Iranian Muslims Embracing Christianity in Record Numbers.

crystalpc · Jun 16, 2004

I found this in the news thread and got permission from the original poster to post it here.

50,000 Iranians Make a Decision to Follow Jesus.

SAN JOSE, CA, June 14, 2004 International Antioch MinistriesTM (IAM) has won over 50,000 Iranian Muslims to Christ through the ministry's satellite TV broadcast since it first aired in 2002. Seen in prime time throughout the Islamic Republic of Iran, IAM's ICTV (Iranian Christian TVTM), offers ten hours of programming each week, including: a live, call-in pastoral show; uplifting worship and praise and discipleship instruction. IAM's ICTV is the much loved home church for many within closed Muslim countries who dare not worship openly, as well as reaching the globally dispersed Iranian community. Through visions, dreams, and miracles, the Lord confirms the message of the Gospel broadcast daily on ICTV. As a result, each week, Muslims give their hearts to Christ through IAM's ICTV, both on the air and afterwards as IAM ministers to hundreds of calls and emails. Just in the past six months, IAM has seen an three-fold increase in calls, emails and faxes from Iranians living within Iran and worldwide, showing how powerfully the Lord is fulfilling His promise: I will set my throne in Elam [Iran], says the Lord, and I will destroy its king and princes. But in the latter days I will restore the fortunes of Elam [Iran], says the Lord. (Jeremiah 49:38-39 NLT)

IAM also welcomes its first ministry partner, Sammy Tippit Ministries, which is now sharing the precious gospel of Jesus Christ through IAM's ICTV. Pastor Tippit presents his powerful preaching and programs over IAM's ICTV for one hour each week, translated into Farsi (Iranian).

The work to evangelize in Iran first began in 1830, by American missionaries. By 1979, nearly 150 years later, only 3,000 evangelical Christians lived in an Iranian population of 50 million, explained IAM's founder, Pastor Hormoz Shariat, PhD.

In just two years, we estimate over 50,000 Iranian Muslims have accepted Christianity through IAMs satellite TV ministry. Many of these new Christians are facing imprisonment, persecution, loss of employment and martyrdom. With the generous support of ministries such as Voice of the Martyrs and Sammy Tippit Ministries, as well as individual donations, IAM is able to maintain and expand our vital work. As former Muslims from the Middle East, we are able to reach out to millions of Muslims and bring them to the light of Christ. We would be delighted to help other churches and ministries reach Muslims in the 10/40 window by advising them as well as assisting with media production and literature translation. We would also like to thank our donors and supporters, without whom this great work could not continue.

Broadcast in the Iranian language (Farsi), Farsi speakers can learn more about IAM's ICTV, including broadcast times and stations, at www.ic-tv.com, while English speakers can learn more about IAM and its broadcast ministry at its web site: www.iam-online.net.

About International Antioch Ministries (IAM)TM

Leaders in winning Muslims to ChristTM, IAM (www.iam-online.net) was founded by Muslim converts to Christianity in 2002. Headquartered in San Jose, CA, IAM's live, prime-time pastoral call-in satellite TV show into Iran (ICTVTM), has been the catalyst for over 50,000 conversions of Muslims worldwide. IAM plants churches, trains Iranian-speaking Christian leaders for ministry, develops Iranian language evangelistic and discipleship materials and provides humanitarian support to Iranians worldwide. IAM's California-based church plant, The Iranian Christian Church, has the largest affiliated Iranian Christian membership outside of Tehran, Iran, and was featured in February, 2004, by CBN's The 700 Club as America's Church of the Week. IAM is a self-supporting, non-profit religious organization devoted to fulfilling The Great Commission: first to Iranian Muslims and then to the rest of the Muslim world. For more information, contact International Antioch Ministries, 4265 Kirk Road, San Jose, CA 95124. Phone: 408.267.3274, fax: 408.267.9145, web site: http://www.iam-online.net.

About Sammy Tippit Ministries

Sammy Tippit Ministries, formerly God's Love In Action, is dedicated to global evangelism and revival in the church. Sammy Tippit Ministries exists to glorify God by evangelizing the world for Christ. Sammy Tippit Ministries acts as a catalyst of revival within the Body of Christ worldwide. We equip and impart vision and a passion for the lost to church leaders in such a way that it results in outreach and impacts both cities and nations for Christ with long-term results. For more information, please contact: Ron Johnson, Sammy Tippit Ministries, P.O. Box 781767, San Antonio, TX 78278, Phone: 1.210.492.7501, Fax: 1.210.492.4522 or visit the web site at: http://www.gospelcom.net/glia/ .

