How do believers respond to the situation in Iran?

In this episode, Scott Dunford talks with “Sam,” an ABWE missionary serving Persian and Iranian communities, about the crisis gripping Iran. Looking at ancient Persia's biblical roots, home of Daniel and Esther, to the 1979 Islamic Revolution that installed a Shiite theocracy, Iran’s story is both historic and volatile. Sam explains the regime’s ideology, the nationwide uprisings across hundreds of cities, and the crushing reality facing ordinary Iranians amid economic collapse and violent repression.

Yet in the shadows of persecution, the gospel is advancing. Iran’s underground house church movement continues to grow despite infiltration, imprisonment, and the killing of pastors and believers. Drawing from firsthand connections inside the country, Sam calls the global church to pray, stand with suffering Christians, and boldly engage Iranian neighbors with truth and hope.

Key Topics

Iran’s biblical and ancient Persian heritage
The 1979 Islamic Revolution and rise of the ayatollahs
Shiite apocalyptic theology and its political implications
Widespread protests and violent government crackdowns
Economic crisis, corruption, and regional proxy conflicts
The growth of Iran’s underground house church movement
Practical encouragement for connecting with Iranian neighbors

*The views expressed in this episode are those solely of the participants and do not necessarily align with the views of ABWE or all of its representatives.

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What’s Happening in Iran? Protests, Crisis, and the Church