Source: www.MNNonline.org
Date: June 17, 2025
Iran (MNN) — Translating Scripture is serious business, especially in Iran. Dane with unfoldingWord says, “The Bible is banned in Iran, so it’s a very, very difficult and dangerous environment for people to do this work.”
Following Christ often carries a high cost. More about that here.
“If they catch you doing evangelism, translating the Bible, or leading someone to Christ, at the very least, they will put you in prison, and it could be quite worse,” Dane says.
Still, brave believers keep going – so every people group can hear God’s Word in their own language. “About half of Iran’s people speak a language other than the national language, [which] is Farsi,” Dane says.
That’s where unfoldingWord steps in. More about that here.
“We’re handing off the tools, training, and the technology to help our partners create a movement of Bible translation and church planting to every least-reached people group in their nation,” Dane says.
“It puts Bible translation into the hands of the Church, and you’re no longer dependent on Western PhD experts to do this.”
The end result is worth it all. “The first time somebody hears God’s Word in their own language, they weep,” Dane says.
(Graphic courtesy of unfoldingWord)
Pray for the Lord’s favor and blessing upon church-centric Bible translators in Iran.
“As soon as they’re done with that one book of the Bible, they can begin using it. They’ll share it chapter by chapter because many of these translators are pastors or house church leaders, so they can use it right away,” Dane says.
“Our partners in Iran have completed 18 translations of our unfoldingWordⓇ Open Bible Stories, which we call our translation primer, and they’re working on four New Testament translations.”
Pray for God’s miraculous healing to cover unfoldingWord’s partner, Transform Iran’s team of servant leaders. Several crises and chronic health challenges have hindered their work lately.
“Be unceasing in prayer because there are lots of obstacles,” Dane says. “There are economic, financial, government, and cultural obstacles, and obviously, all of that is empowered by spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
Header image is a representative stock photo courtesy of mostafa meraji/Pixabay.