Iran 30 Discover, Pray, Transform » REACHING IRAN

New Testaments, planning for the next 200,000

admin — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:14:01 +0000

The cover of Elam’s New Testament in Iran is famous. It is even recognised on public buses. Thousands have been given out by courageous Christians on crowded streets to busy pedestrians and on lonely country lanes to weathered famers. This year Christians around the world believe it is God’s will to make it more famous and for more Iranians to know that it is truly the Bread of Life for their souls. Plans are in place for another 200,000 for the pocket New Testament to be printed and distributed. Much prayer is needed.

Pray for:

• Necessary funds for printing of pocket New Testament
• Successful print run
• Courage and wisdom for those who distribute

New Persian Christian TV station, veteran broadcaster

admin — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 10:09:06 +0000

Seven TV, an independent Persian Christian satellite TV station, is now up and running. Its programmes beam into the whole of Europe, North Africa, and the Iran Region from 6.30 p.m Iran time, till 11.30 p.m. While the station is new, the broadcaster is a veteran of Christian satellite TV. Indeed Pastor Hormoz Shariat was one of the first Iranian Christian leaders to seize the potential of satellite TV, and since 2001 he has been reaching his fellow country men though the airwaves. His preaching has had a tremendous impact. Hundreds, if not thousands, have come to faith through his satellite TV evangelism. Today he is one of the most respected TV presenters in Iran.

Pray for

• Hormoz Shariat and his preaching ministry
• For protection on his new satellite TV station
• For thousands more to come to faith through his TV preaching

Christmas, everyone knows it’s about Jesus

admin — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 14:34:21 +0000

Everyone in Iran knows that Christmas is about the birth of Jesus. Greetings will be given to the Armenian and Assyrian Christians living in the country, and thousands of Iranians in the Diaspora will join in celebrations.
As in the West, this is a crucial time to take the opportunity and to explain what Christmas is all about. In all the evangelistic activity that Christmas inspires, perhaps most important of all are all the phone and skype calls that Iranians living outside the country will make to friends and relatives in Iran over the holiday season. Testimonies will be shared, stories of Jesus told. So too Iranians will be posting Christmas greetings on facebook and other blogging sites. All can have impact. TV programmes and websites will also be making an extra effort.

Pray for

• Anointing on phone calls Christians make to friends and relatives
• Clarity for those sharing on facebook and blogs
• Wisdom for those making TV programmes and websites.

‘God does nothing, except in response to believing prayer.’ Wesley

admin — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 10:23:23 +0000

Christians can put on as many seminars and conferences they like about how to reach Iran; they can stay up half the night designing websites and translating books and writing TV programmes, but without prayer, it’s all human activity, religious froth and hype. There is nothing of eternal value.
Reaching Iran is all about prayer. Iran 30 exists to encourage prayer, and since its launch in 2009 there has definitely been an increase in intercession for the country. Only God knows whether the persecution this year is a part of the intensification of the spiritual battle for Iran caused by increased prayer, but there is no doubt that the tempo both of growth and opposition has increased since 2009. The momentum in prayer needs to be maintained.
This is absolutely not a time for talk, but a time for prayer, the more passionate the better. May the cries of Christians reach the courts of heaven pleading for revival, anointing, breakthroughs, the falling down of walls and the raising up of churches. If Iran 30 has helped you pray for Iran, please send the link to other believers and encourage them to pray and tell them how to get the book, also available in Spanish, Korean, Portuguese and Hindi.

Pray for

• More private prayer for Iran.
• More public prayer meetings for Iran.

Van Church, place of refuge for quake victims

admin — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 10:18:23 +0000

The CCTV cameras which protect the Iranian church in Van show people pouring out of the building as the earthquake began at 13:41 on Sunday 23rd October. But then the pastor returns, and holds out his prayer towards the wall of the first church to be registered in Van for nearly a hundred years. He knew it was important for the cause of Christ that the church survive the quake. It did. And immediately it became a place of refuge. About a hundred have been coming daily to receive hot meals, most have never met Christians or been inside a church building. Now they were receiving food in the name of Jesus Christ. Van is a border city. And as well as Turks and Kurds, there are also many Iranians there. All have been welcomed at the church.

