"In Iran, if you become a Christian, your family may want nothing to do with you," says Ali to one of our fieldworkers. The heartbreak of that statement is clear in his voice.
When Ali and his wife Zahra became Christians, they joined a network of underground house churches and grew in their faith. But their risk also grew.
On a dark evening, security officers broke into their home. The officers blindfolded the couple and interrogated them separately, which lasted for hours. But it wasn't just physical beatings they endured. At one point, they tied Ali, still blindfolded, to a chair. "Do you know what you are sitting on?" they asked . He did not. They said it was an electric chair.
Both Ali and Zahra endured months of arrest and interrogation, with one aim: to force them to give up Jesus. At last, they were released, but their lives were never the same. They took their children and fled Iran.
Zahra spoke of her anguish in leaving the family and country she loved. "I was standing at the border and looked at the flag, realizing it was the last time I would ever look on it." Her voice cracks even now as she recalls the day.
But there is another moment she vividly recalls. On the day she arrested, her captor said, "Imagine I am not your interrogator, and you are not a convict. If you could go back knowing everything that would happen to you, would you pick Jesus again?"
"I said 'Absolutely," she says today, her face glowing.
How did they endure the brutal months in prison? "When we were in solitary, the only thing that strengthened us was prayer," said Ali. Nothing else would work. Only God can go to those dark places and dungeons and be strength for His children.
Zahra agrees. "Throughout everything, I thought to myself, there are people who love me and cry for my pain and suffering, and most importantly, pray for me. Because without God's power you cannot tolerate it and keep going."
Father God, we thank you that Ali and Zahra are now safe. We ask that you comfort their hearts after the anguish of leaving their home and country. Strengthen them and help them to remain steadfast until the end. Surround them with a believing community that will help them run the race you have set for them.
Thanks so very much for praying for our persecuted brethren, Elohim bless you. Taken from Open Doors text alert. To sign up for the text alerts and to get more information and prayer requests and to support please visit their website.
When Ali and his wife Zahra became Christians, they joined a network of underground house churches and grew in their faith. But their risk also grew.
On a dark evening, security officers broke into their home. The officers blindfolded the couple and interrogated them separately, which lasted for hours. But it wasn't just physical beatings they endured. At one point, they tied Ali, still blindfolded, to a chair. "Do you know what you are sitting on?" they asked . He did not. They said it was an electric chair.
Both Ali and Zahra endured months of arrest and interrogation, with one aim: to force them to give up Jesus. At last, they were released, but their lives were never the same. They took their children and fled Iran.
Zahra spoke of her anguish in leaving the family and country she loved. "I was standing at the border and looked at the flag, realizing it was the last time I would ever look on it." Her voice cracks even now as she recalls the day.
But there is another moment she vividly recalls. On the day she arrested, her captor said, "Imagine I am not your interrogator, and you are not a convict. If you could go back knowing everything that would happen to you, would you pick Jesus again?"
"I said 'Absolutely," she says today, her face glowing.
How did they endure the brutal months in prison? "When we were in solitary, the only thing that strengthened us was prayer," said Ali. Nothing else would work. Only God can go to those dark places and dungeons and be strength for His children.
Zahra agrees. "Throughout everything, I thought to myself, there are people who love me and cry for my pain and suffering, and most importantly, pray for me. Because without God's power you cannot tolerate it and keep going."
Father God, we thank you that Ali and Zahra are now safe. We ask that you comfort their hearts after the anguish of leaving their home and country. Strengthen them and help them to remain steadfast until the end. Surround them with a believing community that will help them run the race you have set for them.
Thanks so very much for praying for our persecuted brethren, Elohim bless you. Taken from Open Doors text alert. To sign up for the text alerts and to get more information and prayer requests and to support please visit their website.
Joint Statement
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