The pressures aren’t due only to the past three-and-a-half months of conflict, or even the past year since the 12-day war in June 2025 between Iran and Israel and the United States.

“For all these years [since 1979], the regime has not been putting the funds back into the economy, back into the infrastructure, back into the water resources of the country,” says Denise Godwin with International Media Ministries (IMM). 

“Therefore, as even worse economic conditions have come into their circumstances, all the things that weren’t cared for all these nearly 50 years are crumbling even [more so]. It’s pretty incredible if you look at how Iran looked and behaved in the 1970s and what it is today.”

Economists and regime-affiliated research institutions have warned of a “poverty explosion” within Iran. Soon, there could be more than 40 million people below the poverty line.

“When you take away the analytical side, it’s not economics. It’s human beings who are trying to live, trying to have jobs, trying to feed their children,” says Godwin.

Even as the Iranian regime continues to express defiance and immovability toward the West, citizens within Iran stand against the regime. The resistance group called the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran has reported that on June 12 it launched a “widespread, highly coordinated anti-repression campaign across Iran.”

Clip from Esther: Queen of Hope (Courtesy of IMM)

“The protests have not stopped. People are trying to choose their times wisely, from what I’ve heard,” says Godwin. 

Into the struggle and uncertainty, Godwin says the first episode of IMM’s limited film series on the biblical story of Esther is almost ready. It will soon reach Iranian audiences in Europe as a test group.

“Please pray over that, that the pieces would come together, that we find the right locations and the right people to be with,” says Godwin. The film project is intended to reach Iranians with the true story of the Persian people’s history with Jews. 

“Esther’s story parallels so much of what is happening [today], where individuals are having to sacrifice to bring truth and freedom and release from bondage or death, even to Iran right now,” says Godwin. “Islamic rulers managed to eliminate, or perhaps you could say disguise history, and so a lot of people don’t understand the whole story [of Esther].”

Ask God to show His mighty hand in Iran. Pray for believers to stay courageous in their witness. 

“We hope that the evil being put upon the Iranians, the starvation, the abuse, the lack of religious freedom, the lack of any freedom would be cast down, and that liberty would be brought there, and the hope of the gospel would be brought there,” says Godwin. 

Header photo: Tehran Province, Tehran (Stock photo courtesy of Rayhane Saber via Unsplash)

The war in Iran produced some changes in leadership. However, Denise Godwin with IMM says that many are anxious about the current regime. Killings remain commonplace and people feel unsafe.

“There’s just a very overwhelming desire among the expat Iranian community for this regime to fall. There seem to be discussions also that there are people inside who desire that fall that they have to guard themselves for the right moment, so that they’re not killed before a new regime can be put in place.”

Openings for the Gospel

Godwin says people are exhausted with the conflict. The need for rest is one reason there are fewer uprisings and protests at the moment. People struggle with the pain of seeing loved ones killed and the homes they love in turmoil. However, Godwin sees God at work.

“What I think is interesting is these kinds of disruptions to normal services also cause people to look beyond their circumstances for hope. This gives an incredible opportunity to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That includes the people on the ground. That includes media partners who are using online platforms or Zoom platforms [or] satellites. While connections are erratic and interspersed, people are working on connecting with the outside world. They want to know what’s happening.”

A Story of Hope from Ancient Persia

In this time of unrest, IMM is working on post-production for the story of Esther. This project, Esther: Queen of Hope will be a six-part series that focuses on God’s work in His people and in the Persian Empire. This project has the potential to speak hope clearly to the Iranian people as they see God at work in the kingdom of their ancestors.

(Image courtesy of IMM)

“As we continue to edit the story of Esther: Queen of Hope, I am surprised and amazed at how God puts stories in the Bible that are actually reflected again and again through history,” Godwin says.

“What we see is Haman in the story of Esther as an outsider who’s been in the empire of Persia for a long time. He chooses to influence the situation in a way that is against their principles. They were not a society that did genocide. Well, you fast forward to today, and the people you speak to – especially who are outside the country, who have the freedom to share what they feel and think – say they feel like Persia (the original place that is now Iran) has been hijacked by a radical Islamic regime that is not reflecting the norms of Persians, of the people. That’s a pretty incredible, if you want to call it, coincidence from the Bible to today.”