About Voice of the Martyrs

The Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) is a non-profit, interdenominational organization with a vision for aiding Christians around the world who are being persecuted for their faith in Christ, fulfilling the Great Commission, and educating the world about the ongoing persecution of Christians. VOM is headquartered in Bartlesville, Oklahoma with thirty affiliated international offices, and an enormous team of servant-hearted volunteers. Voice of the Martyrs, P.O. Box 443, Bartlesville, OK 74005. Phone: 918.337.8015, Fax: 918.338.0189, http://www.persecution.com .

International Antioch Ministries (IAM), Iranian Christian TV, ICTV , the IAM logo and leaders in winning Muslims to Christ are trademarks of International Antioch Ministries.

Kas · Jun 17, 2004

Virulent persecution of Christians in Iran began the day after the overthrow of the Shah by the Ayatollah Khomeini in the Islamic Revolution. Churches were attacked, Christian property confiscated, Christians killed and missionaries required to leave the country. The prime targets of continuing persection are the Protestant community, because they are active in evangelism among Muslims and Muslim converts to Christianity who are accused of apostasy from Islam. Both proselytism of Muslims and conversion are punishable by death. The Iranian government is seeking to destroy the church in Iran.

Since the Islamic Revolution, seven leaders have been killed. Among them are Rev. Hussein Soodmand, who was hanged for apostasy. His body was wrapped and sent as a Christmas present to his blind widow and four children. In 1994, three leaders, Bishop Heik Hovespian-Mehr, Pastor Mehdi Dibaj and Bishop Tateos Michallian, were kidnapped and murdered in the space of six months, almost certainly by government agents. Then in September 1996, another Iranian Christian, Mohammed Bagher Yusefi joined the roll of martyrs.

They mow us down like grass, and yet without force or violence we continue to grow until the Lord comes!

Kas · Jun 17, 2004

The Persecution of Christians in Iran

INFORMATION SHEET

The persecution of Christians in Iran today is not a series of isolated events or the result of individual prejudices but rather a state policy implemented at all levels in various forms. It affects both individuals as well as the church as a whole.

Under the present Islamic regime, Christians and their institutions are intensely regulated, and subjected to intrusive questioning through the management of more than three Ministries and their Departments: the Ministry of Information and Islamic Guidance, The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Endowments, the Ministry of the Interior and its notorious State Secret police.

1. IRANIAN DECREE RESTRICTING CHURCH WORSHIP AND MEMBERSHIP
About two years ago, the late Bishop Haik Hovsepian Mehr and the denomination he represented, the Assemblies of God, were ordered to comply with the following directives:

"No church service must be conducted in Persian language (the language of the people) all members must be issued with membership cards and their admittance to the services would be on production of the appropriate card.

Photocopies of these cards and appropriate membership lists with their addresses to be given to the competent authorities.

Sunday meetings were to be for members only. No meetings to be held on any other day, in particular Friday.

No new members to be admitted without informing the appropriate department of the Ministry of Information and Islamic Guidance."

The late bishop boldly defied them saying, "Never would he or his ministers bow down and comply with such inhumane and unjust demands" and that "our churches are open to all who want to come in."

2. IRANIAN GOVERNMENT CLOSES CHURCHES
The continued existence of the church in Iran today is at grave risk. This is due to the fact that the Islamic regime appear to have adopted a deliberate policy of gradual eradication of existing churches under legal pretenses.

The following churches have been forced to close by the Iranian regime: 1. A building in Kerman and another in Ahwaz, both used by the Anglican and Presbyterian congregations in those cities; and the Assemblies of God Church in Gorgan. (This was the only evangelical church in the whole of Mazanderan province, and with its closure, there is nowhere for evangelical christians to worship.) Various church house-groups have also been closed down in Sari and Mashad and Ahwaz and the Christians there are strictly forbidden to meet.

3. IRANIAN OFFICIALS CLOSE BIBLE SOCIETY AND CONFISCATE BIBLES
Despite guarantees of religious freedom for Christians in Article 13 of the Iranian constitution, it remains an offence to sell a copy of the Bible in Iran, which is practically impossible anyway, since the offices of the Iranian Bible Society were closed in 1980 and all its stocks confiscated by the State authorities.

