We want to ask for your prayers for a family from Iran who surrendered everything for their faith.
You might already know this, but it's illegal for a Muslim to leave Islam and become a Christian in Iran.
But for former Muslims like ### and ###, who witnessed God's healing of their daughter after a group of Christians prayed for her, the decision to follow Jesus came naturally.
After they made that important choice, they also became enemies of the state.
Iranian secret police conduct frequent raids on Christian homes. ### and ### both knew the risks, but they were so passionate about sharing their faith with others that they started an underground house church and began handing out Bible DVD's to anyone interested in hearing more about Jesus.
One morning, ### was at his job at a textile factory when he received an urgent call. A deep strange voice on the other end said, "###, you need to come home, now."
It was the secret police. They were in his home. When ### walked into the house, the authorities put him in handcuffs and blindfolded him. They led him outside, put him in a car and drove away.
"Right then and there, I felt Jesus beside me," ### says.
Though he was interrogated nightly and at different times during the day, ### refused to give up the names of other believers. At his sentencing, surprisingly, the judge decided to have mercy on him and released him - under one condition. He was ordered to stop evangelizing. If the authorities arrested him again, there would be no leniency and the judge said he will be executed.
But ### could not ignore his calling and as soon as he got home, he secretly began his evangelizing again.
Eventually the situation in Iran became too dangerous for their family. The secret service followed them everywhere, making it impossible for them to live freely. ### couldn't find a job and the regular harassment became overwhelming. Finally, one night, the family gathered at the dinner table and made the prayerful decision to leave Iran and flee to Turkey.
Life in Turkey is extremely difficult. Like thousands of Iranian refugees, they have very few rights. Work is hard to find. They have to learn a new language. They don't know what will happen next. But even during these struggles, the joy they have in Christ overflows.
When asked if Jesus is worth the sacrifice, ### shares: "Jesus is worth everything and in my opinion we have not paid any price yet."
Please pray that ### and ###'s family would have access to local community services in Turkey and that God supplies for the needs of all His children who live as refugees, according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:19).
Ask God to fill the hearts of ###, ###, and their daughters ### and ### with joy and peace.
Ask God to help Christians in Iran stand strong in their faith - even during persecution and harassment from their families and police.
Thank you so much for praying, God bless. Prayer from Open Doors UK and Ireland prayer diary.
You might already know this, but it's illegal for a Muslim to leave Islam and become a Christian in Iran.
But for former Muslims like ### and ###, who witnessed God's healing of their daughter after a group of Christians prayed for her, the decision to follow Jesus came naturally.
After they made that important choice, they also became enemies of the state.
Iranian secret police conduct frequent raids on Christian homes. ### and ### both knew the risks, but they were so passionate about sharing their faith with others that they started an underground house church and began handing out Bible DVD's to anyone interested in hearing more about Jesus.
One morning, ### was at his job at a textile factory when he received an urgent call. A deep strange voice on the other end said, "###, you need to come home, now."
It was the secret police. They were in his home. When ### walked into the house, the authorities put him in handcuffs and blindfolded him. They led him outside, put him in a car and drove away.
"Right then and there, I felt Jesus beside me," ### says.
Though he was interrogated nightly and at different times during the day, ### refused to give up the names of other believers. At his sentencing, surprisingly, the judge decided to have mercy on him and released him - under one condition. He was ordered to stop evangelizing. If the authorities arrested him again, there would be no leniency and the judge said he will be executed.
But ### could not ignore his calling and as soon as he got home, he secretly began his evangelizing again.
Eventually the situation in Iran became too dangerous for their family. The secret service followed them everywhere, making it impossible for them to live freely. ### couldn't find a job and the regular harassment became overwhelming. Finally, one night, the family gathered at the dinner table and made the prayerful decision to leave Iran and flee to Turkey.
Life in Turkey is extremely difficult. Like thousands of Iranian refugees, they have very few rights. Work is hard to find. They have to learn a new language. They don't know what will happen next. But even during these struggles, the joy they have in Christ overflows.
When asked if Jesus is worth the sacrifice, ### shares: "Jesus is worth everything and in my opinion we have not paid any price yet."
Please pray that ### and ###'s family would have access to local community services in Turkey and that God supplies for the needs of all His children who live as refugees, according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:19).
Ask God to fill the hearts of ###, ###, and their daughters ### and ### with joy and peace.
Ask God to help Christians in Iran stand strong in their faith - even during persecution and harassment from their families and police.
Thank you so much for praying, God bless. Prayer from Open Doors UK and Ireland prayer diary.
