Iran 30 Discover, Pray, Transform http://www.iran30.org Iran 30 Discover, Pray, Transform Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:50:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 en hourly 1 New Year, New Christians http://www.iran30.org/suffering-but-growing-church/new-year-new-christians/ http://www.iran30.org/suffering-but-growing-church/new-year-new-christians/#comments Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:15:13 +0000 admin http://www.iran30.org/?p=985 Just as in the West, non-Christians like to go to church over Christmas. So in one town in the Iran region this year, nearly 200 people came together and were led in Christian worship by the Elam pastor and his team. Such was the spirit of joy that at the end of the meeting, some of the congregation just started their own traditional dance. During the celebration one man went up to the front. He was seeking God and a team member led him to Christ. In other churches Iranians have come to faith over this Christmas season. It’s a new year, and there are many new Iranian Christians starting to grow in their faith. They will all need discipling as they are prepared for baptism. When the storms of spiritual opposition erupt, they will need a wise Christian counsellor to explain what is going on. All this work of evangelism and discipleship deserves to be supported in prayer

Pray for:

• All those who have recently come to faith
• That they soon be established in the church
• For those who disciple and pastor

]]> http://www.iran30.org/suffering-but-growing-church/new-year-new-christians/feed/ 0 ‘Martyrs of Unity’, more military drills: soldiers need prayer. http://www.iran30.org/influential-institutions/%e2%80%98martyrs-of-unity%e2%80%99-more-military-drills-soldiers-need-prayer/ http://www.iran30.org/influential-institutions/%e2%80%98martyrs-of-unity%e2%80%99-more-military-drills-soldiers-need-prayer/#comments Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:14:41 +0000 admin http://www.iran30.org/?p=983 As the language of diplomacy between Iran and the West gets harsher, and yet another Iranian nuclear scientist is assassinated, so both Iran’s regular forces (325,000) and the Revolutionary Guards (125,000) are engaging in more military exercises. Over the Christmas season Iran’s navy exercised in the Gulf, and almost as soon as they finished, there was an announcement that the Revolutionary Guards Corps would start more naval exercises on January 27th. Meanwhile the Revolutionary Guards Corps has also started ground force exercises in the east of the country, on the border with Afghanistan. The exercise is called, ‘Martyrs of Unity’. And the regular army is planning major exercises in February. The message to Iran and the rest of the world is clear: Iran is ready to fight.

For Christians interceding for Iran to emerge from these shadows of war it is important not to forget the individual soldier. They are ordinary young men. Many of them are conscripts. They are not necessarily that political, or even that religious. They are like soldiers the world over who need Christ.

Pray for:

• War to be averted
• Christian conscripts in the army
• Soldiers and sailors to hear the Gospel

]]> http://www.iran30.org/influential-institutions/%e2%80%98martyrs-of-unity%e2%80%99-more-military-drills-soldiers-need-prayer/feed/ 0 New Testaments, planning for the next 200,000 http://www.iran30.org/reaching-iran/new-testaments-planning-for-the-next-200000/ http://www.iran30.org/reaching-iran/new-testaments-planning-for-the-next-200000/#comments Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:14:01 +0000 admin http://www.iran30.org/?p=981 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

]]> http://www.iran30.org/reaching-iran/new-testaments-planning-for-the-next-200000/feed/ 0 Drug war headlines in the press; headlines of restored lives in heaven http://www.iran30.org/society-stressed/drug-war-headlines-in-the-press-headlines-of-restored-lives-in-heaven/ http://www.iran30.org/society-stressed/drug-war-headlines-in-the-press-headlines-of-restored-lives-in-heaven/#comments Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:13:14 +0000 admin http://www.iran30.org/?p=979 Some say Iran has four million drug users. That’s an epidemic. And each drug user drags a whole family into the nightmare. In recent weeks there have been welcome headlines of success about police arrests of drug dealers. The Mehr news agency reports on January 3rd that the authorities broke nine major drug rings, killing four dealers, arresting 38, and confiscating 10 tons of narcotics. On January 8th the Tehran police arrested 250 criminals, including drug dealers. On January 9th there is a report from the border police, who have confiscated nine tons of narcotics. And there are also stories of government determination to deal with the new ‘psychoactive drugs’ with the death sentence. All Christians should pray for these ‘authorities who do not bear the sword in vain’.

There are no stories though in the press about drug addicts being set free and living a normal healthy life. Perhaps that is because so many have had an encounter with Jesus Christ. There are many such restored drug addicts in the Iranian church. Their stories are not in the papers, but they are certainly in heaven, and are known to ordinary Christians.

Jesus Christ is truly the One who can break the curse of drugs that is blighting the lives of so many in Iran. The need for the church to have experienced and trained counsellors who can deal with desperate addicts is great. As is the potential. For the drug addict of today, is the church pioneer of tomorrow. They tend to be the most passionate followers of Christ. They know He has truly lifted them out of hell.

