Samira's past couple years of house church ministry have been challenging, but after attending Elam's leaders' conference recently, she felt her passion for ministry renewed. When she arrived back home in Iran, her Muslim father, who is in his 80's, looked at her inquisitively. When she asked him what he was thinking, he said, "I am thinking about your God and the change I see in you."

Like Samira, many other Iranian church leaders left the leaders' conference encouraged and excited about this upcoming year of evangelism and discipleship. Within just a few weeks of their time together at the conference, many were hosting Christmas events at their churches. Neary 9,000 people attended Christmas services in the Iran region and many gave their lives to Christ on Christmas Day. In just one city, 18 people trusted Christ at a Christmas event.