Many Iranians no longer want to live under the current system, hoping for a change in the country. Lily Ricci with Iran Alive Ministries shares a recent story that shows the love people have for their country and faith in God:

Young man (photo courtesy of Arafat uddin Showrab via Unsplash)

“A father who was a believer contacted us and said, ‘I lost my 20-year-old son in the protests, and when I went to get his body, I had to pay for the number of bullets that were used to kill my son. And there were three.’”

In that case, authorities demanded about $6,000 before releasing the body. This is one of many similar cases.

However, when families cannot afford the fee but still want to bury their loved ones, officials pressure them to claim their relative was an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) soldier. Ricci explains:

“They’re asking people to lie so that they can falsify the number of people who were participating in the protests.”

The grieving father also shared his perspective inspired by faith in Christ: “I’m sharing this with you not as a victim, but as a victor, knowing that even in our losses, God is with us and He will carry us through.”

Representative photo courtesy of
Artin Bakhan via Unsplash

He asks those who hear his story to be a voice for his son and to expose what he sees as evil at work in Iran. Pray for freedom for the Iranian people and for God’s justice. Ricci adds:

“Pray for this demonic force that has been holding Iran in such a tight grip for over 47 years to be lifted, and for the Spirit of God to be released so that true freedom — found only in knowing Christ — would take root in Iran.”

Many ministries are preparing for the day they can openly serve in a free Iran. “Iran Alive Ministries,” says Ricci, “has been preparing a strategy for the plan of return.”

Leaders within the underground church network are already in place. They are discipling believers quietly and building strong foundations of faith. They pray for freedom to step into the open, establishing churches publicly and continuing the discipleship process without fear of house raids, arrests, or government retaliation.

Header representative photo courtesy of Breet Sayles via Pexels.

Vladimir Putin meeting with Hassan Rouhani.
(Photo, caption credit: Kremlin via Wikipedia)

Iran (MNN) — Christians with an eye on biblical prophecy are growing wary.

Formerly known as Persia, Iran is mentioned in Ezekiel 38’s prophecy as having a starring role with Russia in End Times events. Persia and Rosh (Russia) are described as having a military alliance intent on invading and destroying Israel.

According to the Jerusalem Post, key talks between Iran’s defense minister and his Russian equivalent took place back in January. The pair were reportedly developing a mutual defense agreement “to prevent foreign meddling.”

“The situation in the region and the world requires that powerful Russia and powerful Iran jointly promote strengthening of international security and regional stability,” Brigadier General Hosein Dehqan told Interfax.

Now, Iran is putting blame squarely on the U.S. and Israel for current Middle East turmoil.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry shakes hands with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif
[State Department photo/ Public Domain]

Amid the disturbing developments and suspicions, there’s good news coming from Iran, too.

Take *Amir, for example.

Escaping Iran

Amir’s pathway to Christ began in 2004. A friend invited him to an underground church in Tehran, “to see how Christians worshipped.” Amir accepted his friend’s invitation and was forever changed.

“That was amazing! The worship with songs, and [it was a] peaceful place,” he shares in broken English.

“I can’t say with words that feeling I had.”

“Amir” pauses for a group photo with the MNN team at the Missio Nexus Leadership Conference.

Fast-forward to 2008: Amir has accepted Christ as his Savior and is actively serving in Tehran’s Underground Church.

“My father said, ‘This is your choice. It’s not a problem, but be careful,’” recalls Amir with a smile.

During this time, Amir also attended university, where he studied Printing to one day take over his father’s publishing business. Shortly thereafter, Amir’s pastor approached him with a proposition.

“My pastor one time told me, ‘We have a project for [the] youth group,” Amir says. “‘We want to print [a] magazine for the youth group; can you print it?’

“I said, ‘Yes, of course!’”

Everything went fine until 2010, when the church’s Christian magazine attracted government attention. Iranian officials began “putting pressure” on Amir’s church, and even interrogated his pastor.

“The pastor told me, ‘Delete every file of that magazine,’” recalls Amir. “The government said, ‘You advertise another religion’…and, you know, Iran is the Islamic Republic.

“[Islam] is very important for the government, because if you delete the Islamic in the Republic of Iran, you have to change the government.”

By God’s grace, Amir’s father had connections in all the right places. He first contacted a friend who used to practice law in Tehran, and this man advised Amir to flee the country.

“If you stay here, 100% they [the government will] find you,” the man told Amir.

The next call was to friends in airport security. Since Amir’s name hadn’t yet been added to the official watch list, “I fly to Turkey three years ago.”

Immediately joining a Persian-speaking Church, Amir took another crucial step of faith.

“In Iran, I [couldn’t get] baptized because it’s very difficult for us to baptize,” he explains. “I [got baptized] in 2013 in Istanbul.”

Amir “in action” at the Missio Nexus Leadership Conference.

After studying theology, Amir began teaching new believers about the Christian faith. He also registered as a refugee with the United Nations, in hopes of one day reaching America.

Under UNHCR mandates, refugees wishing to re-settle outside their source nation must have sponsors willing to take them in and help them adjust.

Working through a U.S.-based ministry, a retired missionary helped make Amir’s dream come true.

Arriving a few weeks ago on U.S. soil, Amir is now stepping forward in faith and trusting God with the results.

“I know I’m here because this is part of the plans of God.”

Will you keep him in your prayers?

*name changed for security reasons