Pray for:

• Authorities fighting drug barons
• Holy Spirit to bring conviction to those in drug trade
• For witness of ex drug addicts in the church

]]> http://www.iran30.org/society-stressed/drug-war-headlines-in-the-press-headlines-of-restored-lives-in-heaven/feed/ 0 Christmas present to children of AOG church Ahvaz: arrest http://www.iran30.org/suffering-but-growing-church/christmas-present-to-children-of-aog-church-ahvaz-arrest/ http://www.iran30.org/suffering-but-growing-church/christmas-present-to-children-of-aog-church-ahvaz-arrest/#comments Wed, 04 Jan 2012 10:11:04 +0000 admin http://www.iran30.org/?p=975 Christian leaders are shocked by the arrest of an entire Assemblies of God congregation, in the city of Ahvaz in the south east of Iran. Children were among those arrested. The Assemblies of God denomination has about 60 million members, and is the sixth largest Christian denomination in the world.
On 23rd December 2011 two security police busses arrived outside the meeting place of the Assemblies of God Church in Ahvaz where local Christians had gathered to celebrate Christmas. The security police arrested the entire congregation, including children, and took them in the busses with their faces covered to an ‘unknown location’, according to the agency Mohabat News. Thankfully most of the congregation were released after a few hours, but the pastor, Farhad Sabokroh, his wife Shahnaz Jeizan, and two other leaders of the church, Naser Zamen-Dezfuli and Davoud Alijani, were kept in detention. Shahnaz Jeizan was released on January 1st, 2012, but the three men are still in prison.

Pray for

• Traumatized children
• Release of Pastor Sabokroh, Naser Zamen-Dezfuli, and Davoud Alijani
• Witness of church to grow in midst of this persecution

]]> http://www.iran30.org/suffering-but-growing-church/christmas-present-to-children-of-aog-church-ahvaz-arrest/feed/ 0 Battle of the Straits, angels needed http://www.iran30.org/influential-institutions/battle-of-the-straits-angels-needed/ http://www.iran30.org/influential-institutions/battle-of-the-straits-angels-needed/#comments Wed, 04 Jan 2012 10:10:19 +0000 admin http://www.iran30.org/?p=973 The battle of words over the straits of Hormoz is raging. If new US sanctions banning the sale of Iranian oil comes into force, Iran has threatened to close the straits. One third of the world’s oil exports flow through the narrow waterway. Iran’s navy has just finished exercises designed to demonstrate the country’s control of the straits. The US is committed to keeping the waterway open. Her fifth fleet is stationed in Bahrain. Meanwhile Iran tested two long-range missiles, and declared that her scientists had produced the country’s first nuclear fuel rod. These announcements did not help the US think again about its sanctions.
Angels are needed. The human race again and again slips and slides towards catastrophic war, the cheap words of banal bravado turning into the coffins of the innocent young. May God have mercy on Iran and the US and send angels in answer to fervent prayer to restrain the dogs of war.

Pray for

• Divine wisdom for diplomats to stop war
• Leaders of Iran and the West to renew talks
• Senior Christian leaders to speak out against war

]]> http://www.iran30.org/influential-institutions/battle-of-the-straits-angels-needed/feed/ 0 New Persian Christian TV station, veteran broadcaster http://www.iran30.org/reaching-iran/new-persian-christian-tv-station-veteran-broadcaster/ http://www.iran30.org/reaching-iran/new-persian-christian-tv-station-veteran-broadcaster/#comments Wed, 04 Jan 2012 10:09:06 +0000 admin http://www.iran30.org/?p=971 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

]]> http://www.iran30.org/reaching-iran/new-persian-christian-tv-station-veteran-broadcaster/feed/ 0 The toman, not doing very well http://www.iran30.org/society-stressed/the-toman-not-doing-very-well/ http://www.iran30.org/society-stressed/the-toman-not-doing-very-well/#comments Wed, 04 Jan 2012 10:08:01 +0000 admin http://www.iran30.org/?p=969 The toman should be strong. The currency of a vast country awash with oil, natural gas, fertile soil, and a highly educated, internet savvy young population should be standing high in the money markets. But the toman has been slipping in its value against the dollar. And on Monday (2nd January 2012) its value sank another 13%. Experts in Tehran were quick to say that this had nothing to do with the sanctions, or the threat of an embargo on their oil. This puts pressure on President Ahmadinejad, seen by some as being somewhat lacking in finesse when it comes to the economy.
For ordinary people more economic instability is not good news. A weak currency is bound to mean there will be jumps in the prices of imports, but salaries won’t jump as well. Cold economic winds can often be the chilliest for Christians who often face job insecurity because of their faith.

