OF FAITH: 4 THEMES FOR PRAYER e “Kalameh” app provides resources for every Iranian believer on their journey of faith. Download the app from kalameh.com12
Azaad was a master in an Iranian mystical movement until he became a refugee in Europe and had an encounter with Christ.Big questions begin I remember when I was six years old, I was already grappling with big issues like, “Why am I here?” “Where did I come from?” “Where am I going?” I was raised in a devout Islamic family in Tehran and I once told my mother about these questions. She shut down the conversation, scared it was verging on blasphemy. “It’s not our place to ask such questions,” she said. roughout my childhood, I would dutifully do my daily namaz (prayers) but I wondered why God never spoke back to me.Many years a mysticWhen I reached 13 years of age, I began exploring alternative worldviews, much to my family’s consternation. Eventually I was drawn to an Iranian spirituality called “Erfan-e Halgeh” (“Mysticism of the Ring”) which was becoming popular across Iran in the early 2000s.In my new spirituality I found mystical experiences and the promise of a personal connection with the divine, which had been so noticeably absent for me in Islam. I spent years learning, rising through the ranks until I became a Master. By the time I was in my mid-thirties – now with a wife and young daughter - I was leading a group of 60-70 followers.Under the surface, though, something in me sensed that God was a God of love. Yet nothing in Erfan-e Halgeh articulated that the divine was loving.Seeking refuge in Europeen the government started cracking down on our movement. Some of the leaders were arrested, and in 2015 the founder received a death sentence. ings were heating up. I started fearing for my own family’s safety and in 2018 we ed, seeking refuge in Germany.One day in the refugee camp, just a few months aer we arrived, an Iranian Christian approached me and started sharing about Jesus. I mocked him. “I know about Christianity,” I laughed, “If you get slapped, you are supposed to oer the other cheek! And you want me to come to church to learn that?”e man persisted: “Come to church, and you will nd peace.”First time in church One day, out of curiosity about this peace, my wife and I attended a local German church that had Persian translation available. Aer the sermon, I had questions. I wanted to see if the pastor was ready to answer philosophical questions, like I’d been trained to do.In the middle of our conversation, he stopped and asked me, “Do you want to be saved?” I had no idea what he meant. But I knew he was oering me an experience. I loved mystical experiences and so I agreed.Both my wife and I started the repentance prayer, repeating aer the pastor. en the strangest thing happened. e third statement was about believing that “Jesus is God” and my mouth stopped working. MINISTRY IN EUROPEFrom mystic master to Christian minister13
I couldn’t repeat the words. I tried, but I could not utter a sound. My heart raced. I had never had this experience before.e pastor asked what was going on. Aer I explained about my background in mysticism, he prayed a prayer of deliverance over me.A seed is plantedAer this, we started the prayer of repentance again, and this time I could say the words. I was amazed that through the pastor’s prayer something had shied. A seed was planted in my heart that day. I took a Bible home and began to read.As I read and experienced the presence of God during worship at church, the answers to questions I’d had all through my life started falling into place. For the next two years, I cried during every time of worship: God was healing things deep in my soul.It was a joy that my wife was on the same journey. We fell in love with the God who is not distant, but who le heaven to come close to us.Of course, my students in Erfan-e Halgeh were astonished by all this. It was very dicult. Having le my homeland, I now lost my followers and all my inuence; everything I had built my life on for more than a decade was gone. But Christ was worth it.Discipled, now discipling otherse Covid-19 pandemic was a time of growth for me. I discovered Elam’s discipleship webinars for Iranian Christians in Europe. I eagerly joined and learned so much. en I was asked to do online discipleship with new believers in Iran through the Safar journey. It was a wonderful training ground for me, and a joy to help people in my homeland grow in Christ.rough this voluntary ministry, I discovered that God is at work in a powerful way in Iran. Some of the most unlikely people are turning to Christ! Inspired, I said to God, “If you want me to minister full time, I will. I will give everything to You.”at’s how I came to join Elam’s Emerging Leaders’ course in Europe. I am really enjoying growing in ministry skills and learning from top Persian Bible teachers. One key thing the course has reinforced for me is that fellowship enables faith to ourish, so I’m helping some of my disciples in Iran to start a new Weekly Fellowship group.Big questions answered Today, I trust that God will use me and my family to grow His kingdom both here in Germany, and at home in Iran. My questions have been answered: I now know why I’m here, who I am and – most importantly – whose I am. Praise God.Please pray for Azaad and others being trained in ministry in Europe. Pray, too, for churches across Europe that are seeking to share Christ with Iranian refugees like Azaad: their faithful ministry is part of the wonderful story God is writing for Iran and beyond. 14Pictured: Azaad at home in Germany.