IMM plans to release the first episode this summer and then have the final five episodes completed in the fall. They pray that this historic story not only will inspire hope for Iranian Christians today, but that it will open doors for believers to share that God has worked in Iran before. He cares about Iranian people.

Sharing the Gospel with the Unreached

(Image courtesy of IMM)

Godwin shares that one of IMM’s goals is being able to serve unreached people with Bible stories that occurred in their cultures. “To serve people who are unreached people groups that have so little content in their language – that we could serve them in a way that maybe bigger media organizations can’t. That’s just the beauty of being a media missionary group. We want to invite people to join us in praying and giving and connecting people, so we can do more and get to the ends of the Earth with the word of God sooner.”

If you’d like to join the work of IMM, click here.

Header image courtesy of International Media Ministries.

The suffering and disruption are grim. But Denise Godwin from International Media Ministries (IMM) says Iranian expatriates are celebrating the fall of the lies that were brought to their nation in 1979: “The lies about their culture, about who they are as people, about religion through the Islamic Revolution, all of that is being cast down,” Godwin says.

“I know from talking to Iranians [that] this is their desire: to have the Persia of the past that had an open door — through the King Cyrus, even going back that far — for you to keep your own religion, to choose, to explore different ways of having a career and doing society together, artistically, musically.”

Centuries ago, ancient Persia was a safe haven for the Jewish people. IMM’s upcoming film series, Esther: Queen of Hope, retells that biblical story with an Iranian cast. Godwin sees the parallels to today’s events — parallels of contrasts, where the government of modern-day Persia is bent on Israel’s destruction. 

Yet it’s essential to remember that Iran’s government today is not the same as its people. 

“One thing that’s probably very shocking to a Western audience is that Iranian expats are very pro-Israel,” says Godwin. “And they do not understand why the West is so pro-Hamas and Hezbollah and Palestine.”

As the threat of regional war rises in the Middle East, please pray for God’s blessing on His people who are sharing the gospel. Pray that people across the region discover the true hope of Christ.

“Is God going to do a great move, and there’s going to be another wave of revival and change in the world, or is this the end? We don’t know. And yet, there’s amazing opportunities,” says Godwin. “He has his people in place and His ways in place, dreams and visions, and media to reach these people.”

International Media Ministries’ Esther: Queen of Hope is set to be released later this year, pending final fundraising. Pray that Esther and projects like it will bless the Farsi-speaking world with the good news of Jesus.

(Photo courtesy of International Media Ministries via Facebook)

Header photo: Iranians rally in Tbilisi, Georgia, voicing support for the United States and Israel, March 1, 2026 (Photo courtesy of MNN).

With executions, prison sentences, and businesses forcibly closed following the protests, the regime’s grip appears tighter than ever – even as nuclear talks and regional tensions dominate international headlines.

Iran protests in Eastern Europe. (Photo courtesy of MNN)

For Iranians at home and abroad, the loss is deeply personal.

Denise Godwin with International Media Ministries (IMM) says members of their Persian expatriate film crew are carrying the weight of it every day.

“The news I get directly from them and their outrage over the killings in Iran and the abuse and the persecution is just heartbreaking,” Godwin shares.

“Speaking to one of the actors and key members of our crew, she said, ‘There’s nobody who doesn’t know someone that’s been killed.'”

The Iranian expatriate community remains tightly connected to family and friends back home. Godwin says, “Many of them, of course, have fled because of either political persecution or religious persecution, and they can’t go back. They can’t check on their families other than through the media…. So it’s really an intense time for them as they hear of deaths, either of friends or family or acquaintances, or they just can’t communicate with someone back home.”

At the same time, IMM is preparing to release a Persian-language dramatization of Esther’s story from the Bible — a story about faith and courage in the face of a regime bent on destruction. The project was filmed with Iranian actors and crew last summer.

“It’s pretty parallel to the situation going on in Iran. I mean, now there’s way more than one person risking their life,” Godwin says. “They’re just done with abuse, and they need hope.”

