December 24,
2005
Iranian Presbyterian Fellowship in Europe 2005
Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole
creation.
Thank God that He makes us able to do His will and spread the
good news of salvation and bring people to Jesus.
2005 has been a blessed year for us in which we have participated
in wonderful ministries that have produced much fruit.
Berlin
In the Iranian Evangelical Church of Berlin we had a weekly worship
time with about 20 people attending. The Wednesday Bible study
and prayer meeting was attended by 10 people. Every Thursday we
had a baptism course for inquirers, which resulted in the baptism
of seven adults. We recently started classes on Mondays for church
members wanting to learn more about the Bible and prepare themselves
to serve the church in the future. Six members are attending.
Good Friday, Easter, Pentecost, and Christmas brought special
programs and worship services. For Christmas we had more than
60 people.
In addition, I provide a telephone counseling service. Many people
whom I baptized live in different cities in Europe; they call
me and ask for guidance and also ask me to write letters about
them to government offices and courts. These letters are often
helpful for asylum cases.
Marburg
The Iranian Christian flellowship in Marburg started about 13
years ago and is going very well. At the beginning we had a monthly
worship but now worship weekly and have Bible study classes as
well. I travel there once a month, and the rest of the time pastoral
care is provided by Mr. Mehrdad Sepehri.
Budapest
These days many Iranians who want to leave the country are going
to Hungary because getting a visa there is easier than in other
European countries. We have now been traveling there for about
three years to help our Presbyterian colleagues reach these people
with the word of God. Our colleagues in Budapest, PC(USA) mission
co-workers the Reverend Kathy Angi and her husband Joe, are doing
a wonderful job among these Iranians, helping them with asylum
cases, housing, and other problems. Every three months we go there,
do some counseling, and teach Bible classes. So far, most of them
have heard about the love of God and are attending church services.
Many have been baptized. We thank God for this opportunity and
ask your prayers that we may continue to serve.
Needs
These days it is difficult to receive asylum in European countries.
Many who come and apply for asylum may have to wait 8 to 12 years
for a decision. Prior to a decision applicants for asylum don’t
have permission to work and cannot travel, so they are like prisoners.
This contributes to family problems and an increasing rate of
divorce. Young people over 16 years cannot attend school and just
wander the streets, which is not good. People are having a hard
time, and their psychological needs are growing. So we need your
prayers that they may find a solution. Last year we thought that
a gathering for a few days of prayer, counseling, and Bible study
would be helpful for them, and we even reserved a place for this
purpose, but finally, because lack of budget, we cancelled. Please
pray that in 2006 we may find a budget for this purpose and can
have this summer gathering. The budget needed is about 12,000
Euros.
Whenever we talk to people we tend only to hear their problems
and their sad news. Please pray that God strengthen us so that
we are able to make them sure of God’s mercy.
With all good wishes,
Rev. Sadegh Sepehri
The 2006 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p.
178 |
