This year, Hajj takes place May 25 through 29. Usually, millions attend, but ongoing regional instability could impact travel plans and security.

Airspace around the Persian Gulf remains unstable, making safety difficult to guarantee. Pierre Houssney of Horizons International says, “A lot of airline companies are not willing to fly in the region.”

Crowd in Mecca, Saudi Arabia (photo courtesy of Fahad Puthawala via Pexels)

The conflict also raises questions about whether Shiite Muslims will attend this year’s pilgrimage. Houssney explains, “There has been war now between the Shiites and the Sunnis across that Persian Gulf.”

Because of these tensions, Saudi authorities will likely remain on high alert for possible terrorist threats during the pilgrimage season.

Even so, Hajj continues to hold deep spiritual significance for Muslims worldwide.

“Muslims around the world actually see making that pilgrimage as a kind of goal in life,” says Houssney.

For many of them, Hajj reflects a deep longing to draw near to God.

“Muslims are looking toward these physical acts that you can do to receive the forgiveness of sins,” he adds.

Many Muslims believe their salvation can be earned through religious acts such as making the pilgrimage, reading the Quran, giving to the poor, or fasting during Ramadan. Yet many remain unsure if they have truly pleased God. Outwardly, they may appear devout while inwardly longing for His love and acceptance.

Pray, “That they would be able to find the only true way to receive forgiveness of sins, which is through Jesus’s sacrifice, not through their own actions.”

Please pray also for the nearly 2.06 billion Muslims worldwide — both those attending Hajj and those staying home — to find true hope in Christ.

Visit Horizons International to learn more about fulfilling the Great Commission and supporting ministry work in Muslim communities.

Header photo: Men praying in Mecca, Saudi Arabia (courtesy of Mido Makasardi via Pexels).

During Jesus’s time on earth, His disciples experienced a striking revelation — they had met the Promised Savior. Their faith and passion led to generations of disciples who carried the same truth. However, for Muslims, Jesus’s true identity remains a source of confusion. While the Quran acknowledges Him as a prophet, it also states that He will judge the world in the end, creating a contradiction that still leaves a question: Who is He really?

Missionaries in the Middle East are at the forefront of spiritual struggles, committed to uncovering Christ’s true nature for Muslims and other unreached groups.

People look around in a colorful market in Pakistan (Photo courtesy of Umar Farooq via Unsplash)

Steven* spent many years serving Muslims in Pakistan and has learned how difficult it is to uncover the identity of their Savior. Jesus’s direct instructions are key to unraveling the mystery of Christ. Steven says, “Luke 10 is really clear about what Jesus wanted His disciples to go and do, and how they would begin to meet people in new places that didn’t have the gospel yet.”

On one occasion, their teammate entered a village where he met a sick 8-month-old baby. He asked if he could pray for the baby, and the family agreed. The next day, when he returned, the baby was healed.

“And the family said, ‘You healed our baby. How did you do that? Can we pay you money? Can we worship you?’ And he said, ‘Absolutely not! This is what Jesus can do. Jesus is the protector of your baby. Jesus is the healer of all!’ And they said, ‘Tell us more about Jesus.’”

He proceeded to share stories from the New Testament, helping them understand that Jesus is not just a good teacher or a prophet they’ve heard about. He is the one true God. Through stories of Jesus’s power to calm storms, heal the sick, raise the dead, and feed 5,000 people, they began to see Jesus in a new light.

“Our goal is to take them from a misunderstanding of who Jesus is to a correct and full understanding of who He is. And in that process, we are making disciples. Because we are not giving them the answers directly — we are searching the Scriptures with them,” Steven says.

By going through these stories, the Muslim understanding of Jesus is transformed. They start to hope for the future Jesus promises. They testify that the Quran taught them about hate, war, and selfishness, but Jesus taught love, kindness, peace, and caring for others. When the Holy Spirit teaches them from the Word of God, they discover who Jesus is. That is far more powerful than anything they could be told!

“In the end, they choose to become disciples of Jesus — students who learn from Him. They decide to follow Him with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength. When that happens, they are true disciples of Jesus, and they begin to make more disciples. This is exactly what He told us to do,” says Steven.

Pray for wisdom and patience for missionaries in the Middle East. Pray that they may be guided by the true passion for the Gospel. May their hearts be filled with strength as they share the truth of Christ. Pray that seekers in the region are led to the true understanding of who Jesus is and are transformed by His love and grace.

*Full names withheld for security.

Header photo courtesy of Arafat uddin Showrab via Unsplash.

