Vladimir Putin meeting with Hassan Rouhani.
(Photo, caption credit: Kremlin via Wikipedia)
Iran (MNN) — Christians with an eye on biblical prophecy are growing wary.
Formerly known as Persia, Iran is mentioned in Ezekiel 38’s prophecy
as having a starring role with Russia in End Times events. Persia and
Rosh (Russia) are described as having a military alliance intent on
invading and destroying Israel.
According to the Jerusalem Post, key
talks between Iran’s defense minister and his Russian equivalent took
place back in January. The pair were reportedly developing a mutual
defense agreement “to prevent foreign meddling.”
“The situation in the region and the world requires that powerful
Russia and powerful Iran jointly promote strengthening of international
security and regional stability,” Brigadier General Hosein Dehqan told
Interfax.
Now, Iran is putting blame squarely on the U.S. and Israel for current Middle East turmoil.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry shakes hands with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif
[State Department photo/ Public Domain]
Amid the disturbing developments and suspicions, there’s good news coming from Iran, too.
Take *Amir, for example.
Escaping Iran
Amir’s pathway to Christ began in 2004. A friend invited him to an
underground church in Tehran, “to see how Christians worshipped.” Amir
accepted his friend’s invitation and was forever changed.
“That was amazing! The worship with songs, and [it was a] peaceful place,” he shares in broken English.
“I can’t say with words that feeling I had.”
“Amir” pauses for a group photo with the MNN team at the Missio Nexus Leadership Conference.
Fast-forward to 2008: Amir has accepted Christ as his Savior and is actively serving in Tehran’s Underground Church.
“My father said, ‘This is your choice. It’s not a problem, but be careful,’” recalls Amir with a smile.
During this time, Amir also attended university, where he studied
Printing to one day take over his father’s publishing business. Shortly
thereafter, Amir’s pastor approached him with a proposition.
“My pastor one time told me, ‘We have a project for [the] youth
group,” Amir says. “‘We want to print [a] magazine for the youth group;
can you print it?’
“I said, ‘Yes, of course!’”
Everything went fine until 2010, when the church’s Christian magazine
attracted government attention. Iranian officials began “putting
pressure” on Amir’s church, and even interrogated his pastor.
“The pastor told me, ‘Delete every file of that magazine,’” recalls
Amir. “The government said, ‘You advertise another religion’…and, you
know, Iran is the Islamic Republic.
“[Islam] is very important for the government, because if you
delete the Islamic in the Republic of Iran, you have to change the
government.”
By God’s grace, Amir’s father had connections in all the right
places. He first contacted a friend who used to practice law in Tehran,
and this man advised Amir to flee the country.
“If you stay here, 100% they [the government will] find you,” the man told Amir.
The next call was to friends in airport security. Since Amir’s name
hadn’t yet been added to the official watch list, “I fly to Turkey three
years ago.”
Immediately joining a Persian-speaking Church, Amir took another crucial step of faith.
“In Iran, I [couldn’t get] baptized because it’s very difficult for
us to baptize,” he explains. “I [got baptized] in 2013 in Istanbul.”
Amir “in action” at the Missio Nexus Leadership Conference.
After studying theology, Amir began teaching new believers about the
Christian faith. He also registered as a refugee with the United
Nations, in hopes of one day reaching America.
Under UNHCR mandates, refugees wishing to re-settle outside their
source nation must have sponsors willing to take them in and help them
adjust.
Working through a U.S.-based ministry, a retired missionary helped make Amir’s dream come true.
Arriving a few weeks ago on U.S. soil, Amir is now stepping forward in faith and trusting God with the results.
“I know I’m here because this is part of the plans of God.”
Will you keep him in your prayers?
*name changed for security reasons
Source: Mission Network
News
Topic: Christian escapes Iran, finds refuge in U.S.
