Church Leaders under Pressure
Every church leader of the ‘over ground’ church in Iran is being watched, as well as many underground church leaders. Many are forced to regularly report to the Islamic authorities to give updates on their church programs. They live with the threat of severe persecution every day. In September 2004 the entire leadership of the Assemblies of God Churches were arrested and questioned. They were all warned it was illegal to share Christ with Muslims.
Pray for all Christian leaders in Iran, that they will not have a spirit of fear, but ‘a spirit of power, and of love, and of a sound mind’.
Leadership Development
With the church in Iran growing rapidly, it is vital that we develop healthy leaders and ministers to help the church grow. There is a wide consensus that leadership development for emerging national leaders is the greatest need facing the Church in Iran today. However, the Church in Iran is prevented from establishing any leadership training programs for Christians. They are not even allowed to hold conferences.
Pray for all unofficial training efforts inside the country, and all training programs outside Iran that hundreds of Iranian Christians will grow as healthy church leaders.
Scriptures and Christian Literature
Many Iranians today are hungry to read the New Testament, and there is a constant demand for Scriptures throughout the country, especially in the provincial areas. But it is strictly illegal to print the Bible and other Christian literature in Iran. Anyone caught doing so faces very severe punishments.
Pray that Elam and other partner ministries will continue to be successful in sending the Scriptures into Iran. Pray for protection and for more people to volunteer.
The Web
Over 7 million people in Iran access the internet, and every year the numbers are rising. The web is the one place where Iranians can freely express themselves and where they can easily access Christian material. Iran has one of the highest levels of Internet usage in the non-Western world.
Pray for Christian web-sites, including Kalameh.com, where more than ten thousand visit every month. For many Christians, Kalameh.com is the primary source of Christian teaching.
Satellite TV
Despite the fact that it is technically illegal, millions of Iranians watch Satellite TV. Persian Christian channels have proved a great way to reach many with the Gospel as well as provide teaching for believers. For some underground churches, these broadcasts are their only connection to the wider Iranian church.
Pray for Persian Christian broadcasters that they will impact Iran with sensitive and high quality programs.
Please go to www.prayforiran.com for a comprehensive prayer guide on Iran complete with slide shows and Persian worship music.