Steve Prince with Set Free says, “Jesus said that He offers a peace that surpasses understanding. So when we lead warriors through ministry, we have them tell their story, apply biblical principles (to) confess, repent, forgive, and we get to watch God help them unpack the pain from their past, and then they’re more fit to walk through life in freedom.”

The ministry works with men and women through one-on-one conversations called “freedom appointments,” connecting them with leaders who can reach these groups.

“Unless you’re following Jesus, chances are things aren’t going well. So we ask the question, ‘Is what you are doing working?’ ‘If it’s not working, let’s try something else.’”

Warrior Battle Camp offers a unique opportunity for the ministry to continue this work in a weekend camp setting.

Participants walk through key steps to freedom in Christ, using the acronym “TRIP” to focus on Truth, Relationships, Identity, and Purpose. Over the weekend, attendees are discipled, transformed, and relive a missing sense of camaraderie.

“We present the gospel. We baptize people. If they want to get baptized, confess, repent,” says Prince.  …the principles of victory are living the way God commanded us—to walk in His ways, be obedient, and love others.”

When people learn what living with Jesus looks like, lives are changed.

“We have wives who are shocked when their husbands come home and they notice the difference from day one. And we encourage (the) guys, don’t go home and tell your wife that you’re different—live it out, be present, love your wife, spend time (together), serve.”

When veteran Jeremiah’s relationship with God changed, it transformed his relationship with his son too.

Jeremiah had struggled with a poor relationship with his son. But at Warrior Battle Camp, he accepted Christ and spent four days praying for his son. Then, seemingly out of the blue, or more likely out of his prayers, Jeremiah’s son texted him.

Jeremiah received a painful message from his son, accusing him of not being a good father and not being present. Because of his newfound faith, Jeremiah was able to respond humbly: “You’re right. I was wrong.”

His son had expected Jeremiah to make excuses, lie, and point fingers, but because of the change that occurred in Jeremiah, their relationship was restored.

If you have a veteran in your life who is hurting, the ministry invites you to first pray for them and then see if they’re willing to connect for a freedom appointment. 

The ministry is expanding and hopes to push into more big cities.

Please pray that the ministries will meet the needs of these first responders and that the right leadership will be able to guide them through the discipleship process. Pray also for the financial resources to do this work as the organization seeks to grow and reach people.

Photo courtesy of Warriors Set Free

But persecution doesn’t mean paralysis. Take the church in Iran, for example. 

“The church in Iran today is truly thriving, but also under a lot of strain,” says Lana Silk with Transform Iran. “It reminds me of the Scripture where Paul talks about us being persecuted and beaten down, but not crushed. 

“It’s a constant pressure on the church from the government. But that has not taken away the vibrancy of the church in Iran. It is a thriving, victorious church.”

You may have heard that Iran has one of the fastest-growing churches in the world, full of Christians young in their faith. But Silk wants us to know there’s maturity there, too.

“There is definitely a different balance in the church in Iran to what we would have in the West, where we have such a rich resource of seasoned leadership for a church that is perhaps less young,” she says.

Photo of Tehran, Iran courtesy of Hamid Mohammad Hossein Zadeh Hashemi via Unsplash.

“But I would also say there is a different dynamic in terms of growth. There is an accelerated growth rate in Iran, and that is a spiritual dynamic. The Lord has, through His grace, allowed Christians to grow up very quickly in Iran. Somebody who may not have even been a believer a year ago could be leading multiple churches today.” 

Transform Iran has a robust discipleship program that is one-on-one, personal, and strategic. Silk says they see new believers change quickly from receiving to giving. 

“Within months, people are witnessing to others, leading others to the Lord, inadvertently becoming pastors themselves, though not seasoned and experienced yet,” she says.

Find your place in the story

Wherever you call home, there’s something you can learn from fellow believers. If you live in a place where ministry and leadership are usually given to those with years of experience, Silk offers a challenge we can glean from Iran’s young but rising Church.

Tehran, Iran (Representative stock photo courtesy of Zahra Amiri via Unsplash)

“Shouldn’t we all be in ministry? Shouldn’t we all be fruitful and leading others to the Lord in every way in our lives? That’s where we can learn from Iranian Christians, who are immediately thrown into a life of ministry and of fruitfulness and growing, and then pastoring comes out of that,” Silk says. 

“By the grace of God, I would say that there are many hundreds, if not thousands of pastors in Iran today, serving in this way and showing through the fruit of their ministry that they are called and anointed by God.”

Praise God for the “impossible” things He is doing in Iran today!

“Today, He is accelerating a growth in the church. He is investing in the people. He’s growing leaders. He’s leading the lost to Himself, and He’s inviting us, for the thrill of the ride, to do it with Him,” Silk says.

“Let’s be praying that God would continue to strengthen them, encourage them, resource them, and surround them [with] other believers that will be community for them and strengthen them in their faith. Let’s also be advocating for them and investing in ministries that are supporting them.”

Visit Transform Iran’s website to learn more!

Header photo is a representative stock photo courtesy of Armin Moradi via Unsplash.

The soccer team from a Hopegivers International -sponsored Hope Home in Kota, India, won the Rajasthan state championship in their age bracket. Though the team of orphans was very nearly denied the opportunity to participate in the tournament, they played and carried themselves like champions. Our children are proof that every life matters and is precious to God, explained Hopegivers Founder Dr. M.A. Thomas.

After the historic victory, the children were greeted with jubilation and a parade was held in their honor. These children hold the distinction of being the first team from their district to win a soccer state championship since the tournament began in 1947. A celebration sorrounding orphaned and abandoned children is a wonderful thing, Thomas said

"People from the public came and took those children on their shoulders and danced with them. Then they began to give them gifts and brought food items and fruits and all these things for them," Thomas said. 

The victory testifies to the team's hard work and also serves as a reminder that Hopegivers-sponsored orphans are getting the chance to be well-rounded and simply 'be kids'.

Despite the enormous amounts of difficulty faced during this last year because of his outreaches' faith-based approach, Dr. Thomas believes that this victory can go a long way to unite and bring communities together. "My dream is to rescue one million children and make them as stars, make them as ambassadors for God in various fields."