Category: Iran

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Revival Reports, 2025

by Geoff 14 May 2025 2 Comments

Revival Reports, 2025

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Revival Reports 2025 – https://renewaljournal.com/2025/05/14/revival-reports-2025/
SEE ALSO:
North America – Current Revival in America’s Largest University – 2018
North America – American Revival Reports – 2023
North America – Fresh Outpouring at Asbury University – 2023
North America – A year of revival on college campuses – 2023
North America & Europe – Revivals in 2024
North America – Revival continues in Kentucky – 2025
North America – Largest baptism events in US history – May 2025
North America & Global – Revival Reports 2025
England – 2 million Brits are trying church again – 2025

Renewal Journal – a chronicle of renewal and revival: www.renewaljournal.com

 

Reports from England & Europe

Something wonderful seems to be stirring…

📷 Snapshot #1: Friday
In Hackney, East London hundreds of young people from three local churches stay up all night to pray and seek God. Al Gordon writes “I’ve never seen anything like it. There’s a remarkable sense of consecrating love setting apart the young, calling them to holiness.”
📷 Snapshot #2: Saturday
In Trafalgar Square thousands gather to hear the gospel. Many healed and saved. Evangelist Daniel Chand sums it up in one word: “Historic”.
📷 Snapshot #3: Sunday
St Aldates, Oxford where George Whitfield gave his life to Christ, is overflowing. So many young people give their lives to Christ they lose count. Steven Foster says: “It broke our systems. From the start of the service it felt like literally anything could happen and probably would. It was mostly Gen Z responding but also prison leavers and people in recovery.”
Jesus tells us to be alert to the signs of the times, but then again we need hope not hype.
And so, after 25 years of 24-7 Prayer, contending non-stop for the tide to turn, refusing to believe for anything less than revival, I am hesitant even to type these words: something seems to be shifting at last. Just when it felt like failure. When in our darkest moment we found ourselves wondering if it had all been a waste of time.
I dare to believe because this last weekend is just the latest iteration of something bigger that seems to be happening. Over Easter
– many churches reported bumper attendances.
– 12000 were baptised in France one of the most secular nations on earth
– 419 were baptised by our friends at New Life Church in Colorado Springs.
– 469 gave their lives to Christ at Audacious church in Manchester
– 116 got saved at Soul Church in Norwich
And meanwhile – beyond events, programmes, conferences and successful services – the long-term societal markers also seem to be shifting.
– Public intellectuals from Tom Holland to Jordan Peterson to Ayaan Hirsi Ali are arguing for faith in God.
– Influencers with millions of followers are professing faith – some even getting baptised.
– Columns in the Wall Street Journal and the London Times are reporting a return to religion amongst the young. The Spectator even using the (over-excited) headline ‘Revival’.
– More than 7000 school classrooms have now been turned into prayer rooms thanks to Prayer Spaces in Schools
– 25% of Australians are saying they’d accept an invitation to church and 70% that they talk to the God they’re no longer supposed to believe in!
Now if you’re reading this and thinking ‘it doesn’t feel like that where I live,’ all I can say is this:
Firstly, let’s pray! It doesn’t matter how small the spark, if you pour petrol on it you can start a fire. Pray on your own. Pray with others. Set up a 24-7 Prayer Room.
Secondly, let’s be confident in sharing our faith. There are clear signs of a growing spiritual hunger in the land – people are more open than they were to the Lord. These things always begin in certain hotspots before they spread out.
Thirdly, let’s invest in young people. The turning is most marked among Gen Z. Let’s not miss this moment of opportunity.
(2024 report)

Europe

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Revival stirs in UK

May be an image of 4 people and text that says "CP) UK Churches Experience Surge in New Commitments to Christ Since the Pandemic"
The Christian Post  May 2025
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New research reveals that twice as many people in the UK are committing to follow Christ compared to five years ago. Both large and small churches are seeing spiritual growth, with a notable rise in young people exploring faith. Despite changing attendance patterns, churches are adapting and confidently sharing hope, fueling a quiet revival across the nation.

UK churches see twice as many people commit to following Christ since pandemic: research

By Christian Daily International , 

Churches are seeing twice as many people committing to following Jesus Christ compared to five years ago, according to the latest research report titled “Changing Church” published by the Evangelical Alliance in the United Kingdom.

