On 21st May Robert Asserian, pastor of Assemblies of God (AoG) church in Tehran, was arrested while leading a prayer meeting and the church has now been closed by government officials. ‘These incidents appear to be an attempt to stop worship services from being conducted in Farsi, the language of the majority of Iranians,’ said the general superintendent of the AoG in the United States. Before his arrest authorities raided Pastor Asserian’s home and confiscated his computer and books. His arrest is part of an intensifying campaign against the AoG and other recognized churches. Iranian Christians request our continued prayer that: a. Pastor Robert will know the presence and peace of Jesus, and that he will be released soon. b. Church leaders will know the Spirit's wisdom, especially concerning public acts of worship. c. The pressure against churches will relent and services in Farsi will be permitted.
Pray: for all detained because of their Christian faith and activities. May they know the closeness of Jesus daily. For many more officials involved to love mercy, act justly, learn about Jesus and choose to follow Him. (Mic.6:8)
Iran: Four prayer needs
02 Mar 2011
1) Iranian naval vessels sailed the Suez Canal on Tuesday en route to Syria, the first time in three decades that Tehran has been allowed to send military ships through this strategic waterway. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu viewed the move 'with gravity.' The ships paid about $300,000 in fees for the passage, according to a Maritime agent. See: 2) After two days of violent street protests in one week, Iran's opposition Green Movement said it was pondering its next move and considering a continuation of street protests, according to opposition websites. Websites have since been shut down. 3) Opposition leaders Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karoubi have been under house arrest for over a week with little communication with the outside world. See: 4) Many Christians imprisoned for their faith need our prayers for Gods provision, and house churches in Iran need much wisdom at this time. See: Pray: for God’s power and authority to overrule all of Tehran's widening strategic horizons. (Pr.10:29-30) More: http://www.unitedagainstnucleariran.com/node?sid=21191
Iran: Fears for condemned pastor’s welfare
28 Nov 2011Compass Direct News reports that the mistreatment of Youcef Nadarkhani, amounts to physical and psychological torture, a source close to the pastor's family said. An Iranian church member said that communication with Nadarkhani is limited, but sources close to the imprisoned Christian indicate he has undergone physical and psychological torture. ‘Certainly he was hit, his telephone conversations are heard by authorities’ the source said, adding he has been in extreme situations spending time in a solitary cell unable to talk to others for long times and also is told he will be killed. Visitors to Youcef have seen evidence of torture, adding ‘long periods of solitary confinement can cause mental trauma, although we have not seen any evidence in Youcef of being in a bad mental state.’
Pray: for God’s Holy Spirit to continue to protect Youcef’s mind. Pray also for his speedy release despite not recanting his faith. (Heb.10:35)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/fears.for.welfare.of.iranian.pastor.facing.execution/28898.htm
Iran: Farsi language banned from Church
09 Jan 2014Farsi is the language spoken by most Iranians. Iran's churches are under pressure from the government to stop holding services in the Farsi language. According to Mohabat News, St. Peter Church in Tehran was forced by the Revolutionary Guard to announce that Farsi-speaking Christians are no longer allowed to attend and a church custodian of St Peter Church had to refuse admittance to Farsi-speaking members.Some had worshipped there for 20+ years. Sunday school teachers, elders, and ministers could not enter the building for any reason. The pastor announced that all services will now be held in another language. Iran's Ministry of Intelligence requested the church turn over all personnel information, an act intended to intimidate members from attending. Only a few Armenian and Assyrian families now attend St. Peter church. Now that all Farsi-speaking members are banned the church will probably close completely.
Iran: Facing death in Prison
01 Sep 2012Jailed Iranian pastor Behnam Irani is ‘already facing death’ after being denied proper medical care promised by prison officials. An update on his condition from a council member of the pastor's Church of Iran said he was suffering in jail and his situation was getting worse. Irani, who is in his 40s, was arrested in 2011 for 'acting against the interests of national security’ but several persecution watch groups said the real reason was his preaching the Gospel and leading Iranians to Christ. After being severely beaten in Prison and being found several times unconscious in his cell when visited, a hospital examination discovered a bleeding ulcer. Officials claimed he would be provided with more care – but so far that hasn't happened. A recent update reported he had a blood infection and may need surgery to remove part of his intestines which are the source of infection. However despite earlier promises nothing has been done. There is more of Behnam’s tragic story at
Pray: for Pastor Behnam’s complete healing and releasse for God’s peace and comfort to be with him, his family, and all in Iranian prisons for their faith. (Ps.59:4)
More: http://www.christianpost.com/news/iranian-christian-pastor-behnam-irani-facing-death-in-prison-80681/
Iran: Excellent and tragic reports
28 Jun 2010
The number of Christians in Iran has grown from 500 known believers in 1979 to at least 100,000 today. Church leaders have reportedly said that millions can be added to the church in the next few years -such is the spiritual hunger that exists and the disillusionment with the Islamic regime. Iran is a strategic gateway nation with a growing church that will impact the Islamic world. For stories of how God is transforming Iran go to: http://www.iranaliveministries.org/ Against this backdrop we learn of continual crack-downs on Christians by Iran's security forces, the most recent being a raid last Friday on a prayer meeting in Tehran where Christians were praying for fellow believers jailed in earlier raids. The Iranian Church is a growing, secretive, delicate alternative way of life in Iran that many are embracing. They need our continued prayers as they grow into their inheritance. Pray: for God to comfort and protect his children in detention and increase international pressure to allow religious freedom nationally. (Ps.5:3,4)
The whereabouts of an evangelical pastor in Iran remained unknown Saturday, August 27, some 10 days after he was detained by Iranian security forces as part of a reported government crackdown on Christian converts, BosNewsLife established. Abdolreza ‘Matthias’ Haghnejad, of the evangelical Church of Iran denomination, was arrested August 17 by Iranian authorities in the northern city of Rasht while making a pastoral visit, according to Iranian Christians and human rights investigators. Pastor Haghnejad, from the nearby seaport city of Bandar-e Anzali, has not been able to contact his family and ‘it is believed he is being held without access to an attorney,’ said advocacy group Christian Solidarity Worldwide. This year the pastor was also detained along with ten other members of his denomination, on charges of ‘activities against the order’ but he was later released.
Pray: for the whole nation of Iran and the many individuals being held by the authorities, that God would breakthrough with His freedom and grace. (Lk.4:18)
More: http://www.bosnewslife.com/17976-iran-detains-evangelical-pastor-whereabouts-unknown
Iran: Death threats and death sentence
07 Oct 2011Eleven Iranian Christians who fled Iran in the wake of a government campaign against evangelical Christianity received death threats via email from a group called ‘the unknown soldiers of the Hidden Imam’ (the Messiah-figure in Shia Twelver theology). Christian Solidarity Worldwide says the e-mail calls on the believers to either repent or face extra-judicial execution. The ‘unknown soldiers’ are alleged to have links with Iranian security services. The emails warned that although they managed to flee Iran they are not hidden from the ‘cute eyes of the unknown soldiers’ - who claim they have been advancing to the heart of the ‘Zionist regime’ over a number of years. Meanwhile, the written verdict of the most recent trial of Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani is still being awaited. Unconfirmed reports indicate that the fate of the pastor may now lie in the hands of the local religious leader, Ayatollah Ghorbani.
Pray: for God's continued protection over Iranian Christians and for the global media support of Pastor Youcef to secure his release. (Ps.16:1)