"Many who have dwelt in darkness have seen a great light." Isaiah 9:2, Matthew 4:16

LORD JESUS, we thank YOU for sending YOUR HOLY SPIRIT to touch the hearts and minds and lives of men who have not known YOU, who have not had the opportunity to hear YOUR glorious gospel of salvation.

We thank YOU that these new converts are strengthened by YOUR SPIRIT within them and they are able to face persecution, imprisonment, torture and even death for the sake of the truth that they now own.

We beseech YOU, our Great and Glorious GOD, that if we find ourselves among the persecuted that we, too, will be given the strength to endure.

For the sake of our eternal salvation and for the sake of YOUR glory we ask, JESUS. Amen.


Reported from the Farsi Christian News Network:

In the face of a crackdown that has crippled Iran's house-church leadership, an imprisoned convert from Islam has managed to sneak a message of encouragement to Iran's Christians.

With Iran's house churches mushrooming even as the government has imprisoned or harassed most pastors into exile, a Christian held in Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj last week exhorted Iranian Christians to expect persecution but to continue proclaiming Christ.

"If you are courageous in God's way, God's grace will be with you," 31-year-old (name withheld) stated. "Do not fear what you are doing, and raise the banner of Jesus in the name of God." (Farsi Christian News Network)