Bibles for Iran
by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent
TEHRAN/BAGHDAD (Worthy News) – American churches and mission groups are preparing to bring millions of Bibles and other Christian literature into Iran despite the ongoing war in the region, Christians familiar with the plans say.
Believers inside the Islamic Republic are continuing to gather and pray, even as airstrikes and instability increase risks, according to those in contact with local Christians.
“They’re still gathering, and they’re still praying,” said Patrick Klein, president of Vision Beyond Borders. “They are more cautious now and staying closer to home if they can,” Klein told the U.S.-based Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN).
Klein said his group is working to distribute Bibles and support underground believers, including through cross-border efforts and coordination with partners near Iran. He recently met with a team in Armenia near the Iranian border to pray and prepare for future access.
Iran, a Muslim-majority nation of more than 85 million people, is believed to have several hundred thousand Christians, many of them converts who practice their faith in house churches.
MISSIONS PREPARE FOR POSSIBLE OPENING
Mission leaders say they are preparing for a potential opportunity to expand Bible distribution if conditions change.
Dirk Smith of Eastern European Mission said his group is ready to send large shipments of Farsi-language Bibles, including editions for children and teenagers.
“Our prayer is that we’re ready,” he said, expressing hope for a breakthrough similar to the fall of the Berlin Wall, when large-scale Bible distribution became possible in former Soviet territories.
Some Christians caution that escalating violence could make such efforts more dangerous, but others insist the risks should not deter outreach. “How is something too risky?” Smith wondered. “Is it ever too risky to share the gospel of Jesus with someone?”
CHRISTIANS URGED TO PRAY FOR IRAN
Klein urged Christians worldwide to pray for greater religious freedom in Iran, where converts can face arrest and imprisonment.
He recalled encounters with Iranians receiving Bibles, describing their gratitude for access to Christian scripture.
“We believe God is going to change Iran,” Klein stresses. “And I believe it’s going to affect the whole Islamic world.”
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