4. IRANIAN COURTS ENFORCE LAW ON "APOSTASY"
Despite all denials at the official level the Law on Apostasy is practised and remains in force. It is under this law that converts from Islam to other religions are subject to capital punishment.

Some examples of the application of this law are as follows:

1. In 1989, Rev. Hossein Soodmand was executed for apostasy. Although born a Muslim, by 1989 Hossein had been a Christian for 25 years. He was an evangelist and the pastor of the Assemblies of God (AOG) Church in Mashad. Despite pleas for clemency by fellow pastors to the Dayro-E-Tasalamat (an Ombudsman and Muslim cleric-literally, "he who hears the cries of the oppressed"), Hossein was hanged on 3rd December 1989 at the insistence of the Ombudsman. He left a blind wife and four children.

2. Mehdi Dibaj, a Muslim convert to Christianity, was in prison for nearly 9 years. During that time, he endured 2 years in solitary confinement and was subjected to mock executions. He was imprisoned by the Sharia court in Sari on three charges: 1.That he had "insulted Islam, the prophet Muhammad and Ayatollah Khomeini" in a letter; 2. That he was acting as a spy for the West; and 3. That he was an apostate.

Iran's Supreme Court on two occasions dismissed the first charge on grounds that the letter was not proved to be in Hossein's handwriting and the second charge as unfounded. He continued to remain in prison solely on grounds of apostasy. In 1994, he was sentenced to death for apostasy and only after an international campaign for his release was he allowed out of prison on 16 January 1995.

5. ASSASSINATION OF CHRISTIAN LEADERS
The torture and murder of Bishop Haik Hovsepian Mehr, the leading figure of the Protestant community in Iran, took place almost immediately after he had worked for the release of Mehdi Dibaj. The Iranian authorities had many reasons for wanting to kill Haik. As mentioned above, he had refused to comply with directives restricting church worship and membership. He had also been active in the campaign for the release of Mehdi Dibaj. Furthermore, in 1993 Haik had publicly appealed to the United Nations to investigate the countless and dreadful abuses of human rights against Christians in Iran.

Bishop Haik disappeared on Wednesday 19 January 1994. Eleven days later his family were informed by the Tehran Office of Investigation that his body had been found on 20 January and, in the absence of identification, he had been buried in Beheshte Zahra (Muslim) cemetery. The only explanation to emerge from the authorities is that Bishop Haik was killed by 'unknown assailants'.

Mehdi Dibaj was last seen alive six months later on 24 June. On that day he left a Christian retreat which was held in Karaj. He was travelling alone to Tehran. According to a press release by the official Islamic Republic News Agency on 5th July, his body was found by police buried in a forested area of the capital and he had been stabbed to death. However, independent sources add that rope burns around his neck indicated that he could also have been hung or strangled.

After Bishop Haik's death, Tateos Michaelian, the senior pastor of St. John's Armenian Evangelical (Presbyterian) church, succeeded him as chairman of the Council of Protestant Ministers.

Michaelian was last seen alive leaving his home in Tehran during the afternoon of 29 June in response to a telephone call. The call reportedly came from his self-confessed assassin Farahnaz Anami (female) who had, on earlier occasions, attended his church professing an interest in Christianity. According to official reports, his body was found inside a freezer in a private house in Majidiyeh rented by Anami and she, allegedly, implicated at least one other female accomplice to the murder. The cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds to the head. Members of his family positively identified the body at the public morgue on 2nd July.

Middle East Concern reports that its sources have revealed that Tateos's body had in fact been dismembered and that a copy of a "hit list" of prominent christians was found with his body. This document is now in the possession of a western government agency. MEC's sources, who have access to high-level government contacts, categorically state that they believe that all 3 murders of the christian leaders were carried out by a death-squad operating within the Iranian security structures and sanctioned by orders from the highest political levels. They further believe that Anami (if she was the killer) is, in fact, a government agent and not a member of the MKO (Mujahedin Khalq Organisation, an armed group attempting to overthrow the Iranian regime) as the authorities allege.

On 21st March 1994, TIME magazine published an investigative report into the deaths of Iranian dissidents living outside the country and states: "According to western intelligence and Iranian dissident sources, decisions to assassinate opponents at home or abroad are made at the highest level of the Iranian government: The Supreme National Security Council. The top political decision-making body is chaired by (President) Rafsanjani and includes among others, (Minister of Intelligence) Fallahian, (Foreign minister) Velayati and (Supreme Guide) Ali Khamenei."

