Iran
Iran is the heir to one of the oldest and most powerful civilizations the world has ever known. The Persian Empire stretched from Greece to India; its kings appear by name in the Hebrew scriptures. For centuries, Zoroastrianism — a religion of light and truth — shaped Persian culture and ethics. The Arab conquest of the 7th century brought Islam, and when the Safavid dynasty rose to power in 1501, they imposed Shia Islam as the official state religion, a distinction that sets Iran apart from most of the Muslim world to this day. The 1979 Islamic Revolution under Ayatollah Khomeini transformed the country into a theocratic republic, replacing the Shah's western-leaning monarchy with rule by Islamic jurists.
92,418,000
People live in Iran today under one of the most repressive governments in the world — and yet the church is growing faster here than almost anywhere on earth. The Islamic Republic imprisons, tortures, and threatens death for those who leave Islam, particularly those who share their faith with others. And yet tens of thousands of Iranians are coming to Christ, drawn through satellite television, social media, dreams, and the witness of fearless believers. Many Iranians — especially the young — are deeply disillusioned with the Islamic Republic, and a generation that once knew only theocracy is searching for something true.
Prayer points
The Underground Church
Pray for the thousands of Iranian house churches meeting in secret — believers who have paid a great price to follow Jesus and who carry the gospel with extraordinary boldness. Ask God to protect their leaders, multiply their numbers, and give them access to Scripture, discipleship, and one another. "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise... he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish." (2 Peter 3:9)
Shia Muslims Encountering Jesus
Pray for Iran's Shia Muslim majority — a people with a deep tradition of mourning, sacrifice, and longing for a just savior. Ask God to reveal to them that the one they are seeking has already come, and to use dreams, visions, and faithful witnesses to bring them face to face with the risen Christ. "I am the way, the truth, and the life." (John 14:6)
A Generation Rising
Pray for Iran's young people — educated, connected, and increasingly unwilling to live under the weight of a system that has failed them. Many are walking away from Islam and searching desperately for truth. Ask God to meet them in their disillusionment and to bring the light of Christ to a generation on the edge of something new. "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13)