National conference: more from Iran

"The Holy Spirit is moving in Iran!"

Padina, whose story is told in VOM's book Iran: Desperate for God, is sharing her testimony with the conference attendees. Padina was stricken with depression, and her mother was stricken with MS, and together they decided to end their lives. But God had a different plan. He miraculously healed Padina's mother, and both Padina and her mother came to faith. Her story is one of many amazing examples of God's work in Iran. Padina and her husband spoke to conference attendees with their faces covered; because of their ongoing work in Iran it is important to protect their identity.

The growth of the church in Iran is coming with great cost. When one Christian was recently arrested, police used knives to carve crosses into his body. He didn't give up the names of his church leaders, but he continues to suffer the effects of this attack. One Christian, a woman, was repeatedly raped by Mullahs who captured her. Another Christian was sent letters saying, "Today we are planning your death." Later, he was beaten so severely that there was blood in his urine for weeks afterwards. Pray for these believers. In spite of such suffering, they hold fast to the Truth of the gospel.

"The Spirit of the Lord is moving, in the cities and in the villages. Every knee is bowing, every tongue is confessing that Jesus Christ is Lord in Iran."

One woman was scheduled to have surgery to correct a reproductive issue, but before the surgery she saw God come to her in a dream and tell her that He was healing her. Her husband, who wasn't a believer, told her that was impossible. But when they went to the doctor, tests confirmed that she had in fact been healed. Today, she and her husband are both believers!

Praise God for how He is at work in Iran. Pray for the church and the believers there.