Iran (MNN) — Women are treated like second-class citizens in Iran. When they’re from a minority ethnic group, like Miriam, they fall even farther down the social ladder.
Social rank applies even in death. Dane with unfoldingWord says, “Miriam is a Muslim background believer who always felt like a second-class citizen in Iran. She followed all the rules of Islam, but it never felt like enough.”
Death was always on her mind, Dane continues, and adds, “She just had no hope in Islam. Even when she was baking potatoes, she thought, ‘I’ll be baked in oil like this when I go to hell.’”
One day, Miriam heard the Gospel and placed her faith in Jesus. Then, she joined a team of church-centric Bible translators and received training from unfoldingWord.
“She said, ‘This is a dream come true. How can I explain sitting with my elderly mother and talking to her about Christ in the only language she knows?” Dane says.
“‘Finishing the translation means reaching more hearts, saving more people, and bringing them to heaven.’”
Believers translate Scripture
About half of Iran’s 90 million people use a language other than Farsi, the national language. unfoldingWord’s “Whole Bible, Whole Nation” project seeks to equip Iran’s rapidly growing church networks to translate and distribute unfoldingWordⓇ Open Bible Stories.
(Photo courtesy of unfoldingWord)
“Church planters need the Bible in those heart languages of Iran to plant healthy churches and disciple believers,” Dane says.
“We are equipping networks already at work in Iran with the tools, technology, and training to translate the Bible into those languages.”
Translating God’s Word is dangerous in a place like Iran. Here’s why. Ask the Lord to bless and protect Miriam and her team.
“She risks her life every time she opens her computer to help with this translation for her people,” Dane says.
Consider supporting unfoldingWord’s “Whole Bible, Whole Nation” project in Iran. Find more information and donate here.
“They’ve got 13 New Testament translations planned, but we’re waiting on funding. If God’s given you the ability and puts the call on you, we’d encourage you to give,” Dane says.
Header image is a representative photo courtesy of Habib Dadkhah/Unsplash.