The findings reinforce related research disclosed recently in “The Quiet Revival” Report by the Bible Society showing an increase in young men becoming Christians.

Danny Webster, director of advocacy for the U.K. Evangelical Alliance, commented in a news update that “more people are approaching churches and exploring the Christian faith — and in this area smaller churches are seeing salvation at a comparable rate to large churches.”

“What I’m seeing as I travel around the country are churches that are adapting well to the landscape, serving their communities wholeheartedly and growing numerically as they confidently share the hope of Jesus with those around them.

“There’s an openness to the Christian faith, especially among young people, which is reflected in our new Changing Church report. The next few years may well be even more dramatic in this time of spiritual openness.”

The data showed that average church attendance has been upsurging by 13% since January 2020, which is still considered an “underestimate of what’s happening across the U.K.” by Webster.

Larger churches have grown at the same time as smaller churches shrunk, he said, meaning that “the overall attendance change across all the churches surveyed was 22%, with larger churches seeing significant growth disproportionately contributing to that number.”

Churches with 47 or fewer members dipped by 15%, but a quarter of churches with more than 165 members grew by 21%.

The Evangelical Alliance had anticipated a decline in weekly church attendance, a trend now confirmed by data showing a drop from 90% in 2020 to 78% in 2025. However, most respondents who no longer attend weekly still participate in church gatherings about three times per month.

“The changes to church life we are witnessing are not evenly distributed, and beyond the findings of this research more is needed to understand how different denominations are faring, how churches in different parts of the country are growing or declining,” wrote Webster.

“What is clear is that in the UK people are coming to know Jesus as His good news is confidently shared. It is an encouragement for us to continue to follow Him, and help others come to know Him.”

See the full report here.

This article was originally published by Christian Daily International. 

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Two thousand Iranians turning to Jesus every day

By Charles Gardner —
underground church Iran

The Bible Society, which operates around the globe, reports that more than 2,000 Iranians are turning to Jesus every single day! One 92-year-old believer, whenever she’s on a bus, pulls out a small book and asks her neighbor to help her read the tiny font.

In fact, she is secretly getting strangers to read the gospels. Every time she does it, the person sitting next to her ends up taking a New Testament home.

This is brave work in a land where leaving Islam is potentially punishable by death. But the Iranian revival is good news for Israel – and the Jews! For these dear people have been taught by their government and mullahs that Israel is their archenemy.

But now that they have opened their lives to Jesus, the Jewish Messiah, they find they are also growing to love the Jewish people, longing and praying for a restoration of the peace that the two nations once enjoyed.

This is profoundly good news for those who have eyes to see the bigger picture. For the strict Islamic state of Iran, whose rulers want to wipe out the Jewish people just as Hitler did and who are chief sponsors of monstrous terrorist groups like Hamas, is now the focus of a Christian revival where some two million people have discovered that Jesus, the Jew, is the Savior of the world.

As the mosques shut down in great numbers, passionate Christians are filling the vacuum, though of necessity staying ‘underground’ for now, out of sight of the religious police.

The Islamic foundations are crumbling for the chief sponsors of terrorism, a fact graphically prophesied by the psalmist thousands of years ago when he wrote of them: “Come,” they say, “let us destroy them as a nation, so that Israel’s name is remembered no more. With one mind they plot together, forming an alliance against you.” (Psalm 83:4f)

Among the enemies named are ‘Ishmaelites’ and people from Philistia (Gaza) and Tyre (Lebanon), with Assyria (covering parts of Iran, Iraq, Syria and Turkey) joining them. Does this ring any bells?

Yet the psalmist (Asaph) is not vindictive. He calls on the Lord to bring shame on them so that they will know “that you alone are the Most High over all the earth”. And we are hearing that many in the Muslim/Arab world, even in the strictest of regimes, are indeed discovering the truth of Yeshua.

In the UK too, where Jews feel increasingly threatened and pro-Palestinian marchers are allowed to call for Israel’s demise on the streets of our cities, there is a revival of Christianity, which gives us hope.

