1. In May you prayed for a meeting of Iranians, including some Kurds that was to take place in a nearby country. Of the 50 Iranians invited, 39 actually were able to attend the meeting in June! The week of training went very well. There was a lot of praise, worship, prayer, and fellowship in addition to some good, solid teaching. This week strengthened these believers and their churches in Iran. Thank you for praying for this event. Pray that the teaching and training these believers received can be shared widely with others in Iran for the advancement of the Kingdom.

2. Please pray for “Steve,” a Kurd from the western Iranian city of “K”. Recently, “Steve” was taken by the secret police of his country for his evangelistic efforts for the Gospel. The authorities have charged him with “crimes” against his country and against the dominant religion of his country. He has been beaten severely and is suffering greatly from this bad treatment. No one else in his family is a believer. Thus far he has not been allowed visitors although he has been able to speak a few times on the phone. Pray that “Steve” would be encouraged by the prayers of many brothers and sisters in Christ. Pray that those “Steve” has evangelized and is discipling would grow stronger in their faith during this time of suffering. Pray that the church among the Kurds of Iran would grow as a result of this situation.

1. Please remember “Kevin” and “Renae”, two Sorani-speaking Kurd believers from the western Iranian city of “”S”. This young married couple is very much alone in the city now, with little to no fellowship and having great financial difficulties. Several months ago they returned to their home city of “S” so that they could do church planting work. Since their arrival they have had great difficulty obtaining consistent work which can provide for their economic needs, mostly because of their faith as Christians. They are now trying to determine whether or not they should remain in Iran, or leave their home country looking for work and better opportunities. They do not want to do this but they feel as if they may have no other choice right now. Please pray that they will be open to God’s encouragement during this difficult period in their lives. Pray that God will provide for their financial needs, perhaps by leading them to the right job that will enable them to remain in Iran and continue their ministry. Finally, pray that Kevin and Renae will be able to find some fellowship and encouragement from the few other believers in their city.

2. Please continue praying for M, the Sorani-speaking Kurdish man from a key western city in Iran. As you may recall M was thrown in jail a few months ago because of his faith and his Christian activities in his city. The latest word is that he should be released sometime soon. Until his release please continue praying for his small group of Kurdish believers, that they would stay strong. Please pray for his family that their needs would be met and that they would be encouraged. Pray also that his time of imprisonment would result in the salvation of many Kurds in his area. Pray that this experience will result in the growth of the Kurdish church in Iran.

1. Please pray for the development of a series of children’s discipleship programs that can be broadcast over TV into the areas where Sorani Kurdish speakers live. The programs are all written, directed, and produced by local national believers. The proposed series will consist of 121 15-minute episodes complete with great music, puppets, and painting, all with a solid focus on teaching discipleship basics to children. At the current time, two pilot demo videos have been produced. Pray for field personnel as they seek to share these demos with Sorani Kurds to obtain feedback on them. Pray also for field workers as they seek to share these demos with international satellite broadcasters in hopes that they would pick them up and broadcast them. Finally, pray for the resources to develop all 121 episodes, if it is in fact the Lord’s will for them to be shown.

1. Please pray for M, a Sorani-speaking Kurdish man from a key western city in Iran.  He is a leader of a small group of Kurdish believers in the area.  M is also involved in getting the word of God into the hands of believers and hungry seekers.  Recently, M was thrown in jail for his faith.  His wife has been able to visit him. He seems to be doing well so far.  The authorities are telling him he may be in jail for as long as six months.  They also tell him that if he will discontinue his Christian activities and also expose other believers in his area, his time in jail will be reduced. Please pray for M to remain faithful and strong during his time in jail.  Pray that he would experience the peace of God in a new way.  Please also pray for M’s family and the other believers in his group.  Often during times of persecution God will raise up new leaders, and strengthen the faith of others.  Pray that this would happen during M’s imprisonment. Pray that this experience will result in the growth of the Kurdish church in Iran.

2. For several years there has been an adequate translation of the New Testament in the Sorani Kurdish language.  However, there has never been a Sorani full Bible translation.  Please pray for those currently involved in this translation project.  These workers have labored on this translation for many years now.  There are various hold ups and delays which are causing many to grow discouraged with the project.  Please pray that a deep sense of unity will come over all involved in this project, and that all involved will press on to finish the translation.  Access to the whole Bible is so vital to the complete and effective training of Sorani believers and leaders.  It is essential for the long-term growth and development of the Sorani-speaking church.  Pray that many Sorani Kurds will come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ as a result of this Sorani full Bible.

1. Early in June, there will be an important training meeting for about 50 Iranians, many of whom will be Kurds.  This training will take place in a country near Iran.  It will be a week of praise, worship, prayer, fellowship, and some good solid teaching.  Pray that all those coming would arrive safely and that all would go well during the week.  Pray for the teachers and other event organizers.  Pray that this event would lead to the advancement of the Gospel among the peoples of Iran, including the millions of Kurds in Iran that have never heard the name of Jesus before.

