Stories of God's work

during the evangelism, we got acquainted with a lady and her daughter. When they realized I was talking about Jesus Christ, the mother of the family eagerly listened and mentioned her deep love for Jesus. She had visited several ancient churches, but I noticed her daughter wasn't interested and had moved away. We continued talking, and I elaborated on the salvation of Jesus Christ. After a few minutes, the daughter came closer and asked, "Are you saying the God you're talking about is different from the God of Islam? I'm tired of Islam, its lies, and its superstitions. I even feel repulsed by it." She wasn't sure about the existence of God until she heard my explanations. She asked a few more questions, and I discussed the true God and God's love with her. She was deeply affected, stood still, and listened. Eventually, when I told them they could accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, both especially the daughter expressed a desire to invite Jesus into their lives. She believed it was time for all Iranians to be free from falsehood and to know the real God. Both of those women invited Jesus into their lives and believed in Him

We’d like to share a story of how God is moving. One night we were about to return home when we ran into a family of 5 on a busy street. We were able to share with them about Jesus for around 2 hours. They showed great interest and shared how a friend they have had recently become a Christian, changed his life and proclaimed that Jesus is God. That person gave them a number to call while they were in Istanbul of a man named Mehran who could tell them more about Jesus. The mother took out her phone and showed us the number; Mehran’s phone number. They had not planned to call us but God was calling them to himself. They decided to follow Jesus at that moment and prayed with us. This overwhelming show of God’s work shocked both us and them and led us to praise Him. This family has returned to Iran and begun a home church through our web ministry. Praise God!

Many times I have witnessed the fulfillment of God's promise. I believe that all of us believers have seen God's extraordinary plan of salvation in our own lives and in the lives of others. This story is about Parinaz's acquaintance with a woman named Behi. The story began three years ago. Three years ago, I met Behi during a summer evangelism event and talked to her about Jesus. She was trying to listen and was very eager to hear because she was in a lot of pain. She talked about her many problems with her husband and, with great sorrow, said that her husband had cheated on her and she felt worthless. After our conversation, she did not accept Christ into her heart, but she took my phone number, and we said goodbye. After that, we chatted two or three times, and she was still hopeless and sad. After a while, she deleted her Telegram account, and I no longer had access to her. The story seemed unsuccessful, but God's work continued. Three years later, this year, while evangelizing on the street, I met a lady. From the beginning of our conversation, she seemed very familiar to me, but I didn't know where I had seen her until, in a moment, I remembered her and asked her name. Then I realized that after three years, in the same street, God had again sought out His lost sheep, Behi. When she remembered me, she was astonished. She surrendered her heart to Christ and said that in the past three years, she had seen many miracles, which she now knew only Christ could have performed. We exchanged contact information again, prayed together, and the next day she returned to Iran. It is amazing that over three years, God had prepared her heart and mind and shown her His works, to remind her at the right time.

God still uses the internet to save lives. We cannot go to Iran or send missionaries there, but through the internet, we reach many people, with a large portion of our audience being young people. I would like to share one of the stories with you. Mohammad, a 25-year-old from a city in Iran, who was suffering from addiction, saw the short evangelistic film we made last year. He visited our website and sent us a message. He accepted Jesus Christ and is now in the process of recovering from addiction. He plans to come to Turkey in September to see us and be baptized.

Another fruit of prayer was an Iranian brother named Hamed, about whom I had previously written to you, whom we had met last month to go to their city, when we had an accident on the way and could not meet them. In person. He had heard and believed the gospel through our website, and soon shared his faith with his friend at work. His friend also believed in Jesus Christ, but the work of conversion and chain of God did not break here. Hamed's wife is eager to give her heart to Christ after seeing Hamed's changes after she started discipleship, so Parinaz talked to her and she said she would like to be a Christian woman and obey Christ! Hamed gave good news to his friend at his workplace and he and his wife also accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. I am amazed at God's wonderful work and I thank him. They are growing in their faith

