"I have been praying for a copy"
In mid-July this year a church leader, an Elam graduate, jumped into a taxi in Tehran. He was frustrated because he had to wait 20 minutes for one. But he soon found himself in an engaging conversation with the driver. ‘Life is so difficult,’ the driver complained as he poured out his heart to his passenger. The church leader replied, “I had the same challenges as you, until Jesus changed my life. I have given my life to him.”
“I know about Christianity,” the driver said, “My wife has been watching Christian TV and likes it very much.”
They talked together for some time and the church leader challenged him to allow his life to be transformed by Christ. He gave him a copy of the New Testament as well as his phone number so they could meet again. The next day, the church leader received a phone call from a lady who sounded so full of joy. “You don’t know me, but yesterday you met my husband and gave him a copy of the Gospel. I am so excited, because it has been 13 days since I have been praying everyday that God would somehow give me a copy!”
"Your New Born Brother in Iran"
Elam’s Persian Christian website (kalameh.com) continues to receive thousands of unique visits from Iranians. Earlier in 2007 we received this very encouraging email from a gentleman in Iran: ‘It’s been a few months that I’ve become a Christian and this through communication with you. I praise the Lord that he put this grace in my life. I’d sent you letters and I’ve kept the answers that you have written like gifts. I request that you send me a Bible because, praise the Lord, my wife is coming to the Lord soon. Your new born brother in Iran.’
The Holy Spirit at Work at a Red Light
In October 2006, an Elam graduate, Hassan, and his wife, Shadi were driving in Tehran at 1a.m. and stopped at a red light. Noticing the man in the car that pulled up next to them, Shadi said to her husband, “I am prompted that we should give this man a New Testament.” Obediently, Hassan jumped out of the car and knocked on the man’s window. “I am a Christian and would like to give you a copy of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.” At first startled, the man, Babak, shared his amazement at receiving the gift. “This morning I was thinking: God please show me how I can know you.” The two exchanged phone numbers and met later. But Babak’s girlfriend was not interested and held him back, and they lost touch for several months.
Then in July, Hassan got a message from Babak asking if they could meet. This time he knelt, repented and yielded his life to Christ. Just before he left, Babak said, “The night we met at the red light I had actually been following you for 20 minutes because something in my heart told me to follow your car.”