Esther: Queen of Hope (Photo courtesy of International Media Ministries)

That hunger for hope is especially poignant as Ramadan approaches. Godwin says, “There’s always searching going on during Ramadan by people who aren’t at ease with this religion, who are seeking God and not finding Him there.”

Please pray for grieving families, for protection over underground believers, and for the Gospel to reach those disillusioned and searching. Pray also for IMM as they work to deliver the Esther Project into Iran by summer.

“For such a time as this, God has His people in place. For such a time as this, God has sent out His message of hope. Jesus died for these people to give them eternal life.”

You can learn more about International Media Ministries and the Esther Project at their website.

Header photo: Iran protests in Eastern Europe. (Photo courtesy of MNN)

The Convention of National Cooperation to Save Iran, July 26, 2025 in Munich, Germany (Photo by Mazi for IMM)

Denise Godwin with International Media Ministries, says seven actors from their upcoming film Esther: Queen of Hope participated in the summit. 

“The Persian Empire — which [corresponds to] modern-day Iran — believed in allowing people [they conquered] to keep their own religion,” said Godwin. “Basically, the Persian people of today are saying, ‘We want to go back to what we were, where we could choose.’” 

During the filming for Esther, the June Israel-Iran conflict broke out. The IMM crew prayed with the Iranian actors throughout production. Godwin said not all of the team are believers in Christ, but they all believed in the story of Esther and in a free Iran, “because it gives people the choice of freedom of religion.”

“It was marvelous to get to know them and stand with them in this idea of freedom of religion, of sharing the freedom of God back into Iran through Esther,” said Godwin.

She felt like the team was observing world history unfold this summer. “[The summit is] not making the news, but this could completely change the face of the Middle East,” she said. 

“[The crown prince] made a point of saying, We’re not asking the West to do this for us. We’re asking them to stand with us as we see this regime fall.”

Political change is a fragile process. But with freedom comes greater opportunity for the Gospel to spread. So please pray! 

“Let’s pray with Iranians that the country [gains] freedom of choice, freedom of religion and freedom of speech,” said Godwin. “What an opportunity to stand with brothers and sisters in Christ and pray for that kind of change in the region!” 

 (Photo by Mazi for IMM)

Header photo: Reza Pahlavi at The Convention of National Cooperation to Save Iran, July 26, 2025 in Munich, Germany (Photo by Mazi for IMM)

The International Criminal Court says the Taliban’s supreme leader and chief justice implemented policies that amount to gender apartheid. Since reclaiming power in Afghanistan four years ago, the Taliban has removed girls from school and banned women from public life.

“I don’t imagine the Taliban think they’re doing anything other than adhering to their worldview,” Denise Godwin with International Media Ministries says.

“They need to have the light of Christ shown into their hearts to redeem a carnal nature that has shunted aside half of their population.”

Christians in Afghanistan face some of the harshest persecution in the world. The country remains one of the most dangerous places to be a follower of Jesus, largely because Islam is deeply interwoven with Afghan identity and society.

The situation has become even more dire with the Taliban’s resurgence, as the regime’s strict interpretation of Islam allows no room for religious freedom. Despite these dangers, a small underground Church continues to exist, clinging to hope and faith under constant threat.

(Photo courtesy of IMM)

International Media Ministries creates Gospel-centered media in over 70 languages. View current projects here. IMM’s materials help to encourage secret believers in closed countries and introduce the hope of Christ to people in despair.

“I know people working very clandestinely to help Afghanistan, and have mentioned, could we maybe do some of these Women of the Bible stories into some of the languages for Afghanistan? And I’m praying that we can,” Godwin says.

“The women can’t leave their homes, so media is a principal way to get them a message that they are precious in the eyes of God, no matter what the Taliban says.”

Ask the Lord to provide for groups like International Media Ministries that are helping people from a distance.

“Pray and call God’s power into the situation, that there could be escape and freedom for these women, for the people who are lied to by Islam,” Godwin requests.

Header image depicts a Taliban member in Kabul circa 2022. (Wikimedia Commons)

“There are a lot of people trying to communicate about the Messiah who live there, but they’re having to be careful, and we always find that media is a good handshake with people on the ground,” she says. 