Diana was a young woman lost in a sea of despair, struggling to find meaning in her life. One evening, feeling overwhelmed and isolated, she turned to YouTube and began listening to sad music, contemplating ending her life. Amidst the melancholy melodies, an unexpected video appeared in her recommendations: a message of hope through Christ. Curious and with nothing to lose, Diana clicked on the video. As she listened, she felt a profound sense of peace wash over her—a feeling she had never experienced before. The words resonated deeply within her, and for the first time in a long while, she felt a glimmer of hope. That night, Diana prayed and accepted Christ into her heart, marking the beginning of a new chapter in her life. With her newfound faith, Diana sought to learn more about the Gospel. She immersed herself in scriptures, attended church services, and connected with a supportive community of believers. As she grew spiritually, the darkness that once clouded her mind began to lift, replaced by a sense of purpose and joy. Inspired by the transformation in her own life, Diana felt compelled to share the Gospel with those closest to her. She started with her parents, who had noticed the positive changes in her demeanor and outlook. Through heartfelt conversations and personal testimony, Diana conveyed the love and hope she had found in Christ. Moved by her sincerity and the evident change in her life, her parents began to explore the faith themselves, eventually accepting it with open hearts. As Diana's faith deepened, she felt a strong desire to give back and help others discover the same hope that had saved her. She joined our team and began participating in our annual Norooz events, a time of celebration and renewal. Every year, Diana dedicates her time and energy to sharing the Gospel during these festivities, touching the lives of many who are searching for meaning and hope. Diana's story is a powerful testament to the transformative power of faith. From the depths of despair, she rose to a life filled with purpose and joy, spreading the message of hope to her family and beyond. Her journey continues to inspire and uplift those around her, reminding us all of the incredible impact of love, faith, and community.

Anna is one of our students in Iran. I preached to her about four years ago in Istanbul. She was a hurt, sad woman, and quite distrustful of everyone. When she heard about Jesus Christ, she said she felt like she had known Him for years and that He was different from everything and everyone else. She came to faith in Jesus with tears of joy. After returning to Iran, due to her sensitive job as a government lawyer, she was very cautious and fearful in communicating with us. She said she didn't think she would ever be able to talk to others about her faith. But it didn't take long, and about a year later, she arranged an online meeting with five of her friends and us to hear the gospel. Three of her friends, who were an elementary school teacher, a high school teacher, and a special needs children’s coach, came to faith in Christ. Three years ago, she came to Istanbul again and brought another friend named Tanaz, who was also a lawyer, to church. She had talked to Tanaz about Christ, and Tanaz's heart was ready. After talking and praying, Tanaz gave her heart to Christ. Anna continued to stay in touch with us. She was still a bit fearful because of her job, and we didn’t know much about her family. Until three weeks ago, when I received a usual message from her, she said she would come to Istanbul next week and wanted to see us. After a week, she came and called us. She said she had come with her family, including her mother, sister, and niece. The next day, we met, and she came with her family and said she had already talked to her sister about Jesus Christ, and her sister was eager to know more. I was very surprised because she had a Muslim family. After that, we started sharing about Jesus Christ. After about an hour of talking, her sister gave her heart to Christ and said she wanted to talk to her young son about it as well. Anna was very happy and said that God was doing an amazing work in her family, and she no longer felt afraid. This story is astonishing. When I look at Anna's four-year journey, my heart fills with gratitude because now the Lord is touching the hearts of influential and impactful people in the misguided society of Iran to work in the lives of others.

We had gone to one of Istanbul's big shopping centers to preach and met a man named Mohammad Reza. When I told him that I wanted to talk to him about Jesus Christ, he excitedly said that he really wanted to hear. He also said that he loved the church and Jesus very much and had tried several times to go to a church in Tehran but was not allowed in. He said he tried to pray outside the church and mentioned that he was very busy with work and was seeking peace. After I talked about Jesus Christ, he said he thought that although the doors to the truth were closed in his country, he believed Jesus loved him because He came to him in an unexpected place. With great enthusiasm, he gave his heart to Jesus and said he was eager to learn more. So, we exchanged contact information. The impactful story of Mohammad Reza's faith once again reminded me that although the doors of the church were closed to him in Iran, because he was seeking light and truth, Jesus found him.

A girl named Farzaneh online. Farzaneh was a lawyer, well-respected in her profession, but she had a hidden struggle—she was addicted to pills. Her addiction had started as a way to cope with the stress and demands of her job, but it soon spiraled out of control, affecting her health and well-being. As we got to know each other, I felt a strong urge to share the message of the Gospel with her. I told her about the love and hope that can be found in Jesus Christ. At first, she was skeptical and hesitant to believe, but I continued to share my faith and encourage her. Gradually, Farzaneh began to open her heart. She started reading the Bible and praying, seeking the strength to overcome her addiction. It wasn't an easy journey, but with each passing day, she felt the healing power of God's love. One day, Farzaneh made the decision to fully commit her life to Christ. From that moment on, her life began to change. She found the strength to break free from her pill addiction and experienced a profound sense of peace and purpose. Now, Farzaneh is growing in her new faith. She attends church regularly, participates in Bible studies, and surrounds herself with a supportive community of believers. Her transformation has been incredible to witness, and she continues to inspire others with her story of redemption and healing. Through her faith, Farzaneh has found a new sense of hope and joy. She is no longer defined by her past struggles but by her newfound relationship with Christ. Her journey is a testament to the transformative power of the Gospel and the grace of God.