After conducting a thorough survey, the Bible Society reports a remarkable fourfold increase in young men aged 18-24 attending church over the last six years.

Amid rumors that Donald Trump is about to announce recognition of a Palestinian State (albeit without Hamas), here in the UK we are hearing reports of a recruiting campaign for Islam within the National Health Service. And even Conservative MPs and peers are making previously unheard-of calls for recognition of ‘Palestine’.

A British TV program has just been rightly lauded for exposing a shocking miscarriage of justice against a host of sub-postmasters wrongly convicted of theft, false accounting and fraud when in fact it was due to a faulty computer system.

But I also believe the monumental miscarriage of justice of modern times has been the grossly misleading narrative – through media, parliament and elsewhere – of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Restored to their ancient land through internationally recognized treaties, not to mention God’s law – their ultimate title deed – they are constantly subjected to a host of lies and propaganda accusing them of stealing what is their own property.

It’s important that we see the big picture of the unfolding spiritual warfare taking place. When Jesus sent out the 72 disciples to spread the gospel (as recorded in Luke 10:19,21), he told them he had given them authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy.

And he was full of joy through the Holy Spirit because God had hidden these things from the wise and learned and revealed them to babes.

It is not the proud and arrogant who will inherit the earth, but the meek and humble. And the latter will also be granted a clear-sighted vision of what is really happening amidst the turmoil of these terrible times which are surely preparing the way for our Lord Yeshua’s return.

As the darkness deepens around the world, especially in the Middle East, the light of Christ is shining ever brighter. It must be tempting for Israelis to feel greatly perplexed.

The psalmist assures us: “Do not fret because of those who are evil… for like the grass they will wither… A little while, and the wicked will be no more… but the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity.” (Psalm 37:1f, 10f)

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Afghanistan: Audio and simple acts of courage

In a bustling Afghan marketplace, a rug vendor was handed a small mp3 player filled with Scripture and devotions in his own language. As he listened to the message of Jesus, tears streamed down his face. Having lost friends and family for questioning Islamic teaching, he now found unexpected hope.

That rug vendor wasn’t just a merchant – he was a tribal chief. He immediately requested a player for each family member. A simple act of evangelism became the start of gospel witness to an entire tribe.
This is just one story from a growing underground movement. Over the past two years, more than 3,000 audio Scripture devices have been distributed across Afghanistan through a partnership between FMI and Keys 4 Kids Ministries.

“Afghanistan is a battleground for extremist ideologies,” says FMI leader Nehemiah. “But in the midst of fear and darkness, the gospel cannot be silenced.”

Despite Taliban control and ongoing threats from jihadist groups, Afghans are responding to the Word. Nehemiah calls believers worldwide to pray – for new listeners, for new believers, and even for the militants themselves. “God is moving in powerful ways,” he says. “Even here.”

Source: FMI, Keys 4 Kids Ministries

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America

California May 3, 2025 – 7,750 baptized

May be an image of text that says "CP) CP) History Made: Over 7, 750 Baptized in Huntington Beach's Record- Record-Breaking Day of Faith"
On May 3, more than 7,750 people from all walks of life were baptized in the Pacific Ocean at Huntington Beach, California, marking the largest single-day baptism in U.S. history. Hosted by Oceans Church and Pastor Mark Francey, the “Baptize California” event united over 300 churches and drew 30,000 attendees for a powerful day of worship, public faith declarations, and spiritual renewal. This historic moment is just the beginning-organizers are now inviting churches nationwide to join “Baptize America” on June 8, aiming for the largest synchronized baptism ever and a wave of revival across the country. If God can do it in California, He can do it anywhere!
A crowd that gathered at Huntington Beach for the ‘Baptize California’ event on May 18 and 19, 2024. (Baptize California/Facebook)

A total of 12,000 people were recently baptized over two days in California in what is being called the nation’s largest baptism event to date.

“You can smell another Great Awakening in the air like rain before it hits,” Pastor Mark Francey, founder of the event, shared in an interview with CBN. “God lit a match yesterday! If God can do this in the church in California, it can — and it will — happen in the rest of America!”

The event was called ‘Baptize California’ and was held on May 18 and 19. The biggest service happened at Huntington Beach where 6,000 people were baptized, many in the ocean.

