Iran (MNN) — Oman’s foreign minister facilitated positive indirect talks between the U.S. and Iran last weekend. The two nations plan to meet again on Saturday about Iran’s disputed nuclear program.

In the meantime, the people of Iran endure skyrocketing inflation as Iran’s economy reels from sanctions. But incredible things are happening there spiritually. The Iranian church is multiplying, and their example can offer encouragement and challenge to believers in the West, says Shah Ahmadi with Iran Alive Ministries.

For example, Iranian believers know there is a price to follow Christ. “[They learn] Jesus died on the cross. He rose after three days, He already gave His life to you. Come and follow, but you may lose everything,” Ahmadi says. “So that is one thing I would encourage to change perspective [in the West]. [The] gospel is not about you. Gospel is about Jesus Christ and following Him.” 

Ahmadi also shares a call to treasure God’s Word and pursue fellowship with other believers, both of which are so dangerous to come by in Iran.

“Inside Iran, it took one month to get [a] Bible to some person. We had to smuggle our Bible inside Iran. We had to put [it] in very unknown place, take a screenshot, send location, send three different people to put there, and then ask, ‘can someone come and pick that Bible?’ It’s just been a heavy, heavy process of having just one Bible in there,” he says.

(Photo by Inimafoto A/Pexels)

“In Iran, people, they die for going to house churches. Iranian government believes in power of the church more than we [in the West] do. That’s why they arrest them.”

The fourth encouragement he brings up is the most important one, he says. “Share with others. Share with others. Don’t hold back the good news. You can share with your friend, your family, your coworkers and in many creative ways, but share it. Sharing is not pastor’s job or evangelists’ job. Every one of us, we play [a] role [in] sharing the love of God with other people.” 

Find your place in the story

If you worship in Western churches, ask God to help you make the most of your freedoms. Pray for Iranian brothers and sisters in Christ and let their challenges spur you on after God. 

“They say, ‘Don’t pray the persecution finish. Pray we could be faithful during that persecution,” says Ahmadi.

Finally, here is his simple suggestion for church multiplication in the West.

“My strategy is this: if each member of the church in next year [will] bring one person to Christ, the church will be double[d].” Sounds straightforward, doesn’t it? Is there a way your church could begin encouraging and (if needed) training people for a year of outreach?

 

Header photo is a representative stock image courtesy mentatdgt via Pexels.