WHAT GOD IS DOING IN IRAN PART 2

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Despite heavy surveillance, imprisonment, and harassment, the Iranian church continues to grow through decentralized, relational, and spiritually resilient models of discipleship. Here’s how they do it:

1. House–Based Networks, Not Hierarchies

  • The church operates as a web of small, autonomous groups, often in homes or workplaces.
  • Each group typically consists of 3–10 believers, with no central structure that can be easily infiltrated or shut down.
  • Leadership is shared, emphasizing mentoring and multiplication rather than formal titles or institutions.
  • This mirrors the early church model in Acts, where communities met quietly but multiplied rapidly.

2. Discipleship through Relationship

  • Discipleship happens through one-on-one mentorship, family-like trust, and personal accountability.
  • Older believers help newer converts learn Scripture, prayer, and how to share their faith — often memorizing key passages since printed or digital Bibles can be confiscated.
  • Deep brotherhood and vulnerability take the place of formal church programs.

As one underground leader put it, “We are not building churches; we are making disciples who make disciples.”

3. Use of Secure Technology

  • Encrypted apps (like Signal or Telegram) are used for Bible studies, prayer meetings, and training sessions.
  • Satellite TV and radio broadcasts (especially from ministries like SAT-7 Pars, Heart4Iran, and Mohabat TV https://mohabat.tv/) serve as lifelines for teaching and worship.
  • Believers also use VPNs to access online discipleship courses provided by Iranian ministries abroad.
  • Small USB drives or SD cards often circulate preloaded with worship songs, teaching videos, and the Farsi Bible.

4. Training for Persecution

  • Discipleship includes preparing new believers to suffer, not escape hardship.
  • Converts learn how to respond to interrogation, care for imprisoned members’ families, and forgive oppressors.
  • There’s a conscious focus on character over comfort — seeing persecution as participation in Christ’s sufferings (Philippians 3:10).

5. Women as Key Discipleship Leaders

  • Studies (including from organizations like Open Doors and GCM Ministries) show many small groups are led by women — a striking contrast to the surrounding culture.
  • Women often pioneer new communities, especially among families and neighbors, discipling others quietly but effectively.

6. Global and Diaspora Support

  • Iranian Christians outside Iran (in Türkiye, Europe, or the U.S.) maintain secure training pipelines — online Bible schools, mentoring networks, print distribution, and humanitarian aid.
  • These diaspora partners supply spiritual and emotional support, while Iranians inside the country lead the movement themselves.

7. The Spiritual Core

At bottom, what sustains them isn’t technology or organization — it’s their deep personal faith and daily reliance on the Holy Spirit.

  • They focus on hearing God, obeying immediately, and passing on what they’ve learned.
  • This “discipleship through obedience” approach allows even young believers to become disciplers within months.

In short:
The underground church in Iran thrives not by avoiding risk but by spreading resilience — through shared life, simple obedience, and multiplying disciples faster than authorities can identify them.

https://mohabat.tv/

Next what a typical journey looks like for a Iranian Christian convert.

WHAT IS GOD DOING IN IRAN?

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CBN can now reveal that, for more than 20 years, CBN has been sharing the Gospel with the people of Iran by satellite TV broadcasts, webcasts, and phone centres through a ministry called Heart4Iran.

Edwin Abnous, executive director of Heart4Iran, joined The 700 Club broadcast on Monday to talk about the ministry and what he has been hearing from people inside Iran, both during the protests and crackdown, and now with the strike against the ayatollah and Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps.

For decades, Christians in Iran have faced persecution and prison, even death. Edwin was born in Iran but left the country in 1999 due to persecution he encountered as a result of his faith and missionary activities, including Bible distribution.

The prophecy about Elam (Iran) in Jeremiah 49:34–39 is fairly unique. It foretells both judgment (the sword, dispersion, destruction of leadership) and restoration “in the latter days.” This is one of the few places where Elam specifically receives that kind of dual prophecy.

“I will send the sword after them, until I have consumed them, and I will set my throne in Elam and destroy their king and officials, declares the Lord. But in the latter days I will restore the fortunes of Elam, declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 49-37-39

Jeremiah 49’s prophecy about Elam is singular in its detail, but Isaiah 11:11 and Acts 2:9 provide the most meaningful biblical connections suggesting that the “restoration” might be spiritual — fulfilled through the spread of the Gospel — rather than political or ethnic.