On 2nd March 1994, the British Parliamentary Human Rights Group published its report, "The Tehran Murder Machine", sub-titled, "An account of terrorist assassinations by Iranian agents". In the conclusion to this report, it is written, "The pattern of assassinations described here, in which opponents of the Iranian regime were killed by terrorists, provides the strongest imaginable grounds for believing that these appaling crimes are planned in Tehran, and many well-informed sources directly accuse the regime; yet the international community has yet to present a solid and united front against those who threaten to spread their rule of the gun and the knife across the whole world."

It is therefore not surprising that assassinations would be carried out by the Iranian regime against perceived threats to their power within Iran itself. Furthermore, despite denials of government complicity in the assassinations, the Iranian regime continues to refuse to allow any of the United Nations Special Rapporteurs on human rights issues to visit the country to investigate the murders.

1. Individuals and governments making it known to the Iranian authorities that they are aware of the existence and operation of such a death squad, and of the death squad's responsibility for the assassination of the three Iranian Christian leaders.

The Iranian regime's accusation against the MKO appears to be a an attempt to both discredit an active opponent of the regime while at the same time disposing of "troublesome Christians".

2. Governments backing their human rights rhetoric with practical measures such as trade sanctions against Iran. The 34 - nation Council of Europe voted unanimously on March 15th 1995 in favour of a resolution calling on European governments to reject any closer trade or political relations with Iran until Tehran lifts its fatwa against British writer, Salman Rushdie. Jubilee hopes that Western governments will take such action, based not only on the fatwa against Rushdie but also because of the harsh religious persecution taking place in Iran today.

7. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
1. Middle East Concern

2. "The Tehran Murder Machine, An account of terrorist assassinations by Iranian agents." Published by the British Parliamentary Human Rights Group.

ACTION SHEET ON PERSECUTION OF THE CHURCH IN IRAN
WHAT YOU CAN DO

1. Write to your MP at House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA, briefly describing the desperate situation of Christians in Iran, mentioning the points in the information sheet concerning: a. Restrictions on church worship and membership. b. Forced closure of churches. c. Forced closure of Iranian Bible Society and ban on publishing and distribution of Bibles. d. Persecution of converts from Islam to Christianity. e. Assassination of Christian leaders in Iran by government-operated death squads.

Urge him/her to write to the Foreign Secretary, urging the British government to reject any closer trade or political relations with Iran until Iran takes action to improve its treatment of the Christian community and other religious minorities in the country, such action to include: a) Allowing the 3 United Nations Special Rapporteurs on 1. Iran 2. Religious Intolerance and 3. Summary, abitrary and extrajudicial executions to visit Iran to carry out their respective mandates. b) Allowing an independent investigation by the U.N Special Rapporteurs into the deaths of the three Christian leaders. c) Lifting the ban on Bible production and distribution. d) Lifting restrictions on church worship and membership. e) Allowing churches closed by the government to re-open and permitting the construction and operation of new churches. f) Permitting people to convert from Islam to a non-Islamic religion of their own free will without any state sanctions against them.

2. Urge your MP to also write to the Iranian Charge d'Affaires in London, raising the above-mentioned points. Ask your MP to write to : The Charge d'Affaires, Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 16 Prince's Gate, London SW7 1PX.

3. Write to your MEP, encouraging him/her to take the action mentioned in points 1 and 2. If you do not know who your MEP is, you can call the European Parliament Information Offices on 020 7222 0411

4. Get other people to take similar action, writing to their MPs and MEPs and to the Iranian Embassy in London and to pray about the issues.

5. Ask your local church leader (and bishop/archbishop if you belong to a denomination with such a structure) to write to the Iranian Embassy as well.

PRAYER FOR PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS IN IRAN
Please pray:

1. That the production and distribution of Bibles in Iran will be freely permitted and the Bible Society allowed to re-open.

2. That churches which have been forcibly closed will be allowed to re-open and that the Iranian authorities will allow churches to be freely constructed and operated throughout the country.

3. That the regime will refrain from punishing those who convert from Islam to Christianity.

4. For the families of all those Christians who have died for the faith, including the families of Hossein Soodmand, Tateos Michaelian, Haik Hovespian Mehr and Mehdi Dibaj.

