Iran Is at a Crossroads — Pray for Iran Today
Bonus - A Special Message from Sara Akhavan
Thank you for joining us for this bonus episode of Jesus Speaks Farsi. In this episode we’re sharing a very special message that our friend Sara shared at Lifted, a global online youth event.
Join us to hear Sara share her testimony, experience of prison and persecution, and the truth that the Lord spoke to her in her darkest moments. We know you’ll find it encouraging.
This excerpt comes from Lifted our first ever global online youth event on November 15th, but it’s not too late for you to watch. Register and watch the replay for free by visiting elam.com/lifted.
Hear more from Sara by checking out these two episodes of the podcast.
Everybody Gets to Play: Samuel and Sara Neilsen - https://www.elam.com/podcast
A Follow Up Conversation with Sara - Life After Prison E2 -https://www.elam.com/podcast
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Bonus - A Special Message from Sara Akhavan
Thank you for joining us for this bonus episode of Jesus Speaks Farsi. In this episode we’re sharing a very special message that our friend Sara shared at Lifted, a global online youth event.
Join us to hear Sara share her testimony, experience of prison and persecution, and the truth that the Lord spoke to her in her darkest moments. We know you’ll find it encouraging.
This excerpt comes from Lifted our first ever global online youth event on November 15th, but it’s not too late for you to watch. Register and watch the replay for free by visiting elam.com/lifted.
Hear more from Sara by checking out these two episodes of the podcast.
Everybody Gets to Play: Samuel and Sara Neilsen - https://www.elam.com/podcast
A Follow Up Conversation with Sara - Life After Prison E2 -https://www.elam.com/podcast

More Episodes
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In this episode, Joe has an astonishing conversation with Behrang, who explains how he went from a devout Muslim in Iran to a powerful minister of the Gospel because of an incredible face-to-face encounter with Jesus Christ.
So much of his story is about the impact of prayer on his life, and we truly believe that your prayers have impact too. Find more ways to pray for Iranians by visiting elam.com/pray
A LIFE CHANGED FOREVER: BEHRANG’S ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS
56:59
December 19, 2025
Thank you for joining us for this bonus episode of Jesus Speaks Farsi. In this episode we’re sharing a very special message that our friend Sara shared at Lifted, a global online youth event.
Join us to hear Sara share her testimony, experience of prison and persecution, and the truth that the Lord spoke to her in her darkest moments. We know you’ll find it encouraging.
This excerpt comes from Lifted our first ever global online youth event on November 15th, but it’s not too late for you to watch. Register and watch the replay for free by visiting elam.com/lifted.
Hear more from Sara by checking out these two episodes of the podcast.
Everybody Gets to Play: Samuel and Sara Neilsen - https://www.elam.com/podcast
A Follow Up Conversation with Sara - Life After Prison E2 -https://www.elam.com/podcast
A SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM SARA AKHAVAN
15:52
December 5, 2025
In this episode, we’re celebrating 35 years of ministry at Elam. By God’s grace we have seen the church in the Iran region grow and flourish, despite government opposition and persecution. Although Iranian Christians suffer for their faith, they are passionate in sharing the Word and love of Jesus Christ with those around them.
We at Elam are filled with gratitude for the role God has given us to play in His story for Iran, and we are joyful that we get to partner in that story with you.
To our faithful prayer partners and supporters, thank you for all that you have done to uplift the church in Iran and beyond. God bless!
SPEAKING CHURCH
47:03
November 21, 2025
In this episode, Joe sits down with David Yeghnazar, Executive Director of Elam Ministries, to talk about the recent growth of the Iran church and the lessons the global church can learn from what God is doing among Iranian Christians today. They also share compelling testimonies of ordinary Iranians being transformed by the Gospel and going on to impact the Iran region through evangelism, discipleship and church planting.
LESSONS FROM IRAN'S CHURCH
01:14:01
August 25, 2023
This Good Friday, we wanted to share our friend Bahar’s story with you again. Her story is featured in our earlier series on Women in Iran, so if you haven’t already, we hope you’ll go back and listen to these incredible Iranian women share their experiences of meeting Jesus.
In this episode, Bahar shares her story of growing up as an Iranian woman, which includes her experience of significant discrimination by men in her home country of Iran. When Bahar learned that a Man named Jesus Christ had valued her enough to die for her, she was amazed. Bahar shares about the freedom Jesus brought to her life and the impact she’s seen Him have on many others’ lives since.
BONUS EPISODE
46:53
April 7, 2023
In this bonus episode, we're marking the twentieth anniversary of the modern Farsi translation of the New Testament. 2.5 million copies later, stories of life transformation like the one we share in this episode are happening every day in the Iran region.
In this episode, Joe sits down for a conversation with Rasool, an Iranian Christian whose life was changed dramatically after receiving a New Testament. Rasool shares how, after a difficult childhood and a desperate season in early adulthood, a stranger reached out to him online to tell him that God loved him. Not long after, he received not one, but two New Testaments, which began a trajectory that ultimately led him to place his faith in Jesus. Rasool is now involved in full-time ministry and is happily married with a young son.
BONUS EPISODE
54:34
March 17, 2023
In this bonus episode, Jen will be joined by fellow podcast teammate Moread who handles the design and publishing for Jesus Speaks Farsi.
We love having Moread on the team for his insight and first-hand experience of Persian culture. Born and raised in Iran, he left the country as an adult and has since become a follower of Jesus. Today, Moread is passionate about sharing the story of what God is doing in his beloved homeland.
In this episode, we’ll be hearing a little of Iran’s history, what caused the Islamic Revolution in 1979 and how the country has never been the same since. We hope you enjoy this conversation with Moread!
A BRIEF HISTORY OF IRAN
15:27
May 13, 2022