Iran 30 Discover, Pray, Transform

Mosque bombing in Zahedan, the cruel wheel of revenge

admin — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 10:34:12 +0000

On Thursday 15^th July, two Sunnis blew themselves up among worshippers celebrating the birth of Imam Hussein at a large Shia mosque in in Zahedan, the capital Baluchistan. The second bomber waited till a crowd had gathered round the mayhem of the first blast before detonating himself to maximise casualties. They now stand at 27 dead and over 200 injured.

This is the cruel wheel of revenge for the government executing Abdulmalike Riga, the leader of the Jundullah, a terrorist group campaigning for Sunnis, a minority in Shia Iran. Nothing can justify such wanton cruelty against innocent people. It is important that Christians intercede with zeal for the authorities to bring this cruel wheel of revenge to a halt.

Pray for

Grieving families, for the Holy Spirit to give comfort and hope
Injured to be healed
Terrorist group to be uprooted.

Summer time: Christians visiting and being visited.

admin — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 10:33:22 +0000

Families over the summer are getting together, and this means Iranians who have found Christ outside the country will be visiting Iran, or their families will be visiting them. These visits can result in not just close family members turning to Christ, but the entire family network. But these visits need to be bathed in prayer. Some families will be hostile that a loved one has become a Christian, others will be sceptical and will want to see what difference it has made in their life, others will be open, but spiritual warfare will rage in unexpected ways. With prayer now, these visits can have great impact. If others in the family do turn to Christ, then there also needs to be prayer so the new believers can grow in their faith.

Pray for

All Christians visiting families in Iran
Sensitivity when sharing the Gospel
Supernatural linking up of new believers to fellowships.

An addict becomes a Christians, so do others

admin — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 10:32:37 +0000

.Zara was a drug addict living half a life in a very religious city. Zara met some Christians and desperate for anything to deal with her drug problem, she asked Christ into her life. The addiction demons went. And Zara could not stop talking. First some family members came to Christ, and then friends heard about her. Now there are at least ten who have come to faith because of her salvation, and they meet together. No law of man can stop the living Christ reaching into the lives of those oppressed by Satan. And no law of man can stop people like Zara talking about their Saviour.

The case of Ali Golchin, jailed solely because of his allegiance to the historic faith of the church, is one of many that tell us that the church suffers in Iran. The case of Zara is one of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, that tells us that Jesus Christ Himself is building his church, as usual among the poor and distressed.

Pray for

Zara’s group to grow
Other addicts to come to faith
Ali Gochin to be released.

Stoning, who is without sin to cast the firs one?

admin — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 10:31:53 +0000

As the world erupted in protest over the imminent stoning of Sakineh Ashtiani, the authorities announced it would not go ahead with the ordeal. This shows there are serious reservations among the senior ranks in the judiciary and across the government regarding this form of punishment. Given the high standards of education in Iran and the sense all Iranians carry of being stewards of one of the oldest civilisations in the world, this is not surprising. Knowing it was their ancestors who gave the world its first charter of human rights, and their poets have epitomised sensible moral values, it cannot be easy to then authorise a woman to be buried in a hole and hit with large stones.

As the authorities consider the important matter of how to respond to adultery, it is good for us all to listen to Jesus. He certainly did not condone this sin, but spoke out against it strongly, warning people of hell if they chose to walk the road of licentiousness. However when the religious authorities of his day dragged before him a woman caught red handed and asked if she should be stoned, his famous reply still stands: ‘Whoever is without sin let him cast the first stone’. And when the accusers had left, he did not condemn her, but said, ‘Go and sin no more.’ It is good influential institutions speak out against immorality, but it is also good that they learn to say, ‘Go and sin no more’.

Pray for

Wisdom for judicial authorities when dealing with these sort of cases
Many like Sakineh Ashtiani to experience the forgiveness of Christ
For Jesus’ attitude towards stoning to be better known

Another imprisoned, surely it’s time to read Tertullian

admin — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 13:19:01 +0000

According to the FCNN website yet another Christian has been languishing in prison for forty days, not for being an activist, but simply for his faith in Christ. On 29^th April 2010 security agents arrested 29 year old chemistry graduate, Ali Golchin, at his home in Veramin, south east of Tehran. After confiscating many of his personal belongings they then took him to an unknown location. For over a month Ali’s family were not allowed to visit, and his wife was told she would have to deny Christ to take up the case in the courts. After constant petitioning Ali’s father was allowed to visit his son on June 17^th – for ten minutes. Ali had lost a lot of weight, and was clearly in pain. He is being punished – but no official charge has been made. This would indicate his suffering is solely due to the fact he has faith in Jesus Christ.

It is surely time for those behind this policy of intimidating Christians to read some Tertullian (160-220 AD). This brilliant writer from Carthage spelt out, with some humour, how the Roman policy of persecuting Christians was impractical, “The Christians to the lion!” What, all of them? To a single lion?’ And that it was a policy doomed to back-fire – ‘The more you mow us (Christians) down, the more numerous we become. The blood of the martyrs is the seed (of the church).’ Christians certainly did become more numerous and by the early fourth century most of the senior leaders of the Roman Empire saw persecution as being a total failure. In 313 AD Constantine issued an edict of toleration.

Tertullian has always been proved right. For the last two thousand years no state has ever managed to sustain a policy of persecution against the church, despite the most horrific barbarity meted out to innocent Christians. Let’s hope some sensible people in Tehran dust off their copies of Tertullian and heed his advice.