5. That God will strengthen, encourage and guide the Iranian church at this time of severe persecution and provide for their spiritual and material needs.

6. That despite its many problems, the Iranian church will be able to be a vibrant and active witness for the Gospel.

7. That those responsible for the murders of Haik Hovsepian Mehr, Mehdi Dibaj and Tateos Michaelian will be brought to justice.

8. That the international community will take more effective action to communicate to the Iranian government its concern over religious persecution.

9. That religious freedom, peace and justice will prevail in Iran.

Kas · Jun 17, 2004

I would like to ask the mOslems on this board why they think, now as opposed to any time in the past more moselms are leaving Islam than ever before? I seek genuine opinions that try to give real answer-please

Love,
Kas.

Letalis · Jun 17, 2004

Well do you also know that Islam is growing faster than Christianity is?

It sucks, but it's the truth.

Kas · Jun 17, 2004

Letalis said:
Well do you also know that Islam is growing faster than Christianity is?

It sucks, but it's the truth.

Yes I do, but when one strips away that innitial impression to look at the dynamics of the demographics we see that it is more to do with birth rate than conversions! Other things effect demogrphics as well, but this is the main one in this comparison.

Kas(who thinks Christians should have bigger families and get real about ending the persecution of our people!)

crystalpc · Jun 17, 2004

Letalis said:
Well do you also know that Islam is growing faster than Christianity is?

It sucks, but it's the truth.

It is said that is true, but it is statistics that can be deciphered in different ways. Another statistic says that Chrisitianity continues to grow in spite of the persecution. Many Christians are never polled in these countries because of persecution.
Another reason this seems to be true, is that all muslims thinks every infant is a muslim from birth, even if it is born to christian parents. So that would color some of these statistics. So don't become overly fretful at statistics they depend on who is compiling them and for what reason. Demographics can have a wide margin of error.

And always remember that the scriptures tell us

Rom 5:20b Where sin abounded Grace did much more abound.

crystalpc · Jun 17, 2004

Kas said:
I would like to ask the mOslems on this board why they think, now as opposed to any time in the past more moselms are leaving Islam than ever before? I seek genuine opinions that try to give real answer-please

Love,
Kas.

Kas I don't think we will get any muslims to answer this..

Most would prefer to ignore it..

Kas · Jun 17, 2004

Denial is always such a powerful emotion!

Lavis Knight · Jun 17, 2004

Kas said:
I would like to ask the mOslems on this board why they think, now as opposed to any time in the past more moselms are leaving Islam than ever before? I seek genuine opinions that try to give real answer-please

Love,
Kas.

Do not people leave Christianity too, so then what are they?

What is it that you wish to prove?

traveller · Jun 17, 2004

I would like to ask the mOslems on this board why they think, now as opposed to any time in the past more moselms are leaving Islam than ever before? I seek genuine opinions that try to give real answer-please

why? is my opinion relevant? 'There is no compulsion in religion' - if people choose to leave thats between them and their creator...i am not concerned about numbers...this is the reason why Muslims have not responded to ure question...simply it does not bother me

crystalpc · Jun 17, 2004

Lavis Knight said:
Do not people leave Christianity too, so then what are they?

What is it that you wish to prove?

I do not wish to prove anything this was a news story that was posted, and I wanted to hear what muslims think about the subject?

crystalpc · Jun 17, 2004

traveller said:
why? is my opinion relevant? 'There is no compulsion in religion' - if people choose to leave thats between them and their creator...i am not concerned about numbers...this is the reason why Muslims have not responded to ure question...simply it does not bother me

Fair enough then we as Christians can respond, and rejoice because we have gained new brothers and sisters who will join us in eternity..in the presence of our Lord Jesus.

Kas · Jun 17, 2004

traveller said:
why? is my opinion relevant? 'There is no compulsion in religion' - if people choose to leave thats between them and their creator...i am not concerned about numbers...this is the reason why Muslims have not responded to ure question...simply it does not bother me

Why? I was interested in your opinion, that is all! Yes of course it is, why would it not be!!

There is no compultion in religion, there is a controdiction in this for me!

The Quran says that there should be no compultion in religion, yet we know that in the Sharia, that a moslem can be killed if he leaves Islam. This then is a compultion in religion. The duress or force, is against one leaving Islam.

