Iran’s hope for change seems to be buried under the brutal suppression of the regime. The media’s fascination with the potential revolution’s icon, Neda has turned to a pop star icon and the people of Iran seem to be more isolated than ever.

The voices that demanded change will now have to answer for their “crimes” of protest. Some believe that Iran is a volcano that will remain dormant for a short time before erupting again. Others believe that life there will be more miserable than ever.

I have tried to contact my friends inside of Iran through Skype and my messages remain disturbingly unanswered. My conversation with Iranian friends locally has turned from giddiness to deep concern and a pessimistic resignation.

As Iran’s leaders blame the recent unrest on the forces of Europe and America, life will doubtlessly become more difficult for Iran’s citizens. The spotlight will glare on those already suspected of being agents for America—Iran’s Christians.

In the past year there has been a crackdown on Iran’s Christian community. Arrests have spiked in recent months and nearly every case has been treated as threats to national security. One house church pastor was jailed for several months while being falsely accused of spying for the American government. The pastor, along with hundreds of Christians have fled Iran fearing for their lives and safety.

One Iranian minister believes that the number of Iranian refugees will increase significantly in the days to come. He added, “I can’t blame them, because life will be so much worse for them and their families.”

Still, there will remain Christians in Iran, willing to give their reason for hope in hopeless days. They will be convenient scapegoats for the government and targets of persecution. Now more than ever they will need the prayers of the church worldwide.

Those prayers will sustain the believers during difficult times. One pastor living there once said, “We feel the prayers of the world. “ He compared it to Moses holding his arms up during the battle against the Amelekite army. Whenever Moses lowered his arms the Israelites would begin to lose the battle. Moses had Aaron and Hur support his arms. “Your prayers keep my arms up in my battle.”

The arms of Iran’s Christians are lowering, but your prayers will keep them lifted in spite of the powerful opposition. The voices of our brothers and sisters have been silenced; ours have not.

Two weeks ago, Iran’s citizens were full of hope; today they find themselves in chaos and turmoil… and possibly at a crossroads.

Eighty five percent of the voting population turned out to make a statement with their votes only to have their voice taken away under very suspicious circumstances. The apparent corruption of the election caused millions of Iranians of all classes to spill out into the streets to protest what they believed to be a rigged election.

Among the stories that were swirling in Iran is that Iran’s Minister of the Interior met with reformist candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi to congratulate him on being elected the new president. Hours later, the incumbent and controversial Mahmud Ahmadinejad was declared the winner with more than 60 percent of the vote.

The “final” count was done in a few hours. I have traveled in some of Iran’s hinterlands and literally had the bill for my meal figured on an abacus. It seems impossible that 40 million votes from the entire country could be tabulated in a few hours.

I spoke with a friend who has family and loved ones in Iran. He said that Christians there are already under pressure and if Ahmadinejad is allowed to remain president they will leave Iran in droves. He added that those believers who remain will be forced to go even further underground.

Many analysts feel that the mass protests are against Ahmadinejad and not against the Islamic regime. My Iranian friend, Reza* believes that this could be the tipping point that will lead to the fall of the government. He said to me, “The church in Iran needs to do more than just vote; they should be out in the streets with their neighbors. They need to show that they care about Iran.”

The church has played a key role in fighting against tyranny throughout history and perhaps it is time for Iran’s church to actively join the struggle. The Iranian church must balance itself between peace and combat. Being silent sends a message of unconcern while radicalism makes them a bigger enemy of the state. Reza said, “Iranian Christians already are the biggest enemy of the Iranian state.”

If this is indeed the death rattle of the regime, my friend believes that the church could play an invaluable role in Iran’s healing process. Reza says that the message of God’s forgiveness and love will be a desperately needed salve to a deeply wounded nation.

The Church worldwide can join their Iranian brothers and sisters by praying for them… now more than ever they need to know that they are not fighting the “good fight” by themselves.

Claims of fraudulent counting in last week’s national presidential elections have lead to violence in much of Iran. Reports of protests and violence are coming from all over the country.

Please pray for peace in Iran.

Please pray that justice and truth will reign.

Times Online Article

New York Times Article

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Tehran traffic is a place where you need to pay attention at all times. Cars weave in and out of their lanes without warning and motorcycles dart on and off the sidewalk. The pedestrians seem just as unconcerned about the rules of the road.