 2. Pray for two new believers. “Mike” is a Sorani-speaking Kurd from the city of “M” in Iranian Kurdistan who was baptized in March.  He is only the second believer we know of from his city of several hundred thousand.  Pray that he can meet with “Kevin”, the other believer, for fellowship and encouragement. Pray that they will be able to share Christ with others in their city.  Pray also for “Jim” from the city of “N” in Iranian Kurdistan.  He was also baptized in March along with Mike.  He is the only known believer in his city.  Jim drives a taxi to make a living. Pray that he will meet other believers and that he will be bold to share his faith as he drives his taxi.

 3. Pray for “Joseph”, a Sorani-speaking Kurd from the city of “D” in Iranian Kurdistan, who is genuinely seeking the Lord.  During a recent conversation with Joseph, he asked how a person knows when he is a true follower of Jesus.  He sees that the majority religion in his area is not true. Because of this, he is seeking the Truth.  Pray that Joseph will see that Jesus is the only Truth.  There are a few other believers in the city of D where Joseph lives.  Pray that he will seek fellowship and encouragement together with them.  Pray that God will save Joseph.

1. Please continue praying for two Iranian Sorani-speaking Kurds, “Kevin” and “Renee.”  Kevin and Renee are newly married and have only been believers for a short period of time.  Nonetheless, they are growing strong in their faith.  Both Kevin and Renee are Kurds from the western Iranian province of Kordestan (which means Kurdistan). However, they have not lived there for some time.  Kevin and Renee want to return to their home province, where there are only a few believers and house groups out of several million people, to do evangelism and church-planting work.  Please pray for them as they step out in faith in this ministry.  Pray that God will provide for their needs, and give them trusted partners in the work.  Pray that God will save many Sorani Kurds in the province of Kordestan in Iran.

2. Please pray for two Iranian Kurd university students, “Joseph” and “Hannah.”  Joseph and Hannah are both from the western Iranian province of Kermanshah, but current study in a nearby country where Christian workers live.  These Christian workers have been able to develop strong disciplemaking relationships with Joseph and Hannah, and have shared Christ with them. Neither one has come to faith in Jesus yet, however, they have now heard the truth of the Gospel. Hannah is returning to Iran to continue her studies there. Joseph also completes his studies soon and will return home. Pray for them as they plan on getting married this summer. Pray for the Christian workers as they continue to share Christ with them.  Pray that God will save Joseph and Hannah.  Pray for these workers as they try to attend the wedding in Iran later this year.  

1. Please continue your prayers for the establishment and development of a training center for Iranian believers, especially the Sorani-speaking (sor-AHN-ee) Kurds of Iran.  A property has been purchased with a small building on it.  Work is now underway to completely repair and remodel this facility.  We have plans to have a small recording studio at the center to record music and teaching in the heart language of the Iranian peoples, especially in the Sorani Kurdish language.  The facility will also be used as a printing, storage, and distribution hub for Farsi and Kurdish scriptures and other materials.  Finally, it will be used regularly for training sessions for Iranian believers since this work cannot be done easily inside Iran at this time.

2. Pray for the strategically important cities of Tabriz and Urumieh in the Northwest Iran.  These two cities are the largest cities in an area of Iran where perhaps fifty percent of the local population are Kurdish.  More than one million Kurds live in this area where there are few known believers or churches.  There is little to no gospel witness in these cities.  Pray that God will raise up believers in these places, and that they will serve as gateways into the more unreached rural areas of Iranian Kurdistan.  We believe that God is on the move and doing some amazing things there to save people.  Pray that field workers will be sensitive to all that God is doing so they can be ready to respond accordingly.  

3. Please pray for three new “groups” of believers in Iranian Kurdistan among the Sorani-speaking (sor-AHN-ee) Kurds.  After the first believer’s conversion and baptism, he gathered together six others. Now there are over 20 believers! The beginning is small but holds hope for the future. These groups are being discipled primarily by Bible storying.  Pray for field workers as they try to provide sets of 60 Bible stories on CD for every language group living in the Zagros mountain area, beginning with the Kurds, then moving on to other people groups in the area.  We hope to complete the Kurdish story sets in the next six months. 

Please pray for the following requests from friends who are working with Kurdish people of Iran:

1. Please pray for a Great Commission Christian partner “R” who is doing some strategic disciple-making with several Sorani-speaking Kurds from Iran.  He is currently teaching them the Bible Storying method of evangelism and discipleship.  Pray for “R” as he works with these Kurdish believers that they will grow in their faith and be better equipped to lead their own house groups in Iran. 

2. Pray for Great Commission Christian partner, “D”, as she starts a coaching and sports ministry among Sorani-speaking Kurdish women.  Pray for “D” as she seeks to develop strategic relationships among these women for the Kingdom.  Pray that she will be able to effectively order her time as she has many good opportunities before her. 

3. Pray for the strategically important cities of Kermanshah, Sanandaj, and Mariwan in Iranian Kurdistan.  Kermanshah and Sanandaj are both cities with more than one million people living in them.  There is little to no gospel witness in these cities.  Pray that God will raise up believers in these places, and that they will serve as gateways into the more unreached rural areas of Iranian Kurdistan.  Pray also for the smaller city of Mariwan.  This city is a cultural center for Iranian Kurds. We believe that God is on the move and doing some amazing things there to save people.  Pray that field workers will be sensitive to all that God is doing so we can be ready to respond accordingly.