“Dorood” means hello in Persian. As many Iranians turn to social media to seek truth beyond government censorship, a simple greeting from a friendly evangelist with a powerful message can change their life forever.

Farzad’s* journey with Christ began in his teenage years, influenced by his siblings’ faith, movie “The Gospel of Luke” (1979) and Yahoo Messenger chats in Iran. He says: “There was [an] online church in Farsi. They said, Kelisaye Interneti. And I found many friends there.” He also explored a Muslim Yahoo chatroom but grew discouraged by constant Sunni-Shia debates. The Christian chat felt different. “I could feel Holy Spirit among them,” he says.

Woman behind laptop (photo courtesy of Krismas via Unsplash)

The seeker became the Messenger!

Today, Farzad is a dedicated internet missionary. He once used Instagram and Facebook but now finds Telegram most effective. In the past two years, he has led twenty people to Christ! His method is simple: he creates a Christian profile, joins Persian chats, and builds friendships. “The best thing in Telegram is going to a group with a few members, for example, 200-300 members, and being with them, being among them and just talking with them — not directly about God, but without hiding your faith,” Farzad explains.

People notice his avatar and start asking questions: What do you do in Christianity? Do you fast? Do you have namaz (prayer)? They’re curious about the differences between Christianity and Islam, but most importantly, they want to hear his personal story.

“Then I share my testimony in a voice message. And it takes one hour, usually, because it’s not just my testimony, it’s my life story — from when I was five to now. I explain how I became a believer, how my parents, how my siblings… and it takes time. Then they always need time to process, to think about it, and the prayer helps a lot,” says Farzad.

It takes time, Farzad says, but after a few months, some return with a clear desire to know Christ. “If it’s time, I give them the salvation prayer, and I say, ‘Do you want me to pray with you? You can do that by yourself.’ From each group, usually at least two or three people come with their questions and get discipled.”

And after a simple greeting and a season of searching, an Iranian soul finds its rest in Jesus’ embrace.

Find your place in the story!

Many ministries are reaching out to Iranians, but the need for online evangelists is greater than ever. So next time you go online and meet an Iranian, don’t hesitate to say dorood! Your conversation might be the very start of their exciting journey to knowing Christ.

*Full name withheld for security.

Header photo courtesy of Haftohasht Innovation Studio via Pexels.

Thursday, March 6, a band of Alawite fighters from the old regime killed more than a dozen soldiers in the coastal town of Jableh affiliated with the new government. 

But it might not have “started” on Thursday. Samuel* with Redemptive stories says, “They killed, the reports say, 16 to 20 soldiers related to a dispute…. There [are] suspicions that there was some act done even before that, which then this [attack on soldiers] was recompense for that previous act.”

Syrian citizens celebrate the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria, December 2024 (Photo courtesy of Shvan Hark via Unsplash)

In response, the government sent in troops and a massacre began. The numbers are still coming in, but reports are saying hundreds of fighters and civilians were killed. Christians were among those slain. However, the chief targets were Alawites, a minority sect of Shia Islam that Syria’s former president belongs to. (Amid misinformation regarding this event, read a detailed analysis here.) 

Samuel explains the killing happened “primarily in areas that were hubs for Alawite fighters, or Alawite military personnel historically. But then they were killing quite indiscriminately — killing families, young people who had nothing to do with [it]. I mean, they were part of the previous regime, [by] the fact that they were Alawites, but it was more of an ethnic cleansing as retribution for what was done [in Jableh].” 

The fallout from these horrific killings has already begun. “Some say over 10,000 have crossed into Lebanon, trying to seek refuge there,” Samuel says. 

But there’s another, deeper issue in the fallout.

“The new government is showing their inability to form systems of society that are needed in order to be able to govern its people,” he says. “They’re working towards it, but still, there seems to be a disconnect, as you can tell by the goon-ery of their troops and this massacre that occurred.”

Photo courtesy of Ahmed Akacha via Pexels

Another example of this lack of structure is that security checkpoints in Syria are haphazard, not clearly regulated. One of Samuel’s teammates was in Syria recently. He says checkpoints during al-Assad’s rule were clearly marked with flags and different uniforms signifying which factions had charge of them. 

“Now you get to a checkpoint, [our partner says, and] you have no idea who these people are. They’re just wearing this regular old camo. They might have a new flag on it, but there’s no marking that these are military personnel, police officers or civil defense,” Samuel explains. 

“So they’re still lagging behind in their ability to create the structures necessary for a flourishing society. The honeymoon period is over, and the true colors seem to be coming out more and more.”