IMM’s media products are distributed in about 80 languages, several of which are spoken in the Middle East. When Satellite channels broadcast the hope of Christ:

“What we see is a huge move of God all over the Middle East – that the numbers they can study are just exploding with Muslims coming to Christ.” 

Now working on a film depicting the story of Esther from a Persian perspective, Godwin is burdened for the people of Israel. 

“I can’t help but think: doesn’t God have a heart for the people of Israel and letting them know his stories to maybe consider them from a new perspective?” she asks. 

Godwin says telling the dramatized stories of Jesus can help people reconsider a familiar story or explore a new one. What if two groups of people with a shared history in the story of Esther could see God’s unified purpose for them in the present? 

“I just think these days we live in are so extraordinary. Surely God could open a way for programs that reveal a bit more of Jesus into Israel to happen,” she says. 

Please pray for God to open doors through which to pour out his spirit in Israel. Pray for believers there and in the surrounding region, as well as influencers online who are communicating God’s truth. Pray also for IMM as they continue to film the story of Esther. 

People praying at Jerusalem’s Western Wall. This image and header image courtesy of Unsplash.

Nowruz

On March 20, Iranians will kick off the Persian new year celebration known as Nowruz. This 13-day celebration begins on the Spring equinox and marks the arrival of a new season and new life. 

In Persian mythology, a great king saw a vision of rebirth for his people. He is hailed as the originator of this yearly celebration that incorporates themes of salvation, purity, and the triumph of light over darkness. 

Do those sound familiar? 

Denise Godwin and the team at International Media Ministries think so. As they minister to Iranians during Nowruz celebrations, they hope to point people to the true King of light and life: Jesus Christ. 

One way they are telling His story is through the Esther film series, which will be filmed in Farsi from a Persian perspective. Godwin says the project is from Iran, for Iran. 

“We are grateful for the opportunity to serve God and serve the Iranians in this way, though we are finding there’s a lot of spiritual conflict on the journey,” she says. 

Quran displayed during Nowruz celebration. Courtesy of Unsplash.

In the midst of that spiritual pushback, the IMM team is inviting believers to fast and pray during April leading up to filming in May. 

Iranian’s need for Jesus is widespread, whether they live in Iran or elsewhere. Godwin says many Iranian diaspora have identified as Christians mainly to gain asylum. Meanwhile, the oppressive Iranian regime has caused some Iranians living in their home country to question Islam. 

“It’s been so harsh for so long, and so many Iranians have embraced the idea of atheism or may be exploring other religions,” Godwin says. 

Please pray that through God’s Word and the ministry of His church, Iranians celebrating the themes of Nowruz would come to understand the true source of them. Pray that God would open hearts and minds to receive the gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Ramadan

The observance of Ramadan during March adds yet more spiritual weight, along with outreach opportunities, to believers working in Iranian ministry. Muslims resolutely seek to hear from Allah during this time, fasting from food and drink during the day and feasting after sunset.

Muslim man praying during Ramadan. Courtesy of Unsplash.

 “We fast as Christians to draw close to God: to know Him, to know what He’s saying to us. They fast for different reasons and don’t have that grace and that mercy from God that we have,” Godwin says. 

She points out that this is an important time to pray for the Islamic community and to “seed the internet” with the Gospel. 

“So we expect evangelism to start on the set, and we are excited about that and inviting other Iranians that we know to make sure there’s that atmosphere,” she says.  

Please pray for the IMM filming team, including the Iranian actors. Pray also that those seeking Allah during Ramadan would find Jesus.

Purim

More integral to the Esther story than the location, Persia, is the people: the Jews. 

In the midst of Muslims observing Ramadan and Christians observing Lent, the Jewish community will celebrate Purim, a festival commemorating the deliverance of the Jewish people from Haman in the days of Queen Esther of Persia. The name “Purim” means “lots” in ancient Persian, referring to the lots Haman cast to select the date of his proposed genocide. 

Hamantaschen, or “Haman’s ears,” a pastry eaten during Purim. Courtesy of Unsplash.

Purim customs include reading the Esther account, giving monetary gifts to the poor, giving food gifts to friends, and feasting together at the close of the celebration. While Purim is a reminder of God’s protection of his people, most Jewish people still celebrate it without knowledge of their ultimate deliverer: Jesus Christ. 

