PLANO, Texas (ABP) — In the meeting hall of a suburban Dallas church recently, Persian praise songs resonated as about 150 worshipers raised their hands and opened their hearts. They rejoiced in the way God’s Spirit is moving among Iranians, and they fervently prayed, asking God to encourage Christians living under religious persecution in Iran.
Some who attended the event — called Iran’s Great Awakening — at First Baptist Church in Plano, Texas, have dedicated their lives to reaching Iranians around the world with the gospel while others came to learn more about the movement of Christianity in Iran.
But two things are true for all who came: They learned Iranians are open to the gospel, and they discovered ways to join this movement, said Karen Hatley, the event's organizer and director of global connections for Texas Baptists.
“You just don’t get news reports about what’s going on with the church in Iran,” Hatley said. “Iranians are hungry for spiritual things, so they are open to Christianity more than we realize.”
Worshiping in Farsi
Roland Worton, worship pastor at Sojourn Church in Dallas and former worship leader of the Iranian Christian Fellowship in London, began the night by leading worship songs in Farsi (another name for the Persian language). Some songs were unique to Iran; others were praise songs familiar to American churches.
The goal was to give the group a taste of what it is like to worship as an Iranian, Worton said.
“Iranian worship is very rhythmic, and it’s very free,” Worton said. “For them to come to Christ, it means they can praise and worship. I think there is just a lot of freedom in worship particularly because of the oppression that has been there. They are coming out of an oppressive religion where they are not allowed to sing and dance. It’s a very emotional experience.”
Malcolm Steer, keynote speaker for the night and a former missionary to Iran, described Christianity in Iran, challenging the crowd to put aside political fears and see what God is doing in the country.
“The purpose of tonight is to give you a big picture,” Steer told the group. “It isn’t Iran itself, but Iranians around the world. I have good news for you. Today, the God of Daniel is alive and moving. He still works through signs and wonders, and if there is a country that demonstrates that, it is Iran.”
Participants sing worship songs in Farsi at Iran’s Great Awakening, a night of Persian worship held at First Baptist Church in Plano.
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Conversions despite oppression
Although there still is significant legal oppression of Christians in Iran, Steer said many Iranians are choosing to follow Christ. He believes this stems from a discontent with the strict version of Islam forced on the country in recent decades.
“It causes many people to question where they belong, and the Lord has opened up an opportunity,” he said.
Some of the open doors have come through Christian programs placed on the Internet, radio and three satellite television channels, as well as God giving men and women dreams and visions about him.
Joseph Hovsepian, founder of Hovsepian Ministries, is one of the Iranian believers who uses mass media to reach his fellow Iranians. Hovsepian, who now lives in California, produces television shows that are broadcast in Iran and are focused on evangelism and discipleship. He and his brothers also provide tools through the Internet to train Iranians in leading worship for house churches.
“There is almost no day passing by that we don’t receive e-mails or phone calls of Iranian people giving their lives to Christ,” Hovsepian said.
“All I know is that I do have such a passion for Iran that sometimes I can’t sleep. Muslims are looking for the truth, and God has put us in a place where we do have something to share with them. It makes me very excited and proud but at the same time responsible because the harvest is plentiful and the workers are few.”
Hovsepian also travels to churches and conferences showing A Cry from Iran — a movie he and his brothers produced about the life and martyrdom of their father, a Christian Iranian leader. They hope it will mobilize American believers to pray for the Iranian church, as well as see Iran through God’s eyes.
“Our lives after my father’s martyrdom were completely challenged to define and question God’s existence and justice,” Hovsepian said. “But at the same time, he [God] — being the healer — used his hands to do a surgery in our hearts. He took away that hatred and replaced it with his peace, and it gave us a way to reach out to the Iranians.”
The Persian diaspora
Steer challenged believers to engage Iranians across the globe, mentioning that large pockets of Iranians now dwell in Turkey, Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, North America and the United Kingdom.
“God is working among the exiles, whether it is in London or Dallas,” he said. “Disillusioned Iranians are seeking truth. In these days when people are looking for truth, pray that they will find the reality that Christ is the way, truth and life.”
Christians can make an impact on Iranians living in the West by just sharing life with them, taking a friendship-evangelism approach, Worton said.
“Iranians are relational. It is very important with Iranians that you invite them to your home and you are relational,” he said. “Love them. Ask Christ for love for them and begin to display love. Eat with them. They are people with a culture that revolves around food. Invite them to your home. That will open doors.”
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Kaitlin Chapman writes for Texas Baptist Communications.
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