In one case, a 13-year-old boy sustained a broken rib after police beat him, and authorities refused medical care. An Iranian lawyer says 28 children have been charged with crimes punishable by death or amputation.

“I hear a lot of hostility and resentment [towards the government] from the people in Iran,” Transform Iran’s Lana Silk says.

“Despite all that’s happened in the last six months, the government refuses to listen. Not only that, they’re increasing their grip on the population.”

As Iran tries to rule its people by fear, Iranians seek alternatives.

Transform Iran, formerly known as 222 Ministries, posted this on Facebook at the height of nationwide protests in October 2022.
(Graphic courtesy of Transform Iran)

“It is so important to be there, ready with the truth when people are looking for it, and we are presenting the Gospel in constant, accessible ways,” Silk says.

At the same time, “cults are there, ready with false doctrines that pretend to bring people to the truth. But really, they’re taking them off track.”

Help believers shine the light of Jesus boldly in Iran. Pray the Holy Spirit will help people realize that only Jesus can save them.

“When we go witnessing in countries where Iranians are tourists, or even in Iran, we are there together with the Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Mormons, and a whole lot of other alternatives offered to Iranians as an escape,” Silk says.

“That’s why it’s essential that we are present, and we have Bibles in hand, ready to bring people to the only [One who] can save them.”

Header image depicts an impovershed young boy sitting in a cart in Tehran. (Photo courtesy of Fateme Alaie/Unsplash)

The BBC’s Africa Eye recently visited one cult in Uganda known as the Faith of Unity. They teach Jesus did not exist, and that their leader had supernatural powers. Reporters also visited the site where a rogue pastor and his wife sacrificed a child.

The cover of the flyer Bruce Allen picked up in Nairobi.

FMI’s Bruce Allen shares his own experience on a trip to Kenya. “One of the tracks I picked up at the airport in Nairobi says, ‘Jesus gives business breakthroughs here!’ It mentions their church name. And it’s all about how Jesus wants to prosper your business, and that Jesus is the solution to your career challenges. Since coming to XYZ church, they have earned their PHD.”

Kenya pastor’s conference

That’s one reason FMI gathered pastors in Kenya together for a conference in March. Friends and partners of FMI learned from each other and built connections.

The goal? Becoming like Jesus. Allen says, “Jesus was the epitome of servant-style leadership. Even the very day when his disciples are bickering over which one of them is greatest, He humbles himself and washes their feet. So often in these nominal or cult gatherings, it’s all about the control, the fame, the power that that speaker embodies.”

Pray these pastors will display the character of Jesus to people across Kenya who have been hurt by false teaching.

Conference details

Many Sunday school teachers and church elders joined the conference as well, from all over Kenya. Allen says, “It was not just a lecture format. There was a lot of Q&A going on, casual conversations during break times that were really productive, almost as fruitful as the seminar content.”

“Over the course of four days, we had the opportunity for about 20 different sessions.”

The conference didn’t just teach pastors, it equipped them to make disciples. They even received training on how to use the Snapshot evangelism tool, a set of picture cards that can easily start a conversation about Jesus.

Header photo courtesy of FMI. 

“Even the Church there, that seems strong in so many ways, [faces] the threat of false teaching and of being led astray from the foundation of the Scriptures.”

Kenyan believers use World Missionary Press Scripture booklets to combat false teachings and more. “They’ve been [partnering] with us for over 25 years, and they have a big container where the boxes are kept,” Williams says.

“Pastors from all over Kenya write and ask for material, then come and get it. They’re reaching into camps, youth work, training, and just so many other areas” with the Scripture booklets and other material, Williams says.

Print and send 125 Scripture booklets to Gospel workers for only $5.

Village medical clinic
(Photo courtesy of Helen Williams)

Along with meeting WMP partners, Williams served the local community alongside a short-term missions team. “My cousin is a doctor, and he’s been doing [medical mission trips] for about 12 years. He works with a church in Mombasa, and they minister to their neighborhood,” she explains.

“Once a year, he goes with a team and helps meet the medical needs of the community…people that have no other option for health care receive free supplies and free care and encouragement, and we gave out booklets there as well.”

Find your place in the story

Ask the Lord to help believers grow in their knowledge of Christ and His Word. “There is a concerted effort to build a stronger foundation for the believers so that they can not only share the Gospel but also stand against the false teaching that comes,” Williams says.

Pray the Lord will unblock shipping channels so WMP can send Gospel workers the tools they need. “We have one very critical prayer request. We have two containers full of literature ready in our warehouse for Kenya, and we have not been able to get a booking,” Williams says.

“We have two containers full of literature ready in our warehouse for Kenya, and we have not been able to get a booking.”
(Photo courtesy of World Missionary Press)

“We need prayer that God would provide a shipping [opportunity].”

You never know how God will use our gifts to grow His Kingdom.

“[I was talking to] the pastor we work with in Mombasa and he said, ‘I saw this booklet when I was very young. I read it, and this booklet sparked my spiritual interest. And that’s what eventually led me to the Lord,’” Williams says.

“Now he’s a pastor, and he has a successful work, but he wanted me to know that our booklet and the Scriptures in it had sparked his interest in the Word and the Spirit’s movement in his life.”

Header image depicts Helen with local leaders and WMP partners. (Photo courtesy of World Missionary Press)

"Biblica has come out with a new version this last year," says Biblica's East Asia Director. "We call it the Chinese contemporary Bible. It's a modern translation near to the NIV English Bible, using similar philosophy of translation."

The director says there's a reason this translation is needed. "The church Bible, that the church has been using, [was translated] in 1919. But, because the language has been changing and especially the last 50 years there's been a lot of changing of the language — the culture has changed. Therefore many word [have] become archaic."

Many Chinese people have come to Christ. While that's good news, cult groups have formed because of the the lack of trained leaders and a translation of Scripture the average person can understand. The director says this Bible is especially designed for young people. "This is for them to easily access and understand. And, the new Christian can use this translation for their Bible study and their own private devotions."

In the meantime, Biblica has a goal of printing 180,000 new Contemporary Chinese Bibles. Your gift of $10 will purchase four Bibles for Chinese Christians. Support Biblica's work by clicking here.