That’s not the full story though. Samuel says that in the midst of deep suffering, there are opportunities for believers to step in with gospel hope and help. At the same time, this kind of hardship “also exacerbates already [existing] issues, like fear, the ability to do meetings, to connect together, to meet together.” 

Please, pray for the minority church in Syria. Pray for those who are fleeing to Lebanon and believers who will receive them there.

“We’re just praying for our brothers and sisters on the ground that they can find that balance of still being able to engage people and particularly help them in their season of fear and concern,” Samuel says. “This is an opportunity to care for Alawites. Also in Lebanon, for the refugees that are coming there, [pray] for the church to engage to help them there.”

*Pseudonym

Header photo courtesy of Alexas_Fotos via Pixabay.

Pakistan (MNN) — Tensions between Sunni and Shia Muslims run high and deep in Pakistan’s Kurram district these days. 

Nehemiah* with FMI calls Kurram the “wild, wild West of Pakistan.” He explains several layers of the regional conflict. Pakistan is 80% Sunni Muslim, but many Shia Muslims have migrated to Kurram from Afghanistan. Nehemiah says the upper region of Kurram is predominantly Shia, while the lower region is Sunni. 

Also present in Kurram are Islamic militant groups. Nehemiah listed Pakistan’s Taliban, al Qaeda, and Taliban Afghanistan.

Kurram district (red) within Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province (white) of Pakistan. (Image courtesy of User:Abbasi786786 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)

“These tensions have been worsened by a combination of local dispute, regional geopolitics, and historical [grievances] making Kurram one of Pakistan’s most volatile areas located along the Afghan border,” Nehemiah says. 

“The efforts to restore peace — including security operations and peace accords — have shown some success, but are often short-lived.”

Distrust and a sense of insecurity mark daily life in the region. Nehemiah says bombings of schools and mosques from both sects are not uncommon. In July 2024, a land dispute between tribes exploded and left nearly 50 people dead. After a brief time of peace, violence broke out again in early October, leading the government to shut down a key highway in Kurram.

“The people are suffering. It’s killings, ransom, kidnapping. It’s a war-torn situation right now there,” Nehemiah says. 

Kurram is also highly unreached with the gospel. Muslim background believers in the underground church face extreme persecution. Instead of federal or military law, tribal law rules the day.

“In Pakistan, especially in such areas [as Kurram], giving a Bible away is a capital offense. [The] Taliban or the tribal people, they come in and they kill you if you share [the] Word of God with anybody,” Nehemiah says. 

“They kill anybody there, they persecute anybody, and no one’s here to raise a voice for them.” 

But these Christians have a fierce faith. One FMI partner Nehemiah spoke with this month is pursuing a specific region for Christ. He said, “There is nobody who can share the Word,” and so he is going there with the gospel.

Pray for Christians in Kurram district

There’s a place for you in this story.

(Photo courtesy of FMI)

“Please don’t pray for us. Pray with us,” one partner said to Nehemiah.

Therefore Nehemiah says, “Please pray with them and support these brothers and sisters who have fearless faith to serve in such a hostile situation.”

Pray with Christians in Kurram that the gospel will go forward. Pray that people in Kurram will find peace and reconciliation with God and each other. Ask God to soften hearts and reduce anger and fear, replaced by unity and understanding. 

“Pray for FMI church planters and safe house shepherds to have opportunities to serve as Christ’s hands and feet,” Nehemiah says. 

Learn more about FMI and its work alongside local believers here. 

*Name withheld for security

Header photo courtesy of FMI.

Why did Iran directly attack Israel for the first time in its history? With support for Israel wavering from its allies, wouldn’t a direct attack from Iran re-bolster the world’s support for Israel? How was a direct attack in Iran’s best interest?

Escalating conflict abroad

Tehran, Iran (Photo courtesy of Khashayar Kouchpeydeh/Unsplash)

Lana Silk, CEO of Transform Iran, says, “Iran is in a difficult situation because, as you say, they can’t be seen to have ‘all bark and no bite.’ So they can’t just keep throwing all these threats out there and not following through.”

The lead-up to Iran’s attack has been a tit-for-tat process of escalation. Prior to October 7, Israel had a ceasefire with Hamas and was preparing to sign a peace deal with the Sunni government of Saudi Arabia. Then on October 7, Iran provided support for the terror attack by Hamas that killed over 1,200 Israelis and took around 240 hostage.

Iran has continued to add fuel to the fire of war in the Holy Land through its Shia proxies in Yemen and Lebanon. Israel sent a message to Iran by striking the Iranian consulate in Syria on April 1st, killing two Iranian generals and five officers.

