A Million New Believers!
"Blessed are
those who are persecuted
for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven."
Matthew 5: 10
Pastor Farshid Fathi speaks about the growth of the church
in Iran. Fathi spent years in Iranian prisons for his faith. Now
he serves in Turkey among all the hundreds of thousands of
Iranians there. He estimates there are more than one million
new believers in Iran despite severe restrictions on them.
“Persecution is not the end of the story, but part of it,”
said Fathi.
“The greatest demonstration of love we
can make is to be willing to go through suffering.”
The Christians in Jesus’ day were
persecuted
because of the difference in their lives. When
we live for Christ, we'll sometimes be reviled
and persecuted.
Even in the West, increasing pressures are falling on
those holding a biblical worldview. But we must
never
be intimidated. Should persecution come, God gives
us grace to uphold the cross of Jesus Christ with joy.
It’s time to speak up for
Christ and for our
Gospel story. Abide in Him, knowing you
will be blessed, even if opposed.
"I pray regularly that God would soften the
hearts of Iran’s leaders to see the gospel
for what it is: good news, not a threat."
Farshid Fathi