Pray for

• Toman to stabilize
• Wisdom for economic ministers
• Christians to prove that ‘God supplies all our needs in Christ Jesus’

]]> http://www.iran30.org/society-stressed/the-toman-not-doing-very-well/feed/ 0 Shahla Rahmati freed after 287 days in prison; Ahvaz church arrested http://www.iran30.org/suffering-but-growing-church/shahla-rahmati-free-after-287-days-in-prison-2/ http://www.iran30.org/suffering-but-growing-church/shahla-rahmati-free-after-287-days-in-prison-2/#comments Thu, 22 Dec 2011 14:38:35 +0000 admin http://www.iran30.org/?p=964 After more than nine months in prison, Shahla Rahmati, a devout Christian for nearly thirty years, is now free and at home. She was released on December 20th 2011. Shahla was arrested on March 9th 2011 and after several days of questioning moved to Section 209 of Tehran’s Evin Prison for interrogation. She was kept here for three months; this included six weeks in solitary confinement. She was then moved to an overcrowded cell which she shared with about 80 hardened criminals and drug addicts. Here her health deteriorated. Her blood pressure dropped to very low levels. On November 17th 2011 Shahla Rahmati, a director of a successful electronics company, was given a three-year custodial sentence. Her lawyer appealed, but she stayed behind bars. Shahla Rahmati has been acquitted of all charges. Her family thanks all Christians for their faithful intercession for her release. Shahla needs immediate medical attention as her blood pressure is still dangerously low.

While Shahla Rahmati has been freed, a number of other Christians are still in prison. Farshid Fathi-Malayeri, an enthusiastic church leader and father of two young children was arrested on December 26th 2010 and still has to appear in court. He has been mainly kept in solitary confinement. Youcef Nadarkhani, whose case has received international media attention, is also still in prison. The latest news is that he is to be kept behind bars for one year in the hope he will deny his faith in Christ.

And during the Christmas season, the number of Christians detained increased as the authorities arrested the entire congregation of the Assemblies of God Church in Ahvaz – including children enjoying Sunday School. Taken away for questioning in two buses, most of the congregation were later released. However the leader of the church, Pastor Farhad, and his wife, are believed to be still in prison.

As well as those actually in prison, there are three Christians who have been sentenced to three years imprisonment for ‘sacrilege’. They have paid bail to be out of prison while their appeal is heard. There are over twenty other Christians who are also out on bail while they wait for their first court appearance. There are many other Christians undergoing severe persecution.

While Christians rejoice at the release of Shahla Rahmati, fervent intercession is needed for the others to also join their families for Christmas this year.

Prayer should go on till there is complete freedom for the church in Iran.

Pray for

• Comfort and physical healing for Shahla Rahmati, and her family
• Release of Farshid Fathi-Malayeri, Yousef Nadarkhani, and others
• Charges to be dropped against all other Christians facing trial.
• Softening of the hearts of those in authority.

]]> http://www.iran30.org/suffering-but-growing-church/shahla-rahmati-free-after-287-days-in-prison-2/feed/ 0 Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani, head of Iran’s judiciary http://www.iran30.org/influential-institutions/ayatollah-sadegh-larijani-head-of-iran%e2%80%99s-judiciary/ http://www.iran30.org/influential-institutions/ayatollah-sadegh-larijani-head-of-iran%e2%80%99s-judiciary/#comments Thu, 22 Dec 2011 14:34:57 +0000 admin http://www.iran30.org/?p=960 Responsible for law and order in a vast land of 75 million people is no small task. Hence Iran’s judiciary deserves our prayers. As well as the normal crimes that afflict all countries, the Iranian judiciary finds itself on the frontline of the war against the drug traffickers who operate from Afghanistan. In response to the avalanche of opium tipped over its borders, the judiciary has shown no mercy to drug sellers. Many have been executed this year.
More controversially the judiciary in Iran has constantly played a decisive role in politics. In the 1990’s it was the intervention of the judiciary that defeated the Reformist movement, and after the 2009 it was again the vigour of the judiciary that ended the protests after the presidential elections. There is an internal logic to the judiciary’s role here: the state is Islamic, not democratic, hence the role of the judiciary is to only support that which is truly Islamic. This logic then gives the judiciary the authority to oppose any movement which it deems as unIslamic.
As in all religious governments in history, this then gives great power to the people who decide what is orthodox and what is not. One of those men is Sadegh Larijani, the present head of the judiciary. As the youngest ever incumbent in the post, his appointment in June 2009 raised some eyebrows. Normally the head of the judiciary is an older cleric widely recognised for his scholarship. While Sadegh Larijani might not have age or a heavy academic reputation, he is most certainly a government insider, with close connections with influential people, not least his two brothers. Ali Larijani is the speaker of parliament, and Mohammad Larijani is head of the Human Rights Council in the judiciary. Mohammad used to be the number two at the foreign office.
Sadegh Larijani has been very energetic as leader of the judiciary. He carries much responsibility and as a believer in God as the final judge, he will know that he will have to give account for his decisions on that great day. He will be aware that Christians have suffered the ordeal of being arbitrarily arrested and kept in prison this year, even though they are not guilty of any criminal activity. It is important to pray that Sadegh Larijani and all his officials are given divine strength to deliver justice for the criminals who should be in prison, and freedom for all those who want to live quiet and godly lives trusting in Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord.

Pray for

• Revelation of Christ to Sadegh Larijani
• Energy of officials to combat crime
• Wisdom to stop persecution of Christians

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