| May 11, 2006
I have to give thanks to God for the PC(USA)’s great ministry
among Iranians, both to those still inside Iran and also to those
in diaspora. After the 1979 Islamic Revolution, thousands—if
not millions—of Iranians immigrated to other countries.
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has a unique opportunity to continue
the ministry it started about two centuries ago, and experiment
new avenues. It is an honor for me to be part of this new ministry.
The Christian community inside the country is free to worship,
but not free to propagate and evangelize. Sunday services are
normally well attended, and on some occasions if you are five
minutes late for the service, you cannot find an empty seat. The
majority of the participants are not baptized Christians. The
baptism of new converts, which normally comprises the majority
of the attendants, is not legal.
Migration of Christians is the major problem for the pastors.
Once Pastor N., from the Assyrian Presbyterian Church, told me
that about 80 percent of the members of his congregation have
left the country during the past 25 years. As he said, for every
new member added to his church, two members leave the country.
He sounded quite disappointed and discouraged because of this.
Presbyterian leadership inside Iran is dedicated and insightful.
They need our prayers and support.
The annual training conferences held each summer in Cyprus have
proven to be a great blessing for church leaders and those interested
in various types of ministries. The conferences gave them not
only a chance to refresh their knowledge of theology and the Bible,
but it also was an opportunity to boost each other’s morale
and strengthen the bonds between them.
Despite financial hurdles, Iranian ministry outside of Iran continues,
particularly in the United States and Europe. The Association
of Iranian Churches and Fellowships in North America supervises
about a dozen churches and fellowships in the United States and
provides counsel and spiritual support when needed. The executive
committee of the Association is scheduled to have it next meeting
in Duarte California on July 8. It will review the progress reports
and the needs of the fellowships, and it will recommend plans
for the future.
The small fellowship that I am shepherding in Encino, California,
is called the Good Shepherd Iranian Church. We have our regular
Sunday services with a weekly Bible study class for those interested
in helping in our ministry.
Tamara and I are members of the Pasadena Presbyterian Church,
where I get invited to lead classes in their adult Sunday schools,
particularly during times when Iran becomes a hot issue in the
media!
I am in regular telephone contact with Iranian church leaders,
listening to their concerns, problems, and joys. This keeps me
informed of their work and their needs.
In Germany, we have three Iranian congregations that are quite
active in their outreach and social services. In the past couple
of years, PC(USA) missionaries in Germany, the Rev. Sadegh Sepehri
and Aziz Sadaghiani, have visited Iranian Christians in Budapest
on a regular basis. With the help of PC(USA) missionaries in Budapest,
Kathy and Joe Angi, have held Bible classes people who would like
to be baptized. They recently baptized a family who had accepted
Christ through such classes. Their ministry is very much appreciated
by our partner churches in Budapest.
I am planning to visit the Iranian Christians in Toronto, Canada,
in mid-July and have some sessions with their church leaders on
principles of Presbyterianism.
While the demands for the ministry among Iranian are increasing,
the resources for support of such ministry is diminishing. The
fields are ready be harvested, while laborers and tools are scarce.
Mehdi
The 2006 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 173
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