Following the Iranian consulate strike, Tehran vowed to retaliate — which led to Iran sending hundreds of drones and missiles at Israel, most of which were shot down. Now, Israel says they cannot let a direct attack like this from Iran go unpunished.

Escalating conflict at home

Meanwhile, all is not well at home in Iran.

First, an ongoing power struggle between the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and the ayatollahs makes for uncomfortable bedmates when they have to turn and deal with wars abroad.

“That’s certainly what the atmosphere is in Iran today — that maybe there’s some infighting going on. And, of course, that has other implications,” Silk says.

(Photo courtesy of Transform Iran)

Then there’s the Iranian people, the majority of whom feel disenfranchised by their own government and are struggling to make ends meet.

Tehran received significant criticism for entering 2024 without an official budget or fiscal plan. This year also marks the end of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s first term in office.

“Economically, it’s a very difficult climate. There’s already been a lot of uncertainty now with this ‘budget, no budget’ question. I mean, they’re having to throw something together. They’re not committing the right money to the right places. They’re spending money in war.

“So the people of Iran continue to pay. They’re struggling for jobs. They’re struggling for affordable housing and food. Poverty is high. The people are not being looked after and they’re stuck.

“They feel completely trapped in the world that they live in right now. As far as they’re concerned, they are forgotten by the West because all the West sees is their regime with all the negative things at play that the regime is involved in. So then the West must hate us.”

Silk says there are many in Iran who are not pleased with their government’s actions on the global stage. Many are even questioning the validity of Islam itself, although it is incredibly dangerous to do so in Iran where Islam is the state religion.

Seeking Truth

These silent doubters are seeking spiritual truth. This is where Transform Iran’s ministry steps in with the transcending hope and truth of the Gospel.

Transform Iran is passionate about leadership development. The Church in Iran is growing fast.
(Photo, caption courtesy of Transform Iran)

Transform Iran uses television, radio, and social media to reach Iranians with the Good News about Jesus. No matter the circumstances, Christ offers comfort and hope. The people of Iran need to know.

“The best thing that we can do for the people of Iran today is to let them know that we see them, and we care!” says Silk.

“It would be so helpful for us all to be using the power of social media to be talking about the people of Iran, sharing posts that highlight the needs of the people of Iran, let them know that they are seen, that we love them, we care for them.

“Let’s be praying. Let’s be fueling what God is doing. Let’s be inviting the Holy Spirit to be visiting people in their dreams, in their doorways, in visions…. That is a powerful thing that we can be doing. If we do that, then we will have helped the people of Iran.”

Learn more about Transform Iran’s ministry here.

Header photo courtesy of Steven Su/Unsplash.

“There’s always been a ‘situation’ between Pakistan and Iran for the last few years,” FMI’s Nehemiah says. “But that (the January 18 strike) was the very, very first time when Iran violated Pakistan’s airspace.”

Although Pakistan presents a strong front to neighboring Iran, it may lack the capacity for a prolonged conflict.

“Pakistan is fighting on all the borders – India, Afghanistan – now this is a third force that is fighting against Pakistan.”

Tensions have simmered – for now. However, experts say Iran’s January 18 strikes have altered the long-term security outlook for Pakistan. Tighter border controls could be problematic for Gospel workers.

“I can see the challenges that minorities and especially FMI partners are going to face in terms of traveling to Iran, and the people coming back from Iran to Pakistan,” Nehemiah says.

Now that you know, what will you do? “Pray for the church to be an instrument of peace in the areas of conflict, especially in Baluchistan, where these terrorist groups are,” Nehemiah says.

“Pray for leaders from both countries to prioritize peace over aggression. Pray for the message of the Gospel to break barriers and heal divisions in both countries,” he adds.

Finally, “please pray for FMI partners who are serving on the ground in this very, very difficult situation.”

Header image is a representative stock photo courtesy of Lara Jameson/Pexels.

On Tuesday, Iran said its airstrikes destroyed terrorist strongholds in Pakistan’s Baluchistan province. FMI’s Nehemiah says, “This (Baluchistan) is almost a ‘no go’ area for Pakistanis and [is a] haven for terrorism and militancy.”

Pakistan called the strikes “unprovoked” and said the attack killed two children. The “Pakistani foreign office decided to recall its ambassador from Iran and suspended all high official visits ongoing or planned between the two countries following the incident,” Nehemiah says.

Then, Pakistan fired retaliatory rockets and drones at ethnic Balochi militants in Iran on Thursday, killing at least nine people. Four of them were kids.

Whatever Iranian or Pakistani government leaders may claim, Nehemiah says opposing religious foundations undergird the conflict playing out before our eyes.

