Source: www.MNNonline.org
Date: May 9, 2025
Iran (MNN) — You’ve heard that Iran has one of the fastest growing churches in the world, right? Let’s take a closer look at the weaknesses and opportunities that come with that exploding reality.
Dr. Hormoz Shariat serves with Iran Alive Ministries and is himself an Iranian Muslim-turned-Christian.
“Just think of it. There is no church in Iran. No mature Christians — [or] very few mature Christians in Iran,” he says. “Pastors? None. So just think of Iran as a family full of children, spiritual children.
“They’re coming to Christ by thousands every month, but they’re children. They need parents, they need teaching, and they’re hungry. A healthy child is hungry.”
Discipleship is a key focus of Iran Alive Ministries.
“[We] not only evangelize — which we see amazing results [from]. We just passed 105,000 registered salvations,” Dr Shariat says. “But we [also] try to teach them, connect them to the Word of God, help them to walk with God and obey God.”
Iran Alive has 5,000 students registered in their online school. But the current team can only mentor a fraction of them!
“These are good problems to have. Many are coming to Christ,” Dr. Shariat says. “Evangelism is easy in Iran, but we need to work together to disciple that nation.”
He points to a ticking time bomb.
“I wish I could show you the curve of evangelism. We have been on satellite channels since 2001, after 9/11. We have kept the numbers, and when you see the curve, you see the exponential growth of number of salvations the last few years,” Dr. Shariat says.
“Urgency. That’s my point. Iran is open. But don’t think that’s going to last forever. The Iranian government may come down and things may change. [The] spiritual atmosphere of Iran could change within a few weeks or in a few months.”
Tehran, Iran (Representative stock photo courtesy of Zahra Amiri via Unsplash)
He reminds us of Jesus’s words in John 9:4,“We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.”
“I want to say it’s urgent that we join together to transform Iran, because Iran can be the first Islamic nation that turns to Christ — and I’m serious about it. It is possible if we work together.”
Find your place in the stories God is working out with Iran Alive Ministries.
Header photo of Sistani students in Sistan and Baluchestan Province, Iran (Representative stock photo courtesy of Mohammad Moslehi via Unsplash).