In recent weeks there have been many media reports on Iran, especially Iranian President Ahmadinejad’s recent visit to the United States. Interestingly, I have been thinking of how Christians are treated in Iran and the risks they take in order to share the gospel with others. Periodically, here at The Voice of the Martyrs, we get the awesome opportunity to hear the courageous testimonies of believers who risk their all to share the life-saving gospel of Jesus Christ. As I was prayerfully thinking of these faithful brothers and sisters, I came across a devotional in the book, Extreme Devotion; written by The Voice of the Martyrs, which I think accurately portrays the faithfulness, willingness and boldness of Christians in Iran. They risk their lives for the sake of the gospel.
Extreme Vacation: Iran: A Seaside City (p. 323):
“Now we are on vacation, honey,” the Iranian pastor said to his wife. “Please, don’t do anything that will make the police question us. Let’s not ruin this time together.” The pastor’s wife was a walking witness for Jesus Christ. She had handed out thousands of Bibles to Muslims in Iran and over five thousand copies of the Jesus film. At the seaside city where they were vacationing, they went to the mall. They separated to look for the different things they wanted, and when the pastor returned, he found his wife telling a large group of people in the store about Jesus Christ. Looking around for secret police, he quickly ushered his wife out of the store and into the car. “Honey, we are on vacation. I thought we weren’t going to do that here.” She looked him in the eye. “There are many people back in that store that don’t know Jesus,” she said seriously. “If they die and go to hell, you are responsible.”
The chastened pastor turned the car around and drove back to the mall. Quickly his wife went back inside, handing out copies of Scripture and the Jesus film. One lady came forward. “Oh, thank you so much,” she said tearfully. “For five years I have been praying for a Bible, and now the Lord has answered my prayer.”