However, why would Allah punish someone for making a choice about his religion if he demands that there be no compulsion in religion! :scratch:

Clearly this is a controdiction. One thinks of the verse that says, if this were any other than Allah surely there would be many a controdiction within it! Alas, two controdictions!

Oh traveller, your opinion is like a breadth of fresh air! I only wish the Sharia would reflect that same point of view, then more of my people would be alive to love you!

Peace and love,
Kas

HumbleSiPilot77 · Jun 17, 2004

While I agree that it is OK to share such news but the focus should not be on;

I don't think we will get any muslims to answer this.. Most would prefer to ignore it..

This will agitate the people! Say who cares, I shared the news, they want to contribute or not. It should not matter.

Also I didn't like a statement from that news post...

International Antioch MinistriesTM (IAM) has won over 50,000 Iranian Muslims to Christ

Now let's get this straight, WHO WON Muslims for Christ? Did they really? What did Holy Spirit do? Very wrong, bragging entry statement! Let's not miss the "TM" ...

peaceful soul · Jun 17, 2004

Bushmaster said:
International Antioch MinistriesTM (IAM) has won over 50,000 Iranian Muslims to Christ

Now let's get this straight, WHO WON Muslims for Christ? Did they really? What did Holy Spirit do? Very wrong, bragging entry statement! Let's not miss the "TM" ...

Yep, I can not stand that stuff either. How do you win souls anyway?? It is made into a contest. Let's see who gets the prize. Who are they competing against? God? or another minstry? Either way it is a bad title and a bad way of looking at salvation.

crystalpc · Jun 17, 2004

Bushmaster said:
While I agree that it is OK to share such news but the focus should not be on;

I don't think we will get any muslims to answer this.. Most would prefer to ignore it..

This will agitate the people! Say who cares, I shared the news, they want to contribute or not. It should not matter.

Also I didn't like a statement from that news post...

International Antioch MinistriesTM (IAM) has won over 50,000 Iranian Muslims to Christ

Now let's get this straight, WHO WON Muslims for Christ? Did they really? What did Holy Spirit do? Very wrong, bragging entry statement! Let's not miss the "TM" ...

Bush I think it was a news release from them! A way to get contributors, which is ok with me.
However, without the conviction of the Holy Spirit no one would ever come to Christ we know this, and are grateful for it.
My old Pastor told me about the Gospel, the Holy Spirit convicted me, but without hearing the gospel I would never have known anything about Jesus. It is a chicken and the egg type of proposition.
Paul said
some plant the seed, others water but God brings the increase. Thank God for the planters, and waterers, and for him bringing the increase.

HumbleSiPilot77 · Jun 17, 2004

Yeppers, we are just the workers in the field man, we don't inspect and pick!

I am sure they didn't mean anything bad but this is an example that we have a lot of PC stuff going on in ministries.

A proper entry would start with, GLORY and PRAISE To the God Almighty, with His mighty guidance and help, such such ministry was able to reach out to 50.000 lost and presented 'em with His word, and He made them NEW PERSONS!!!

What do you think?

PS. Just off-topic... BEHOLD, I MAKE ALL THINGS NEW!!! What a wonderful statement from OUR LORD!

crystalpc · Jun 18, 2004

Bushmaster said:
Yeppers, we are just the workers in the field man, we don't inspect and pick!

I am sure they didn't mean anything bad but this is an example that we have a lot of PC stuff going on in ministries.

A proper entry would start with, GLORY and PRAISE To the God Almighty, with His mighty guidance and help, such such ministry was able to reach out to 50.000 lost and presented 'em with His word, and He made them NEW PERSONS!!!

What do you think?

PS. Just off-topic... BEHOLD, I MAKE ALL THINGS NEW!!! What a wonderful statement from OUR LORD!

That would have been a great opening for it. A lot of ministries out there do this as you know because sadly the competition is for donor dollars. This would have been a better headline though I do agree.
and the off topic, I love that scripture what a glorious thing; another of my favorites is the one above it, that one gave me great solace during my early christian life, as it does now.
Rev 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Noor Saffiyah · Jun 18, 2004

Yup, they sure do leave Christianity. We have a new brother in our study group (in fact, everyone in this group is a convert, even the brother who leads it) who was a third year divinity student at Biola University. NOT anymore...Alhumdulillah!! so much for the birth rate angle...

No converted Muslims now Christians in my husband's family. Immediate or extended. Yeah, they are from Iran.

Iranian Muslims Embracing Christianity in Record Numbers.

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