19Shirin is an Iranian Christian with a heart for teaching children about the love of God. She took part in Elam’s children’s ministry course where she grew in knowledge and passion for serving kids. en God gave her and two others the vision to start a playgroup as an outreach in their city in Iran. ey are ministering to many families through the relationships and space they are fostering. So many mothers across the region are struggling, and intentional relationships with Christians, like Shirin, who genuinely want to serve their neighbors and build relationships, can open the door to a transformative encounter with Jesus. Shirin is praying for some families they are befriending to come to know the Lord soon. Would you join her?Families finding community and Christ Across the Iran region, Christian mothers are reaching out to others in a similar stage of life by hosting mother and children’s groups for fellowship. Many are hearing the Good News of Christ as a result. Here are three stories that show how the Lord is at work:Behnam is an 18-year-old Afghan refugee who took his young brother to a toddler group run by a local Iranian church in their new city in a country near Iran. He also started attending the church’s youth group regularly and, as he heard about Jesus, he put his faith in Him. Behnam and his little brother found a new community in an unfamiliar city. rough the kindness of Iranian Christians, Behnam found Jesus and is now praying for his parents to also come to faith.Golsa, her husband and their four children are refugees in the Iran region, having ed their home in Afghanistan. When Golsa heard about a new parent-and-toddler group run by the local Iranian church, she went along with her youngest child, Rana. at day happened to be Rana’s rst birthday. On arrival, Golsa was struck by the warmth of the welcome and the joy in the room. Rana loved the engaging Bible story and songs. At the end of the session, the team surprised Golsa and Rana with a birthday cake. ey had read Rana’s sign-up form and realized the day’s signicance. Deeply touched by their love, Golsa and her family came to the church’s Sunday service that week. Aer a few weeks, the whole family put their faith in Christ, were discipled through Safar, and continue to grow as part of the church.15YOUTH AND KIDS MINISTRYHeavenly Father, we lift to You the parent and children’s groups being run by ordinary Persian speakers. Thank You for how You are at work. We pray that You would use these spaces to draw many Iranian and Afghan families to Yourself. Protect these groups and strengthen the witness of local churches through them. May Your name be glorified. Amen.
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IRANIAN SOCIETYTo understand Iranian society, you need to understand “aberoo.”17Iranian culture places an extremely high emphasis on “aberoo”. There isn’t an exact translation in English, but it has the sense of honor or reputation. It refers to a person’s public dignity, social standing, and respectability. It’s impossible to understand Iranian society without understanding “aberoo.” And, understanding “aberoo” is crucial for enabling eective discipleship, especially among men.
Saving faceWalk the streets of an Iranian city and you will see posters of heroic gures like Ali, Hossein, or Rostam, all renowned men of honor in history and literature. ese are men of reputation that embody what every Iranian man should aspire to: decisive determination to ght for a noble cause, the courage to take on impossible odds, and the refusal to countenance any loss of face. A man’s reputation is the most important thing he has and the most frightening thing to lose. is gives birth to an irony seen in literature and real life: that to preserve reputation there is permission for deceit or manipulation to enter the equation. e crucial thing is not what is true, but what will others think and how this will impact “aberoo.”While both men and women are pressured to present themselves and their families in the most honorable light, men can be more susceptible to valuing this above all else. Of course, honor itself is a beautiful thing, but the cultural importance and the emphasis placed on preserving reputation means it can easily become a person’s ultimate concern.When “aberoo” is an idolActing out of a desire to preserve or even bolster “aberoo” can look like parents telling others, “Our son is a doctor,” when in fact he is an administrator in a hospital, because they think it sounds more impressive. e burden of “aberoo” oen makes itself felt in hospitality. Iranian culture places a high importance on honoring house guests by providing a lavish spread of food and drink, but being unable to do so, either due to nancial or time constraints, brings dishonor on the hosts. is can become a contentious point, even among believers in house churches, if one family takes the hosting role oen. ere is even a national and political dimension to “aberoo.” Oen when there are anti-government demonstrations, especially by young people, the ocial news commentary is that those involved are diminishing the “aberoo” of the Revolution. When people make mistakes or fail in certain areas of life, the need to preserve “aberoo” takes precedence. e rst thought is seldom on how to make amends or ask for forgiveness, but rather how to cover their shortcomings. While this is true all over the world, the intensity of the pressure in Iran is oen too much to bear.e outworking is that, for many, “aberoo” trumps integrity.A challenge for new believersWhen Iranian men come to faith, the life and teachings of Jesus Christ are profoundly challenging. e truth that the rst shall be last and the greatest shall be servants can be very dicult to accept. People wonder what will happen to their reputation if they actually follow Jesus. What use is integrity if people don’t honor you?Understanding these struggles is critical in being able to disciple Iranians, especially the men.ey may have a saving knowledge of Jesus, but fear of shame, of losing their “aberoo,” can still stop many men from being vulnerable and receiving the full healing and redemption they may need. As such, it is vital for young believers to be rooted in the Word of God, so that they might gain a new understanding of honor and a healthy perspective on reputation that will ultimately help them to live in the freedom Jesus oers. is comes through spending time in community with mature believers and learning their true identity in Christ. The greater vision for menFor Iranian men, studying Philippians 2 is deeply transformative as they behold the example of Jesus, who made Himself of no reputation. For men to ourish, they must live as Christ lived, with humility, patience, and forgiveness, ready to surrender their reputation to God’s control, not their own. It takes time to draw out all the implications of Christ’s walk to the cross, and the painful dismantling of reputation that He asks us to emulate. For the man who has received Christ, love and the ourishing of his family and community must take center stage, not his reputation.Elam provides residential men’s conferences in the Iran region and trains and resources Persian-speaking churches to provide local, ongoing men’s ministry. Please pray that the impact of this ministry will grow in the years to come. 18“A man’s reputation is the most important thing he has and the most frightening thing to lose.”
