The following is sponsored content from Vision Beyond Borders.
God is at work in Iran. Many people are disillusioned with Islam and are turning to faith in Jesus Christ. Reports continue to emerge of people experiencing dreams and visions and finding hope, truth, and new life in Him. At the same time, it is heartbreaking to watch the current regime cling to power at great cost to its own people and the future of the nation.
Having visited Iran twice, I was deeply moved by the hospitality of the people and how warmly many spoke of Americans. I also met people who longed for peace and normal relationships with the outside world, including Israel. What I witnessed was very different from the image often portrayed in the media. I was surprised to learn that after 9/11, many people in Tehran gathered for a candlelight vigil in support of the United States.
We drove past the University of Tehran, where our guide pointed out an area known for staged anti-American demonstrations. We were told these events represented a small, radical element rather than the feelings of the broader population.
Having traveled to many countries, I found the Iranian (Persian) people to be among the kindest and most gracious I have ever met. It was painful to see the oppression many live under. We were told that in private settings, people could speak more openly, but in public, there was fear, caution, and constant pressure to conform. Women were required to cover themselves, and public life was tightly controlled.
We visited what we were told was the only restaurant in the country permitted to host live music, because many clerics considered it wrong. One man shared that he had traveled to a neighboring country just to attend a concert. Even at weddings, music was often pre-recorded. You could sense the heaviness many people carried while living under constant surveillance. We noticed security watching foreigners closely, including plainclothes officers in hotel lobbies. Our group had to report our activities daily, and as Americans, we were fingerprinted upon entry.
During my second trip, customs officials discovered the Bibles I was carrying to help believers. I was taken aside, the Bibles were confiscated, and I later learned I had been barred from returning because of it. It is dangerous for many Christians in Iran, so Bibles often must be shared discreetly with those hungry for God’s Word. Many believers meet in secret, and converts from Islam can face severe consequences, including imprisonment.
Yet in the middle of darkness, the light of Christ is shining. Many Iranians long for freedom after decades of repression. Older generations remember a time when the country was more open and daily life carried greater freedoms than it does today. Many continue to hope for change and pray for a better future for their children.
My uncle was Iranian, and I still remember the last time I saw him. He prepared a beautiful Persian meal that I enjoyed immensely. Looking back, I believe God used moments like that to plant a love in my heart for the Persian people. Having cousins who are half Persian often reminds me to pray for Iran.
Today, one of the greatest needs is access to God’s Word. There are men and women in Iran who are searching for truth, asking questions, and longing for hope. Many have never held a Bible in their own language. We are continuing to work to place Bibles into the hands of the Iranian people, but we cannot do it alone.
Would you prayerfully consider helping us provide Bibles for those who are hungry to know Jesus? Your gift can help reach precious people who are risking so much to follow Him. Together, we can bring the hope of Christ to hearts that have waited far too long for freedom and truth.
Partner with Vision Beyond Borders today — and help take the Word of God to the nations.
— Patrick Klein
Director and Founder, Vision Beyond Borders