 

Across the state, a host of other churches also participated and collectively baptized an additional 6,000 people.

Reports from America

The Return to Religion is a Turn to Jesus

According to Barna’s latest data, two-thirds of all U.S. adults say, “they have made a personal commitment to Jesus that is still important in their life today,” marking a 12-point increase since 2021, a clear indication of “meaningful spiritual renewal in the United States.”

Two significant indicators show how this trend is playing out in the lives of these younger adults, and both are at the heart of exactly how people are seeking answers in religion in general, and Christianity in particular.

Increase in Bible reading

The first is an increase in Bible reading. “For the first time since 2021, we’re seeing an increase in both Bible use and scripture engagement, particularly among younger adults and in men,” says John Plake, the Chief Innovation Officer for American Bible Society. “People are curious about the Bible and Jesus.” As you might expect, this curiosity in Bible reading is leading to a tangible trend: Bible sales. According to data collected by BookScan, sales of Bibles rose 22% last year, a startling statistic considering that most other categories of book sales were flat. And just who is driving this dramatic increase in Bible sales and reading?  Gen Z.

Spiritual longing

The other indicator isn’t as measurable as Bible sales, but it is perhaps even more dramatic. Younger adults are looking for meaning and hope in something that transcends their everyday lives, something Lauren Jackson calls “spiritual longing.”

And just where do people go when confronted with this longing? Jackson says: “I want a god.” This desire for a god follows decades of loneliness, anxiety and growing dissatisfaction amid rising secularization. The rise of the “nones” — those who claim to have no religious affiliation — has made headlines for a long time now, while those who found meaning in religion shrank in numbers and influence. At least it seemed that way, as belief in God was overshadowed by the so-called “New Atheists,” epitomized by Richard Dawkins in his 2008 book, The God Delusion. “America’s secularization,” writes Lauren Jackson in a New York Times op-ed piece, “was an immense social transformation.” By 2021, nearly a third of Americans identified as “nones.” But this shift didn’t lead to more satisfying lives. Quite the opposite. Research shows that those who are less religious “rank lower on key metrics of well-being” than those who have some kind of belief. “They feel less connected to others, less spiritually at peace and they experience less awe and gratitude regularly,” writes Jackson.

Especially among Gen Z — those born between 1997 and 2012 — the rates of loneliness and anxiety have skyrocketed. As Jonathan Haidt concludes in The Anxious Generation, social media bears much of the blame for this “epidemic of mental Illness.” Although Haidt is a self-described atheist, he uses spiritual terms to describe both the impact of and the solution for this destructive trend. “The phone-based life produces spiritual degradation,” he writes, “not just in adolescents, but in all of us.” And what does he suggest anxious and lonely people do to reverse this trend and improve well-being? Engage in “certain spiritual practices.” And more people are engaging in spiritual practice — and becoming genuinely curious about Jesus.

Return to Jesus

One of the places people are apparently looking to satisfy this longing is the multi-season television series called The Chosen. In fact, one-third of all people who have viewed at least a portion of an episode are not believers at all. But they are curious about a show that is telling the greatest story about the greatest person in history.

Reports indicate that people who may have left the Christian faith are returning, partly as they’re “re-exploring Christianity” through The Chosen. Others are agnostics or even atheists who are seeking answers and appreciate the way the show portrays Jesus. By portraying Jesus and his chosen followers as real people with human traits we can identify with, The Chosen is introducing the faithful and curious alike to Jesus by simply inviting them into the story of God’s beautiful plan to offer hope to people living in a time when anxiety, loneliness, and despair are everywhere in our world. And this introduction comes at a critical time: A moment when more and more people desire and seek precisely such an invitation. “Nobody becomes a Christian because they lose the argument,” John Plake posted on his social media page. “It’s because they’re invited on the journey.” That’s what this “return to Jesus” is all about. People are curious, people are watching, and people are joining the journey Jesus invites us to take.