Pray for

• Christians in Van to have stamina as they serve.
• Those devastated by quake to give their lives to Christ
• Funds to flow for aid to continue

The Books of Moses, new translation in Persian

admin — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 14:05:17 +0000

Elam Ministries has recently published a new translation of the five books of Moses, the Torah. As with all its publications, the final product is of an exceptional standard, both in terms of the quality of the translation and the printing. Apart from the Good News and the Paraphrase Living Bible, there has been no translation of the Torah which links back to the original Hebrew since the 19th C. So this is an historical achievement for the church in Iran. Those involved with the production, and those who have seen the new translation are delighted. The translation team are now working hard to complete the rest of the Old Testament.

Pray for

• Wide distribution of the new translation of the Torah
• The message of the Scriptures to capture the hearts of Iranians
• Strength and stamina for the translation team.

Want to find a verse? Check your iPhone

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 16:33:29 +0000

Elam Ministries has made the whole Bible available for iphones. For the New Testament Elam’s translation, The New Millennium Version is offered, and for the Old Testament the version known as the Old Persian Version is on line. This is a major breakthrough. Iran’s population is predominantly young, internet savvy, and as long as they have enough money, they will make sure they have a good iphone. And in a country where holding a Bible in your hand could attract unwelcome attention, how good to be able to have all the Scriptures on your mobile.

Pray for

Millions of Iranians to download the Scriptures onto their mobiles
For churches to encourage members to download the Scriptures
The scriptures to move from the iphone, to the heart

Government announce seizure of 6,500 NT’s, the supply won’t dry up(originally posted September 13th)

The Iranian government recently announced the seizure of 6,500 New Testaments in the North West of the country. There has been no verification from the church. Whatever the veracity, the announcement again underlines the government’s hostility to allowing people to read the Bible.

In reporting the August incident, Dr. Majid Abhari, advisor to the Social Issues Committee of Iran’s parliament, first praised the quality of the New Testament – ‘these books were made with the best paper in the world in pocket size’ – and then made the false assumption that they were sent to ‘confront Islam’, hence justifying the seizure of the holy books. The church has no desire to ‘confront’ a religion, but a passion to share Jesus Christ with ordinary men and women. However many New Testaments the authorities confiscate, nothing will take away the great desire Iranians have to read about Jesus, and nothing will change the faith of the worldwide church that number approximately two billion people that those without the Bible, should have one. The supply will not dry up.

Pray for

• Confiscated New Testaments to still be read
• International church to redouble efforts to send New Testaments to Iran
• For all involved in supplying church with Scriptures

Theological Training, still a conundrum

admin — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 09:06:04 +0000

How to give a promising Iranian Christian some theological training? Inside the country there are obvious practical problems. A recognised church can start classes, but less than happy government officials will interfere. The house churches are vibrant, but they have to work hard to keep their own meetings secret, keeping a whole training programme below the radar would be very challenging. A lot can be achieved by the internet and satellite TV, though it is not face to face. Also a lot of good can come by bringing a student out of the country, though there are dangers. However, for a grounding in theology, probably the best solution in these present circumstances, are intense short term courses, boosted by conferences with lots of personal contact.

Pray for:

• Wisdom for all those concerned about theological training
• God’s anointing on all that is happening at present
• Those called to find the right course for them

Summer months, Christians on the move

admin — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 09:46:00 +0000

The summer months mean Christians are on the move, usually visiting relatives. Christians are going to the Iran Region, and their families and friends in Iran are travelling to Christians in other countries. This is a time when the Gospel is shared, and its authority begins to move through family networks. And even if an Iranian travelling outside the country does not encounter the Gospel amongst his own family, many Diaspora churches have energetic evangelistic programmes to reach their fellow countrymen.

Pray for

• Christians on the move to share the Gospel
• Christians to be equipped with New Testaments and books
• Iranians on the move to hear the Gospel

Satellite TV, the people’s choice

admin — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 09:42:10 +0000

Despite periodic raids on people’s homes where satellite dishes are confiscated and the owners fined, satellite TV continues to be the people’s choice. Millions are watching. And many are watching Christian programmes on the channels Mohabat and Sat 7. The response continues to be exciting as programmes receive calls from towns and villages they have never heard of. Last week a young man from Afghanistan called after watching Elam’s testimony based programme ‘Healing For The Broken Hearted’ and after a long conversation with the main presenter gave his heart to Christ. This is happening every day. It is a ministry that needs constant prayer.

Pray for

• Ministries of Sat 7 and Mohabat
• Programme providers like Elam
• Editors, presenters, technical staff