On May 21 security forces in Iran raided Pastor Robert Asserian’s home from which they confiscated a computer and books. When they later found him at his Central Assemblies of God church in Tehran, they immediately arrested him.

Many opponents of the regime believe the increase in the frequency of arbitrary detention and harassment of Christians is because the younger generation of Iranians is increasingly dissatisfied with the Islamic faith. There is a wide range of Iranians watching Christian television or accessing Christian websites resulting in an increase of Iranians converting to Christianity.

What most incensed the security forces was the fact that Pastor Asserian delivered his sermons in Farsi – enabling Muslim Iranians to understand and be converted – rather than in the language of the ancient Christian community. But their efforts to stop the conversion of Muslims to Christ are backfiring. OM reckons that Iran is the nation with the fastest growing evangelical church in the world – 19.6% annually!

Source: Prayer Alert; Release International;OM

BIBLE STUDY: Romans 10:9-10

PRAISE: God for the hunger for Truth among Iranian young people. Pray that the growth of faith in Christ in Iran will snowball, affecting the whole nation.