Source: CBNNews  (,  May 18, 2025)

SEE ALSO

North America – Current Revival in America’s Largest University – 2018
North America – American Revival Reports – 2023
North America – Fresh Outpouring at Asbury University – 2023
North America – A year of revival on college campuses – 2023
North America – Revivals in 2024
North America – Revival continues in Kentucky – 2025
North America – Largest baptism events in US history – May 2025
North America & Global – Revival Reports 2025
England – 2 million Brits are trying church again – 2025

RENEWAL JOURNAL

GENERAL BLOGS INDEX 

BLOGS INDEX 1: REVIVALS(BRIEFER THAN REVIVALS INDEX)

BLOGS INDEX 2: MISSION(INTERNATIONAL STORIES)

BLOGS INDEX 3: MIRACLES(SUPERNATURAL EVENTS)

BLOGS INDEX 4: DEVOTIONAL (INCLUDING TESTIMONIES) 

BLOGS INDEX 5: CHURCH(CHRISTIANITY IN ACTION)

BLOGS INDEX 6: CHAPTERS (BLOGS FROM BOOKS)

BLOGS INDEX 7: IMAGES (PHOTOS AND ALBUMS)

BACK TO MAIN PAGE

 

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Revival Reports 2025 – https://renewaljournal.com/2025/05/14/revival-reports-2025/
SEE ALSO:
North America – Current Revival in America’s Largest University – 2018
North America – American Revival Reports – 2023
North America – Fresh Outpouring at Asbury University – 2023
North America – A year of revival on college campuses – 2023
North America & Europe – Revivals in 2024

North America – Revival continues in Kentucky – 2025
North America – Largest baptism events in US history – May 2025
North America & Global – Revival Reports 2025

Renewal Journal – a chronicle of renewal and revival

Christian mission, church growth, Iran , , ,

I plant secret house churches

by Geoff 2 October 2023 No Comments

Iran: ‘I plant secret house churches because I was saved into one’

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I plant secret house churches

Nathan shares how he found Christ as a teenager in Iran and how God led him to launch a mission to equip persecuted believers. “I plant secret house churches, because I was saved into one,” he says.

This is his story:
I grew up in a Muslim family in Tehran, Iran. My mother, a devoted Muslim, taught me to follow Islamic practices diligently. However, fear of losing my parents haunted me due to uncertainties about salvation. One day, a Christian relative visited us and shared the gospel. Even though I’d been taught that the Bible was corrupted, her words resonated deeply with me. My mother surprisingly listened and questioned rather than getting defensive. Her claims of Jesus freeing us from fear struck a chord in my soul.

Later, I found myself on my knees, asking Jesus to save me. To my amazement, my mother was undergoing her own spiritual transformation. We, along with my father and brother, embraced Christ. A secret house church provided us refuge. Despite potential danger, the Holy Spirit emboldened us to share the gospel with Muslims.

‘We now lead an Instagram fellowship for secret house churches’

Over the years, I delved deeper into my faith, attending Christian conferences abroad and returning to teach in Iran. A dream of leaving Iran in 2013 came true as I became a refugee in the United States, fulfilling God’s promise. My ministry extended to social media, where I equip Persian believers through online education and mentorship. My wife and I lead an Instagram fellowship for secret house churches in places like Iran and Afghanistan, allowing us to reach Muslims globally.

The transformation was powerful – my once fearful heart was liberated by Jesus. My father’s passing brought sadness but also peace, as he embraced Christianity and found solace in his last days. I am now a church planting pastor and leadership coach in North Carolina, thankful for the journey that led me to Christ and my mission to empower persecuted believers.

Joel News International # 1315, September 15, 2023

Added to BLOGS INDEX 2: MISSION (INTERNATIONAL STORIES)

GENERAL BLOGS INDEX

BLOGS INDEX 1: REVIVALS (BRIEFER THAN REVIVALS INDEX)

BLOGS INDEX 2: MISSION (INTERNATIONAL STORIES)

BLOGS INDEX 3: DEVOTIONAL (INCLUDING TESTIMONIES)

BLOGS INDEX 4: CHAPTERS (BLOGS FROM BOOKS)

BLOGS INDEX 5: CHURCH (CHRISTIANITY IN ACTION)

BLOGS INDEX 6: CHAPTERS (BLOGS FROM BOOKS)

BLOGS INDEX 7: IMAGES (PHOTOS & VIDEOS)

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I plant secret house churches

Renewal Journal – a chronicle of renewal and revival:
www.renewaljournal.com

Christian mission, discipleship, evangelism, Iran, prayer, revival , , , , ,

Iran’s Great Awakening

by Geoff 26 August 2022 1 Comment

Iran: Why the underground church takes communion every day

Communion is more than simply remembering that Jesus died for you,
it’s also renewing your covenant with Jesus Himself. 