I unknowingly took my life in my hands when I distracted my friend with a question that provoked an unforeseen reaction. My question was, “Why do Iranians hate Americans so much?”
My friend unexpectedly slammed the car to a stop and looked at me incredulously, “How could you ask such an evil question?”

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The phrase “heroes of the faith” is thrown around a lot in churches in America. Too often that phrase is applied to people like me.

In America, we honor “Christian men of integrity” and place them on pedestals. In places like Iran “Christian men and women of integrity” are often treated like criminals. A few years ago I was in a bible study with six Europeans and Americans and six Iranians. I asked, “In your country does your life get better or worse when you become a follower of Christ?”

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1. Please pray for three Persian families living in a city in central Turkey. All these families are refugees who have fled their country because of their religious beliefs. They live in a city of approximately 100,000 people and are the only believers that they know of. They have little to no fellowship with other believers, as their town is in a remote location and others do not travel there often. Praise God that workers were recently able to visit with these three families, encourage them and leave several Bibles in Farsi (the Persian language) with them. Before this visit, the families had one Farsi New Testament to share between them. Pray that God would protect them and that they would know that they are never alone with Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

2. Please pray for F and her family who are Persians living in Turkey. F is very active in helping others and sacrificially gives her time to help prepare food for other refugees who need help. Praise God for her giving heart and for the testimony others see in her giving. Pray that she and her family will be strengthened and grow closer to God.

3. This year, several volunteer teams will be coming to help workers in Turkey. Please begin praying for a group that is planning to come during No Ruz (”no – rooz”) – the Iranian new year, which will be in March this year. They will be coming to prayer walk, meet and fellowship with Persians in Turkey. Pray for this group as they make preparations to come. Also pray that God will work in their lives and in the lives of the people they come in contact with.

1. Pastors in Iran are undertaking huge daily risks.  Recently a pastor told us that every morning when he and his wife wake up, they say “Thank you, God, that we were not taken by the authorities during the night.  Help us to make the most of these precious 24 hours and plant your church TODAY!”  Police usually come at 4am so each morning that pastors wake up safely they know they have 24 more hours to labor.  Ask God to work through them and pray that we all will have this sense of urgency.

2. Formerly known as Persia, Iran is home to one of the world’s oldest civilizations.  Persian history is found in the pages of the Old Testament.  Spend some time reading in Esther and Daniel.  Ask God to continue to work mightily in Iran today as He did in their days. 

3. Please ask God to save F and S.  We recently had good conversations with them.  We were encouraged when we heard that they continue to be reminded of Bible verses we’ve shared in the past.  God promises that His word will not return empty.  Ask Him to lead F and S to read the New Testament and realize their need for salvation through faith in Christ alone.  

1. Pray for an important discipleship conference for new believers.  Ask the Lord to use this time to strengthen their faith and to build relationships with other believers.  Ask Him to grant safe passage to and from this event. 

2. Pray for a new shipment of media tools that are being distributed to unbelievers.  Ask God to use these media tools to bring salvation to those who hear the message.  Ask the Lord to keep those persons who make these deliveries safe.  

3. We are in need of a mediator who can provide help moving materials into a closed country.  Please ask God to make that person obvious to our team.  Please ask the Lord to grant protection for the person he calls to this task.

1. Satan has a plan:  Convince the Persians in Iran that to be Persian is to be Muslim. Convince missionaries that the Father cannot work His plan through them. Convince missionaries that success depends on their skill and strength. Convince you that your prayers are not crucial to advancing the Kingdom. Jesus said that when Satan lies, “he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (Jn 8:44 NIV) Let’s not listen to him but remember that “There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord.” (Prov. 21:30 NIV) Satan’s lies are still being believed but his plans will not succeed. Pray that, in our day, our Father’s will prevails in the hearts of Persians.

2. Pray God will give us more opportunities to share with our lost friends:  “Frank” and “Shelly”, “Allen” and his family, “Mark”, “Mary” and “Peter”. 

1. Four hundred J-Films were safely delivered into two key cities this summer.  Thank the Lord for allowing these films to be distributed without difficulty from the local authorities.  Your faithful prayers have been answered as we now have people responding to the Good News in two strategic cities.  In an otherwise unreached strategic city, a person has stepped forward to begin sharing the Good News and to help new believers in that area.

 2. Please pray for a new believer from the Iranian Arabs.  Pray that God protect this person from falling away from the faith in the midst of increased persecution.