Pray for

Immediate release of Ali Golchin
Comfort for his family
Reversal of bankrupt intimidation policy

New bank note, old tensions

admin — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 13:18:17 +0000

The Central Bank of Iran has issued a new 100,000 Rial note (worth about $10). Before now, the largest bill has been the 50,000 one. More than ten million of these new notes have been printed so far. Some quickly concluded that the new bill was about dealing with inflation, a familiar scourge for Iranians. However the inflation rate this summer has dipped down to under 10%. So the new note has been printed probably to make cash transactions a bit easier. But it will help if there is another sudden hike in consumer prices, quite a common event in Iran.

There are two other old tensions on this new note. On the front is a picture of the Islamic Republic’s founder, the late Ayatollah Khomeini, the representative of clear cut revolutionary Islamic values. But on the back there is a picture of the tomb of the poet Saadi, and a famous line from his poetry in English. ‘Human beings are members of a whole in creation of one essence and soul.’ Here is the representative of the more enigmatic and flexible tradition of Iran’s poets, who were willing, as seen in this one line, to take a more mystical view of things. And so in this one banknote, there is this tension regarding Iran’s identity. It is certainly Islamic – but there’s another pull on their soul, the pull of their poets.

A final tension on this new note is that some of it is in Persian, some of it is in English. A healthy part of the Islamic revolution was fuelled by a loathing of the West, and meddling England in particular. The revolution duly down graded English, and up graded Arabic. And yet Iran, even on its banknotes, cannot dispense with the language of international commerce. ‘Neither east nor west, Iran is best’ was a popular revolutionary slogan. But there is this tension that will not go away, seen on this new bank note, that Iran still has to relate to the wider world, however proud it is of its own history and recent revolution.

These tensions, the threat of inflation; religion and poetry; Persian and English are all openings for the Gospel where only one identity matters: being in Christ.

Pray for

Inflation to be kept under control
Iran to continue to relate to wider world
Believers to know their secure identity in Christ

What shall we do tonight? Watch a film

admin — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 13:17:34 +0000

Surveys say Iranians watch about eleven movies a month – on DVD and at the cinema. The number is probably higher. Films, foreign and domestic, are the entertainment of choice. A new Christian TV programme, called ‘Avaye Cinema’ (The Scent of Cinema) aims to attract viewers who have this interest in film. The programme reviews recent movies and gives film news, and at the same time gives the Christian view on a major theme in some of the films looked at. The programme is being shown on the Mohabat satellite TV channel which has had great impact in recent years.

This love of films is a great opportunity for Iranian Christian film makers. To date only Joseph Hovsepian, has made a serious attempt to impact the film world. To date he has made four films, his latest, ‘Cry From Iran’ was a moving documentary on the life and martyrdom of his father, Bishop Haik Hovsepian-Mehr. It won several awards.

Pray for

Avaye Cinema programme to attract many viewers
Joseph Hovsepian’s future films
More Iranian Christians to enter the film business.

Azad University, trouble at the top

admin — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 13:16:39 +0000

Iran’s universities compete with the best and none more so than the prestigious Islamic Azad University. Founded twenty five years ago for private paying students the university has enjoyed phenomenal growth due to the huge demand for higher education. The university has one and a half million students taught by over 35,000 academics in three hundred campuses in Iran, and five overseas. One of its campuses, the Science and Research Centre is the largest university campus in the Middle East. It is clearly an influential institution, and a very wealthy one.

But there has been some trouble at the top, sparked by a recent attempt by President Ahmadinejad to appoint government trustees onto the governing board, reportedly to lessen the influence of his political rival at the university, the powerful Akbar Rafsanfani. This attempt was blocked by parliament. In response some supporters of the President protested in a manner which, according to the speaker of the parliament, Ali Larijani, was ‘ugly and vindictive’.

Azad University is an important institution for all Iranians, including Christians. It provides higher education at a price middle class Iranians can usually afford. It is important that it remains focused on its calling, education, and does not become a battleground for competing political rivalries. And it is important that Christians, in a wise way, witness to their fellow students, as Azad graduates usually go on to high ranking jobs where their life style and beliefs impact many.

Pray for

The present dispute to calm down
Academic success of all involved with the university
Safety, wisdom, and courage for witnessing Christians

Gaza and aid, urgent resolution needed

admin — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 14:35:23 +0000

Iran’s leaders are now actively joining the cause to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza and have offered military escorts. Christians should be praying that this difficult issue will not turn into a major confrontation. Israel imposed the blockade to deter missile attacks, but many have decided the measures are too harsh and are sending in aid. While it is certainly difficult to provide security for Israel without such a blockade, there is no need for this to escalate to outright fighting between the Israelis and Iranians. And if the Iranians are seen to act too provocatively, then with the nuclear issue still unsettled, there will be pressure on Washington to act. And that could grate the nerves of other great powers, like China, where President Ahmadinejad is visiting this week.

Pray for

Security for Israel; necessary supplies for the people of Gaza
Wisdom for all diplomats involved
On going sensitivity on nuclear issue

Another anniversary, probably best to move on

admin — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 14:34:16 +0000

June 12^th is the anniversary of last year’s disputed presidential election result. The government have made it clear they will not tolerate any disturbances. Given that hundreds were put in prison and at least two have been executed it is likely that those inclined to protest will stay at home. For the church this is better. A calmer atmosphere will mean more normal activities can continue. Another season of protests followed by a strict crack down would not provide for that. From last year’s events there are thousands of hurting people who need to know that only true peace and justice can be found in Christ. All societies have stress, and Jesus is the only real stress buster.

Pray for

June 12^th to be peaceful
For Christians to continue to honour all those in authority
Many hurting people from last year’s troubles to find Christ