Iranian Imam Receives Christ Via Satellite TV, Escapes Country

Mark Ellis/AH

One of the top Islamic leaders in Iran accepted Christ and left the country after facing death threats and imprisonment, according to an Iranian pastor living in the U.S.

“This man has been watching Christian TV programs for the past two years,” said Pastor Elnathan Baghestani, founder of Iran for Christ Ministries (ICM). Pastor Baghestani and his wife provide Christian programming to the Mohabat Network satellite, which broadcasts 24/7 into Iran and other Middle Eastern countries..

The Imam called one of the phone counselors connected to Iran for Christ Ministries and prayed to receive Christ in early February. “The man has been watching Christian TV programs for the past two years,” Baghestani said. “He said he has believed since he began watching the programs but his salvation was sealed through his confession.”

“This man knows all the verses of the Qur’an by heart,” he added. “After he began watching, doubt began in his heart about the Islamic faith.” The man spent [time] in prison after he questioned the violence of radical Islam. Following his release from prison, he faced numerous death threats, [but then] escaped the country.

Several other religious leaders may follow suit. “He knows four other high-ranking Imams that are in the same condition and want to leave Iran,” Baghestani said. (It is illegal to own satellite dishes in Iran.) “They arrest people for having satellite dishes because they know the Christian programming is effective,” Baghestani noted.

The Imam who fled, left everything behind. “Now he is a poor refugee in a foreign country.”

“God is shaking the foundation of Islam in Iran,” Baghestani said. “We have been praying for some of the main government officials to come to Christ and God is answering us,” he reports. “I pray God will open more doors for us to send the Gospel to the Middle East.”

Source: ASSIST News Service

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3. ‘IRAN 30’ LAUNCHED – THOUSANDS JOIN IN PRAYER!

Dear Friends,

‘IRAN 30’ LAUNCHED – THOUSANDS JOIN IN PRAYER!

IRAN 30, a new prayer guide published by Elam Ministries, has been launched this month to help Christians pray for Iran at this tumultuous time in its history. Already nearly 50,000 copies have been ordered by individuals, churches and mission organizations. The books will be used by Christians around the world to intercede for the people of Iran in the coming months. Elam Ministries hopes to see at least 100,000 books distributed by the end of 2009. IRAN 30 can be ordered now at www.iran30.org.

Many leaders have endorsed the project. Author and speaker Ravi Zacharias says: “I commend this much needed and sensitive prayer guide.” George Verwer, the founder of Operation Mobilization calls IRAN 30 “a relevant powerful prayer presentation” and says, “it needs to be flooded out across the world.”

Durwood Snead, Director of GlobalX at North Point Community Church, a mega-church in Atlanta, Georgia, plans on using the prayer guide with their intercessors saying, “IRAN 30 is a tremendous resource to help educate our people and focus our prayer efforts for Iran. I can’t think of a more strategic way to pray for the Muslim world.”

In the UK, John Coles, director of New Wine which is one of the largest network of churches in the UK has encouraged Christians to use the book, saying: “Iran 30 will touch both your mind and your heart as you read about the country, people, culture, and religious persecution in Iran… its practical approach will inspire and guide.”

With 30 very short, easy to read sections organized under four key subject areas, IRAN 30 is designed to help readers discover what is happening behind the scenes and enable them to pray effectively over 30 days.

It comes at a time when the stakes are very high in Iran and Iranian Christians are pleading for prayer from the global church. Says a leader of a fast growing house church network in Iran, “The situation is very bad… [but] we will stand with our people because we love them and strongly believe each one of them could be a child of God in his Kingdom. Now, more than ever, we need people to pray for us.”

Elam Ministries has been working on this book for several months, and in God’s providence, it is being released at this turbulent time in Iranian history. Sam Yeghnazar, Founder of Elam Ministries says, “Iranians have shown the world their aspiration for freedom and hope in life. I believe we are potentially on the brink of possibly one of the greatest mission opportunities of our time. As Christians pray, Iran will be transformed.”

The book will soon be available in Spanish, Portuguese and other languages. There is no cost to order the book, though though donations can be made to help cover expenses. Churches are encouraged to get the book for their congregations and use it together for a month of prayer.

Links:
www.iran30.org
www.elam.com

Thank you for praying.

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