Helping Churches Build a Mission for Iran

An Unexpected Conversation

One of the believers from our church had gone to an optical store in the city to look for glasses. Earlier that morning, he had been listening to worship music, and later, without even realizing it, he quietly found himself repeating part of the song under his breath while looking at the glasses: “Jesus, King of Kings… Jesus, Lord of Lords.”

A few moments later, the owner of the shop suddenly called out and asked, “Excuse me… are you a Christian?”

The question genuinely surprised him. “Yes,” he answered, “but how did you know?”

The shop owner replied, “For the last few minutes, you’ve been quietly repeating those words about Jesus while looking at the glasses. I thought maybe you were Christian.”

What neither of them realized at that moment was that God was already using even that small and unintentional act of worship to open a door for the Gospel.

That simple moment led into a much deeper conversation. For nearly two hours, they spoke together inside the shop about God, faith, forgiveness, and the message of Jesus.

Later that evening, the shop owner invited our brother and his fiancée to dinner. As the conversation continued, they each shared openly about the things they had been carrying in their hearts.

For the young woman, the message that touched her most deeply was that God loved her enough to come near to her — and that through Christ, mercy could stand in the place of the judgment she feared.

For the young man, it was the realization that God was not as distant as he had always imagined, and that through Jesus, he could truly come near to Him.

Later that night, while sitting together in Hamed’s car, the conversation continued. Before the night ended, both of them prayed and surrendered their hearts to Christ.

Today, they are part of a small gathering of believers serving quietly inside Iran.

What began as a quiet worship song became an unexpected doorway for the Gospel — a reminder that God is often preparing hearts long before we realize He is at work.

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.” — John 6:44 (ESV)

From Searching to Belonging

Zahra grew up without a father, and that wound followed her for many years. She often felt overlooked by people around her, as if her voice, her story, and even her presence did not matter very much.

Like many people who carry deep pain, Zahra kept searching for healing and peace. Over time, she became involved in spiritual practices such as yoga and reiki. She was not casual about it; she truly believed this path could bring light, freedom, and healing, and she encouraged others to follow it too.

But even with all her searching, there was still a place in her heart that remained restless.

When Zahra heard the message of Jesus, what touched her most was not only the idea of forgiveness, but the love of a Father who saw her, wanted her, and called her His daughter.

She later shared that, for the first time, she felt a kind of worth and safety she had never known before. She was no longer trying to prove her value or search for her identity somewhere else. In Christ, she had been received by God.

Today, Zahra serves women inside Iran with courage and compassion. The woman who once pointed others toward a spiritual path apart from Christ now invites women to know the living God and the freedom she has found in Him.

Zahra’s story reminds us that the love of God reaches even the deepest places of rejection, giving wounded hearts a new identity and a place to belong.

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.” — 1 John 3:1 (ESV)