“What a great time to also be praying for their community to think about God’s salvation: that one person stood up for many,” Godwin says. 

Please pray that God would reveal Himself to Jewish communities through their Purim celebrations on March 13. Pray that the hearing of His Word would prick hearts and minds.

“As they explore the idea of Purim and Esther, they can glimpse Jesus Christ,” Godwin says. 

Featured image courtesy of Unsplash

Click! A worship song overlaps the call to namaz in a furnished apartment. The digital age has opened new doors for those living under strict regimes. Denise Godwin from the International Media Ministries says: “It’s the Holy Spirit at work in the Middle East. People [are] getting a chance to peek outside the curtain of their own country, see what’s happening in the world, and start exploring ideas.”

Men talking to each other (Photo courtesy of Edmond Dantès via Pexels)

This is the opposite of what oppressive regimes in the Middle East and North Africa intend. Instead of blindly obeying restrictions on information and limited freedoms, many people actively seek knowledge through the one source they can access freely — the Internet. Many go online to learn about Christianity or engage with believers through various apps. They share inspiring videos or watch them together on a trusted minister’s screen. On this journey, many encounter Christ.

This is a prophecy coming to life. Godwin reminds:

“It says in the Bible, every tribe, tongue, nation, and everybody’s going to have that chance to hear [the Gospel]. This time in the media is definitely a time like that, that everyone can have a chance to seek the truth for themselves, examine it, and make their own decision.”

As technology advances, so do media ministries. Their impact is even greater when they collaborate to produce high-quality content. “We need to keep creating content that catches people’s eyes,” Godwin urges. “We need people to be called into media missionary living!”

More than ever, believers should have a basic understanding of sharing the Gospel online — and, when needed, use online translators. Someone somewhere in the world might be open to learning about their Savior, and a single online encounter could be their only link to Christianity. Even if someone feels unsure about sharing the Gospel, they can always share a video made by a professional media ministry.

Please pray and consider supporting International Media Ministries as they use advanced technologies to share timeless stories and bring people closer to Jesus in a way that’s easy to understand.

“It’s a super important time for the message of the Gospel to go forth through media. That’s how a lot of people are going to start their journey!” Godwin says.

May many of those journeys begin.

Header photo is a representative stock photo courtesy of Keira Burton via Pexels.

“We’ve all introduced some kid we know, or our kids, to something we watched as a kid. The same thing happens with Christian programming and programming for tough parts of the world, where there’s not much in their language,” Denise Godwin with International Media Ministries says.

“Our past children’s projects have continued to be used over 20 years.”

Godwin says she wanted to develop something new for kids but lacked the necessary skills. Then, the Lord introduced her to Judy, a children’s evangelist.

“[She] has been doing this for 40+ years, so she’s really good at it,” Godwin says.

“When Judy joined our team, she could extrapolate things that she has used live, and we created a six-part series based on one of her live plays.”

“Red” is a 6-part series that will go out to many languages and many countries, and make way for the brand new 3D series.
(Caption, screenshot courtesy of IMM)

At the end of 2024, IMM began work on a 2D animated series called “Red.” Watch a preview here.

“It’s very loosely based on Little Red Riding Hood,” Godwin says.

“A red-headed girl goes in[to] the forest, and animals try to dissuade her from her quest, and she remembers (Bible) verses from her Aunt Louise that help her persevere and keep going.”

Animation interns and experts from Europe, South America, and the Middle East joined the IMM team.

“We used our staff members and some AI fill-in to do the template voices, and then from there, it’ll go into Arabic and dialects and Polish and German and many, many languages,” Godwin says.

“It’s so cool to work on these projects and feel like God is bringing the team together.”

Pray that “Red” will make the Gospel come alive for kids in hard-to-reach places. Support IMM here to help production continue.

“People are ready for something that brings hope and life, and that’s what Jesus gives us,” Godwin says.

“We hear of people getting saved in so many places through media, through dreams and visions, where traditional missionaries can’t go.”

Header image is a representative stock photo courtesy of Kampus Production/Pexels.