What the Samaritan woman and Iranian women have in commonREFLECTION ON JOHN 419Bahar Shahabi shares her insights on John 4, a passage that had a critical impact on her faith journey. To hear more of Bahar’s story listen to “Learning to Fly – Women in Iran E2” on Jesus Speaks Farsi at elam.com/podcast.Before reading her reflection, click the icon to watch Bahar bring John 4:1-42 to life.Learning from the outcastsWho do we learn from? In the world today, we’re told to look to successful people, people who, by earthly standards, have it all gured out. We don’t think to look to the brokenhearted, or the outcast, but doesn’t God show His glory most oen through people who the world rejects? is is exactly what we see in John 4:1-42. Here, a downtrodden woman is a role model for many Christians to learn how to be open and share about our faith.Living in the heatI was born in a very hot city in the south of Iran.When I was child, I had to go to the bakery to buy bread. It was so hot. I remember feeling the heat of the summer sun, the heat of the bakery, the heat of the fresh bread in my hands. It’s the kind of heat that is so frustrating, so uncomfortable. It’s oppressive! is is not one of my sweet memories of childhood.But when I read John 4, I realize: this is the heat in which Jesus meets the Samaritan woman. She comes with her water jar, in the hottest part of the day, to draw water. Why has she chosen to come now? Why not go early in the morning, when the heat hasn’t yet settled? Is it because she wants to be alone? It makes me think of my journey to buy bread. My mother always sent me to the bakery in the middle of the day, as she said that although it was hot, it wasn’t busy. Maybe the Samaritan woman made the same trade, going to the well when it was hottest to avoid crowds of other women.Understood by the LordIn verse 6 we see Jesus, tired of walking, sitting by the well, asking this woman for water. He was thirsty, and He understood this woman’s thirst. He shows that He understands her, He shows He understands us all. He waits, in the heat of the day and talks to us,
20when we are uncomfortable, when we are alone, when we make the journey to the well in the heat. He understood me in the hot city in Iran. The gift of living wateris is the longest recorded conversation Jesus has in the Bible. And He speaks to a foreign woman, whose name we don’t even know. Why? Because Jesus knew she needed something more than water. She lled His cup, and He lled her soul with living water. And she knew she received more than she gave. She set down the water jar that temporarily refreshed her. at jar was important to her, the task of drawing water was important, but she set that down to go and tell her community about the living water: the man who oers everlasting, living water that will never leave you thirsty. Just like the disciples le their shing nets, this woman leaves her water jar, a sign of her complete embrace of the call to follow Jesus. Jesus took the time to talk to one unknown, nameless woman, and a whole community was saved.Deep resonanceFor many women in Iran, including myself, this story has deep resonance. She had a painful history. Like her, so many Iranian women are blamed for problems they may or may not have caused in their lives. Before meeting Jesus, we were unknown, overlooked, rejected for our womanhood. But when we read how Jesus speaks to this woman, we understand how dierent this God is from the god we were taught about in Islam. is God values us and sees the impact we can have on the lives of those around us. is God calls us to serve His kingdom and participate in His great plan for the world. And, like the Samaritan woman in John 4, many Iranian women leave their “water jars,” their treasures, to evangelize, to lead house churches, to serve the sick and the poor, to share the Living Water with everyone they can.Because of her life-changing conversation with Jesus, the Bread of Life, the Samaritan woman was open to listening and obeying. She hardly gave a thought to the jar she le at the well. She knew the most important thing was to share what she’d learned with her people.I wonder, are you willing to leave your jar, your treasure, to have an encounter with Jesus and share Him with others? “Jesus knew she needed something more than w a t e r.”
elam.come love of Christ for Iran and beyondJoin the story:PRAY Prayer is at the heart of Iran’s church growth. Click the icon to download our 30-day prayer guide and subscribe to our monthly prayer email.GIVE Your nancial support enables us to reach and disciple Persian speakers across the Iran region and beyond. Click the icon to give today.LISTEN Click the icon to listen to the Jesus Speaks Farsi podcast to hear stories from Iranian men and women about how the church is growing, fueled by the simple belief that Jesus is alive.