  • Christianity has grown rapidly in Iran over the past two decades — one of the fastest growth rates in the world, despite official restrictions and persecution.
  • Many Iranian converts—both inside Iran and in the diaspora—personally testify that their first awareness of Jesus came through a dream or vision.

This is the first of several post I will do on Iran. It is the centre of end times events at the moment so is worthy of our attention.

WHY IRANIAN MUSLIMS ARE TURNING TO JESUS

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What would it look like for revival to break out in the most restrictive places in the world? In this episode, Sean McDowell talks with Iranian, Dr. Hormoz Shariat, a PhD in computer engineering, author of Iran’s Great Awakening, and considered by many who know him and his ministry as the “Billy Graham of Iran.” Dr. Hormoz shares how he was born into Islam, lived through the Iranian Revolution, and still wrestled with questions of truth, injustice, and spiritual hunger until Christ radically changed his life. He talks about the incredible outreach to Muslims in Iran (and beyond) and why he believes Iran will someday become a “Christian nation.”

Dr Shariat loves his Iranian brothers and sisters and he committed to taking the gospel to them. He was not sure why he asked, but he asked God to give him one million Iran Muslim souls. God heard that prayer and he is well on his way to achieving it. For more go to http://www.iranalive.org.

EX-SHIA MUSLIM REVEALS MANY LEAVING ISLAM IN IRAN

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Mati Shoshani meets with Ramin Parsa who grew up in Iran as a devout Shiite Muslim, taught to hate Israel and America—but his life took a miraculous turn. After finding faith in Jesus (Yeshua), everything changed. Now living in Israel, he shares his love for the Jewish people and his hope for a free Iran. What’s happening inside Iran today? Millions are leaving Islam, churches are growing underground, and a revolution is brewing. Can Iran and Israel become allies again? A powerful conversation about faith, history, and the future of the Middle East.

Stay up-to-date with the latest developments on Trinity Broadcast Network (TBN) Israel. Israel is rebuilding, and you can be part of it! After devastating wildfires destroyed over 57,000 acres of forests, it is time to restore the land. Join us as we share how you can help plant new life and bring hope back to Israel. Be part of this powerful renewal!

PERSECUTION GROWS GOD’S CHURCH

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A new study has revealed that Christianity is continuing to spread across the globe despite believers facing extreme persecution for their faith.

The 2023 “Persecutors of the Year” report by the anti-persecution charity International Christian Concern (ICC) details the various groups, organisations, and locations posing a significant threat to Christians worldwide.

The advocacy group claims some 200-300 million believers currently experience persecution for their faith, including torture, imprisonment, and murder. Writing in the document’s forward, ICC President Jeff King says he’s inspired by the courage and strength of Christians who appear to be “thriving” in their faith, amid “unimaginable pain.”

China, Iran, and Nigeria are highlighted as key countries where the Church appears to be expanding despite fierce opposition.

NIGERIA: The ICC argues Nigeria is one of the most dangerous places to be Christian today. Believers are kidnapped, tortured, and killed every week by Boko Haram, Fulani militants and other Muslim extremist groups while churches and Christian institutions are destroyed and burned to the ground. “Boko Haram and Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) have killed tens of thousands of Christians and displaced millions to discard Western influence and impose strict Islamic Sharia law,” it reads. Yet, the approximately 100 million Christian population is steadily growing in the region.

IRAN: The report claims that the Islamic Republic of Iran has “one of the fastest-growing churches in the world.” While 99% of the population is Muslim and Christians there are harshly penalised for practicing their faith, ICC reports show a Christian population that has rapidly grown to around 500,000 – 800,000. Iranian Christians face persecution in the form of raids, arrests, fines, detention, torture, and death penalties for practicing their faith.

CHINA: China reportedly has between 70-100 million “underground Christians”. This is despite the communist country “aggressively suppressing free religious expression” which is seen as a threat to national security. House churches face persecution and harassment by the authorities, as they are often unregistered and not sanctioned by the government. Some are denied registration while others choose not to be state-run due to the heavy surveillance and restrictions that are applied.

In highlighting the extent of suffering Christians encounter across the world, ICC says the “resilience of the body of Christ” is also revealed.

We cannot say that Jesus did not warn us of the persecution/tribulation that Christians will face in the last days before His second coming. It will be a church refined by fire that will be raptured to heaven prior to God pouring out His wrath upon an unrepentant world with the Trumpet and Bowl judgments.

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” Matthew 24:9-13