“Iran is a Shia country, and Pakistan is a majority Sunni country. Sunnis [inside Pakistan] are feeling that Shiites attacked them, and so several Shia leaders have been killed by Sunni militant groups,” Nehemiah says.

“This is a very, very defining moment because there is a ‘tug of war’ between Shias and Sunnis.”

Iran’s attack on Pakistan follows strikes on Iraq and Syria days earlier. Seemingly increased Iranian aggression raises concerns about regional war.

Please pray for FMI-supported church leaders and partners throughout the region. Learn more about FMI’s work here.

“We have partners who serve in Pakistan, Baluchistan, and Iran, so the ministry [is] highly affected,” Nehemiah says.

Header image depicts an elder of a Pakistani village church. It is estimated that only about 2% of the nation’s population claim to be Christian. (Photo, caption courtesy FMI)

Some fear this latest strike could lead to violent escalation between Lebanon’s Hezbollah and the IDF. Hezbollah leader Hasan Nasrallah threatened there would be “a response and punishment” following the attack on Hamas leadership in Beirut.

IDF spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said, “We are highly prepared for any scenario.”

However, there is reason for Hezbollah and Israel to avoid all-out war, and both sides are showing restraint in the stand-off.

Pierre Houssney with Horizons International says, “It seems like a lot of people want there to be this big fear and the wars and rumors of wars. I personally don’t feel that it’s actually in the best interest of either side to start a war…. You have to kind of read between the lines because…it’s really important to understand this in light of the Shiite-Sunni greater conflict.”

Mosque in Beirut, Lebanon. (Photo courtesy of Ramy Kabalan/Unsplash)

The Lebanese terror group Hezbollah follows Shia Islam, while Palestinian Hamas extremists are Sunni. They’ve had a turbulent relationship, in part due to the Shia-Sunni rivalry.

Yet, in recent months, the old adage has rung true: The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

However, is conflict with Israel enough to pull Hezbollah into full-scale war alongside Hamas? It’s an unanswered question only time can answer.

In times of conflict, Houssney says Christians should look to the Bible for direction and hope.

For example, take the Prophet Isaiah. “It helps me to just kind of draw back and say, ‘You know what? I’m gonna be like Isaiah in that time. He made it through the rule of four different kings of Judah and he was always just faithfully proclaiming the Word of the Lord.’”

Horizons International carries out Gospel initiatives across Lebanon, reaching Muslims with the Good News and discipling new believers. You can support this crucial ministry here!

“We need to be in touch with ministries that are operating in these areas because anytime there’s conflict, there’s opportunity spiritually, Houssney says.

Pray also for believers in the region to be faithful ambassadors for Jesus, no matter what happens in the political realm.

Header photo of Beirut, Lebanon, courtesy of Piotr Chrobot/Unsplash.

Why is this a big deal?

Mike Ansari with Heart4Iran explains, “Iranians and Saudis have been adversaries for years, especially after the last 20 years of the Islamic Revolution. The relationship has soured because Saudi Arabia believes that Iran is actively trying to export Shiite Islam, and Saudis are Sunnis.

“The Iranian regime has had a major influence in reshaping the politics of Iraq post-Saddam Hussein. They were involved in Yemen and directly involved with the Houthi rebels. Also, Iran has had influence and presence in Syria fighting ISIS and in other regions as well. So Saudi Arabia sees that as a threat of exportation of Shiite Islam to the rest of the Muslim world.”

A mural in the holy city of Qom depicts Ayatollah Khomeini, leader of the 1979 Iranian Revolution, on the left and Ali Khamenei, the current Supreme Leader of Iran, on the right. (Photo/Caption courtesy of David Stanley via Flicker: https://flic.kr/p/ez3Q3N)

On one hand, Saudis and Iranians re-establishing diplomatic ties would be good for stabilizing geopolitics in the Middle East.

On the other hand, Ansari says, “The peace that has been brokered between Saudis and Iran by China is extremely telling of the fact that America and the West are soon losing their footing and influence that they once had across Middle East; specifically, in the region that is an oil-producing region.”

Less Western influence in this region of the Middle East means less oversight of Iran’s human rights abuses.

“We are going to continue to see more pressure on the religious minorities, more pressure on anyone who stands up to speak against the atrocities and the crimes that the Iranian government is committing,” says Ansari.

Thankfully, we serve God who is sovereign over the nations.

Please pray for spiritual strength and wisdom for Christians both in Iran and Saudi Arabia sharing the Gospel at the risk of their own lives.

Learn more about Heart4Iran’s ministry here!

Header photo courtesy of Heart4Iran.