 

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Iran’s Great Awakening

Renewal Journal – a chronicle of renewal and revival
Geoff Waugh – founding editor of the Renewal Journal
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Iran Alive Ministries has planted a thriving underground church network in Iran. Faithful believers have risked their lives to establish and grow house churches, even in the face of danger.

If a church member is arrested, and in particular a leader, they will face torture and even death because they confess Christ. The entire church community is at risk. If they fold under pressure and give up the names of others associated with the church, there is no guarantee that any of their lives will be spared.

One group whose leader was arrested was asked how they were doing. They said: “All of us are praying and fasting for our captured brother every day. Every night, we gather together in a secure location to pray and encourage one another. After we have a meal together and break our fast, we worship, pray, and take communion together.”
“Why do you take communion every night?” they were asked. Their answer revealed a deep reality about communion.

“We take communion daily to remember what Jesus has done for us. He loved us so much that He died for us with joy (Hebrews 12:2). And we are called to partake not only in His glory, but also in His suffering (Romans 8:17). When we take communion, we remember the words of Jesus, ‘I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.’ (Matthew 26:29)

That word from Jesus greatly encourages us because, as we take communion, we also say: ‘This could be our last communion as well. If it is, we do not worry because we will take the next communion with Jesus in Heaven.’ With a heart of thanksgiving, we remember the fact that He died for us, but we also renew our covenant with Him, professing that we are willing to live and die for Him as well.”

The persecuted church has much to teach us. Communion is more than simply remembering that Jesus died for you, it’s also renewing your covenant with Jesus Himself. 

Source: Hormoz Shariat, Iran Alive

Joel News International: # 1269, August 26, 2022

BLOGS INDEX 1: REVIVALS (BRIEFER THAN REVIVALS INDEX)

BLOGS INDEX 2: MISSION (INTERNATIONAL STORIES)

BLOGS INDEX 3: DEVOTIONAL (INCLUDING TESTIMONIES)

BLOGS INDEX 4: DEVOTIONAL (INCLUDING TESTIMONIES)

BLOGS INDEX 5: CHURCH (CHRISTIANITY IN ACTION)

BLOGS INDEX 6: CHAPTERS (BLOGS FROM BOOKS)

BLOGS INDEX 7: IMAGES (PHOTOS & VIDEOS)

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Iran: A teenager hears God’s voice

by Geoff 12 December 2021 No Comments
Joel News International Edition # 1238, December 2, 2021
view on the web or translate
https://mailchi.mp/joelnews/jni1238-2697333?e=621a152865
“The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
– John 3:8

Iran: A teenager hears God’s voice

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Iran: A teenager hears God’s voice

Mehdi grew up in a moderate Muslim family. When the still small voice of Jesus began to call him he first resisted, but ultimately he could not challenge the beautiful truths he found.

As a Muslim, Mehdi often had the feeling that he was failing on many sides. One day he had an unsettling thought: “I’m lacking in so many ways. I will not go to heaven anyway. What is the point?” Then one day a voice inside called him: “Go and find out about Christianity.”

Mehdi was startled by this strange thought. Why would he find out about Christianity? He didn’t know any Christians and he thought Christians were odd people. On top of that, in Iran it was dangerous to be a Christian. Why would he choose the possibility of prison or death when he had a good life?
Picture: A teenager in Iran (not Mehdi)

The unusual thoughts continued, urging him to find out more. One day, out of curiosity, he took a bus to a church in a different part of the city. When he asked the pastor if he could inquire about Christianity, the man firmly replied “No!” Later Mehdi discovered the government had forbidden church members to answer Muslims’ questions about faith.

‘Find out about Christianity and learn how they think about God’

He tried to visit other churches, but got the same response. He was ready to give up when the Lord spoke to him once more: “Go and find out about Christianity and learn how these people think about God.” Mehdi wondered if he had too much alcohol to drink that evening. He tossed and turned that night, unable to sleep, conflicted by his seemingly futile search.

