The Islamic Republic of Iran restricted all access to God’s Word. But despite great risk, Iranian believers are sharing the gospel on the street with unprecedented boldness. Two years after placing her faith in Jesus Christ, Fareena still hadn’t told a soul. Like most new Christians in Iran, she feared the backlash she would face if her family learned she had left Islam. Since doing so is illegal in the Muslim nation, new Christians are often imprisoned after going public with their faith. And many more are beaten for bringing shame to their Muslim family. Aware of these possibilities, Fareena decided to read her Bible only in secret. Then, one day she saw something that shocked her. “When I woke up and headed to the living room, my father was sitting on the floor reading a Bible thoughtfully,” she said. “I couldn’t believe my eyes.” Fareena returned to her room in a panic, thinking her father, Bilal, had discovered her Bible. After realizing the Bible he was reading was a different color, she asked him what he was doing. “I am reading an amazing book,” Bilal replied. “I found it in the mailbox today. It was wrapped in wrapping paper.”
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Shahrokh came to know Jesus Christ while struggling with drug addiction. After overcoming his addiction and placing his trust in Christ, the former Muslim began leading his own addiction-recovery group, walking participants through a 12-step program that acknowledges a higher power without mentioning God or Jesus. In Iran, where it is illegal to leave Islam, that’s the only way he can operate. Group leaders like Shahrokh know that if they are caught leading Muslims to Christ they can be charged with “acting against national security,” a common charge against Christians in Iran. So when an Iranian security official suddenly summoned Shahrokh to his office to discuss his work, Shahrokh had a good idea of what to expect. The security official knew Shahrokh had become a Christian and wanted to prevent him from sharing his faith with others. He tried to corner Shahrokh with his questions during the interrogation, but the Holy Spirit gave Shahrokh the right words to say. Surprised by His Boldness Acknowledging his role as a group leader in the city, Shahrokh told the official that he maintains regular contact with group members as they work to overcome their addiction. And he reminded the official that the group
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A young Christian woman is being pressured to leave the country. Her father, a pastor, is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence for leading a house church. The Iranian government views such Christian fellowships as “enemy groups” and as threats to national security. A front-line worker met with Narine, 20, in another country where she is safe for the time being. “She’s quite stressed and alone,” said the front-line worker.
Read MoreFront-line workers have reported that the risk of advancing the gospel in Iran has increased since the Twelve-Day War in June of 2025 – but so has the opportunity to advance it. “In the past, if Christians were arrested for distributing Bibles or Christian literature, they were typically charged with unauthorized possession and distribution and ‘actions against national security,'” said one front-line worker. “Now, they fear being charged with espionage, which carries an automatic death penalty.” Despite this pressure, Christians say there are new opportunities to share their faith.
Read MoreIranian pastors Nasser Navard Gol-Tapath, age 63, and Joseph Shahbazian, age 61, were rearrested in their homes on Feb. 6, 2025, and taken to Evin Prison. No reason for their arrests was given. Pastor Nasser immediately began a hunger strike in protest but suffered a debilitating stroke on March 17. While he reportedly has received some medical treatment, he remains behind bars. Pastor Nasser had previously served nearly 5 years in the same prison on a 10-year sentence on charges of “action against national security” for leading house churches.
Read MoreAuthorities sentenced a man involved in evangelism to 10 years in prison for his Christian activities. The government also confiscated his family’s possessions and revoked his wife’s right to work, even though she has their small children to care for. Her own family has also rejected her, but the global body of Christ is standing with her.
Read MoreNasser, a political prisoner in Iran, tried to commit suicide while imprisoned. A Christian inmate witnessed the attempt and prevented Nasser’s death. The Christian then shared the gospel with Nasser, and he came to faith in Christ. Nasser now meets with imprisoned Christians for times of secret prayer and worship. Another prisoner named Darius, a Muslim, reported a desire to know more about Christ after experiencing him in a dream.
Read MoreA popular film in Iran has sparked conversations about Christianity among Muslims in the country, and one woman’s life was changed. The movie is not a Christian film, but it portrays a Christian character who acts in a kind-hearted, forgiving way. A woman watched some of the film and decided to pray to Jesus, saying, “Jesus, if you are real, show yourself to me!” The next day, a Christian woman visited her shop and felt compelled to give her a magazine: “Please accept this magazine as a gift from God.”
Read MoreKolbars are Kurds who live mostly along the Iranian border with Iraq. For generations, they have carried items over high mountain passes between the two nations. Their name means “those who carry loads on their back.” It is extremely dangerous work – every year, kolbars are killed by freezing temperatures, from falling off precipitous heights or after being shot by Iranian border guards. Desperation and a lack of job opportunities drive many Iranian Kurds into the life-threatening career: “They are a neglected people group,” said a front-line worker.
Read MoreAn Iranian pastor who was released from prison in 2023, after serving many years for leading a house church, reported that God enabled him to work as an evangelist behind bars despite constant surveillance. He said that when he started his sentence, “I began to think that this was a dangerous place and that it would not be possible to witness to anyone.” But later he found ways to secretly witness to others and eventually led 13 prisoners to Christ. “During the recreation times, I would walk around in a spirit of friendship with these new believers and teach them how to grow in their faith and answer their questions,” he said.
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