Iran (MNN) — Iran’s ambitions keep it a player on the global stage. Today’s headlines spotlight Iran’s role in a regional conflict. In the spring of 2006, nuclear aspirations pitted the Islamic Republic against the West.
That same year, another ambitious effort sought to reach Iran for Christ. Mohabat TV began as the first 24/7 Christian satellite channel broadcasting to Iranians in Farsi.
“At first, we thought it was going to be a lot of struggles, and people are not going to be receptive. But we were shocked,” Heart4Iran’s Edwin Abnous says.
“Not too long after the launch, a lot of calls and contacts started coming in; we processed about 700 contacts a day.”
Heart4Iran: a history
(Photo courtesy Ram Singh/Unsplash)
In the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, two intersecting trends presented a unique Gospel opportunity in Iran. First, Abnous says, “A couple of leaders went inside the country and experienced the revival that was happening there.”
Second, the growing prevalence of satellite television enabled ministries to bypass government restrictions that hindered traditional evangelistic methods.
“They (Heart4Iran founders) thought, ‘Okay, this is the time to start a satellite channel to preach the Gospel and provide discipleship in Iran,’” Abnous says.
Mohabat TV officially launched on March 1, 2006, as the first continuous Farsi-language Christian broadcast accessible inside Iran. The satellite channel also reached Farsi-speaking audiences in Afghanistan and Tajikistan, as well as the Persian-speaking diaspora.
Soon after the launch, audience response revealed a need for structured pastoral care. Mohabat TV creators developed a follow-up system that incorporated trauma care, round-the-clock accessibility, and privacy.
“God started writing a beautiful story for Iranians, and we’re glad that God has allowed us to be part of this,” Abnous says.
(Photo courtesy Heart4Iran)
The ministry later added a training series for house churches. In 2018, the partnership approach that catalyzed Mohabat TV’s launch matured into a formal platform called Heart4Iran. The network eventually grew to include more than 100 partner ministries, with each contributing to evangelism, discipleship, Scripture distribution, and media production.
Months before COVID-19 lockdowns began, Mohabat TV launched a digital church. The fellowship became a lifeline for countless Persian-speaking believers who needed a safe, consistent connection and discipleship during the pandemic. Expanded satellite reach and digital capacity allowed Heart4Iran to respond rapidly to regional crises, including the 2021 Afghanistan crisis.
Openness and opportunity
The Body of Christ in Iran has also grown rapidly over the past two decades.
“During the Shah’s time, we just had 500 Muslim background believers. In 2020, a survey came out, and [it found that] 1.5% of the Iranian population is now Christian,” Abnous says.
“This is about 1 million Muslim background [believers]; that’s a huge increase!”
For the past 20 years, through Heart4Iran, God has used His Word to bring light into dark places. As Bibles are placed into waiting hands, pray that each one finds the right person at the right time. Pray for hearts to be open.
(Photo, caption courtesy of Heart4Iran)
Today, many Iranians are disillusioned and searching. You can help them find Jesus through Heart4Iran. “Iranians are very much open to the Gospel,” Abnous says.
“Islam is bankrupt in Iran, and people are looking for alternative answers. The beautiful answer that they can find and they’re receptive to is the Christian faith.”
Pray for the Heart4Iran team as it expands family discipleship programs, strengthens leadership formation, and develops greater regional production capacity.
“Iranians are moving from [an] organized Islamic government and theocratic situation to a nation that is looking for new opportunities or new alternatives,” Abnous says.
“This door, I’m not sure how long it would be open, and we want to make sure we take advantage.”
Header image courtesy of Heart4Iran.