Then he remembered a friend who worked for a security force investigating illegal ‘underground’ activities, including ‘underground’ Christianity and illegal evangelism. Mehdi thought this might be his last chance, but he would also be taking a huge risk. “I decided to bring up the issue playfully,” which paid off. His friend gave him the address of a church that he knew was open to Muslims.

With anticipation building in his heart, the following Sunday he went to the address his friend gave him. When he got close, he could hear a service going on. A man came out and asked: “Do you want to come in?” Mehdi took a deep breath and said: “Yes!”

“The feeling I had when I entered the church was something I’ve never felt before,” Mehdi recalls. “It felt so peaceful.” He sat down in a pew, feeling overwhelmed with emotion.

‘A place in which your spirit is totally at peace with your Creator’

After the service a man came up to him and asked: “You’re here for the first time, right?’ “Yes,” Mehdi replied. “Can I ask you some questions about God?” “Not here,” he said hesitantly, “but please come to my home.”

Mehdi went to the man’s home and peppered him with questions. The answers seemed strange, but in a good way. The man talked about heaven as a place in God’s absolute presence, a place in which your spirit is totally at peace with your Creator. “I hadn’t heard about the Christian idea of heaven before, but somehow his words made complete sense to me,” Mehdi said.

“He also told me that God isn’t a far-away person but someone who created the earth and put us as humans in the center. He made us in his image. He even gave us a piece of his very own Spirit. With the Christian God I was welcome the way I was. God was like a loving Father. This was a big difference from Allah, who would punish me for any small thing.”
Picture: Vank Cathedral in Isfahan

Still, his Muslim background was too strong to just let go. He wrestled in his heart. Mehdi told God: “If you really care, please show me the way.” One of his friends became alarmed by his sudden interest in Christianity and sent him to a religious leader specially trained to help Christian converts from a Muslim background return to Islam. But for everything the religious leader told him about Islam, Mehdi found an alternative in the Bible that seemed much better.

‘It was like the curtains had been opened for me’

“It wasn’t a specific moment, a lightning flash or a dream. It happened gradually that I became a Christian. It was like the curtains that had been hanging in front of the truth for a long time had been opened for me. What I saw was beautiful,” he confesses.

“I didn’t tell my family: ‘Surprise! I am a Christian now!’ They discovered gradually. I had always been a bad boy and I started behaving differently. For instance, I brought the JESUS Film home and watched it with my little brother. They’d expected me to go on drugs, or get in trouble with the police. They didn’t expect me to become a Christian.”

His parents weren’t happy about his new faith, but they didn’t give him a lot of trouble. After being discipled, Mehdi eventually chose to leave Iran. “I was 18 when I left home. Now I am 27. I haven’t been back in Iran since. It’s a big sacrifice. But despite everything, I am happy and thankful.”

Source: World Watch Monitor

See also:

Iran – fastest growing evangelical population

Many Muslims are Turning to Christ

‘The Lord reached me right in the mosque’

Jesus appears as a bus driver to a Muslim pilgrim

Miraculous Movements – among Muslims

Hope in Iran’s notorious Evin Prison

Iraq: Muslim from Ninevah discovered the Bible’s magnetism

Jesus and Muslims: Life in the Desert

Christians reach out to Muslims in UK

Muslim Woman returns from the dead to tell about Jesus

GENERAL BLOGS INDEX

BLOGS INDEX 1: REVIVALS(BRIEFER THANREVIVALS INDEX)

BLOGS INDEX 2: MISSION (INTERNATIONAL STORIES)

BLOGS INDEX 3: MIRACLES (SUPERNATURAL EVENTS)

BLOGS INDEX 4: DEVOTIONAL (INCLUDING TESTIMONIES)

BLOGS INDEX 5: CHURCH(CHRISTIANITY IN ACTION)

BLOGS INDEX 6: CHAPTERS (BLOGS FROM BOOKS)

BLOGS INDEX 7: IMAGES (PHOTOS AND ALBUMS)

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See also:
Jesus appears as a bus driver to a Muslim pilgrim
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