Europe #2: “We need you!”
“We need you!” Germany: Day One
Our mission in the midst of this tour is to explore possible partnerships between these ministries and The Outreach Foundation while evaluating how we might engage the diaspora as a “mission field.”
Day one did not disappoint us. We spent 10 hours with “Uncle Dariush,” founder of SafeHouse in Amsterdam. Dariush went to the Netherlands as a refugee and Muslim in 2001. In 2003 Dariush was in despair. He felt hopeless and his wife was very ill. He prayed to God and challenged him “saying show yourself to me in seven days or I will never believe in you again.” On the seventh day, Dariush had an encounter with two men in a restaurant who asked him, “What are you looking for?” He said “nothing.” But the one man replied, “but God is looking for you.” “Who are you talking about?” he asked. The man replied, “Jesus Christ. I am the way, the truth, and the life. And I am looking for you to take you home.” At this very moment, Dariush said everything changed. He cried because he couldn’t believe God was looking for him and actually loved him.
By the end of 2003, Dariush, a gifted musician, led the first Farsi speaking worship concert in the Netherlands. Over 500 Iranians came, and 43 people gave their lives to Christ. This was just the beginning though. Because in 2010, Dariush started the ministry SafeHouse. “We minister to young people aged 12-35 speaking Farsi, and the underground house church movement in Iran.” Said another way: “Serving the house church movement in Iran and serving the church in Diaspora. All over Europe and Turkey. There is enough space for everyone. The young people of our nation deserve a shelter in this broken world and a safe place in this insecure society. A place of hope where they can go and be welcomed to receive real peace of God. In the Father’s house, there is enough room and space for everyone.”
At SafeHouse they are helping young Iranian refugees throughout Europe and in Iran to be touched by the love of God, to be transformed by his word, and to share his grace with other people. SafeHouse is achieving God’s mission through worship and music production—more than 120 songs and 90 worship music videos! Also, his ministry includes trainings, ministry to the deaf, trauma healing workshops, tv series, one-on-one counseling and mentoring, and small and large group ministries.
The highlight of the day was when Dariush gathered by zoom, young Iranians engaged with SafeHouse (all from a Muslim background), from Sweden, England, Germany, and the Netherlands. These quotes from the young people themselves show the impact SafeHouse has made in their lives:
Arman: “I learned my identity in Christ. I could do many things I was free to do in England. But I found my identity in Christ. That is my calling too – to help others find their identity in Christ. “
Ali: “I have struggled with depression for many years. It was through SafeHouse that I found healing. It’s a process. I would really love to help others that struggled like I did.”
Armita: “I want to see the day when all people in Iran worship God freely. And, I want to help people be healed and let them know the real God that can fill any void.“
Kiana: Wants to pursue international relations in her studies. It will help her go many places. Two weeks ago they were recording a program about the culture of shame. “I think of many young people and children who experience violence in their homes and lives. They become ashamed of themselves. But my dream is to share with them that they are worthy. They can share their stories and get healed. “
Javad: That his family could be free – and be in a place where they can think of God freely. “I want my family and friends to know that they can understand the love of the real Jesus that we know. Also, I see many Iranians that are alone and lonely – I want them to know Jesus who cares about and loves them.”
Dariush closed our day with devotions focused on John 4:7 when Jesus asked the Samaritan woman for a drink of water. Jesus humbled himself to cross-cultural and religious barriers to tell this woman “I need you.” This is the bridge we must cross if we will serve refugees in Christ’s name. “They are beautiful in God’s eyes and we need them.” He then asked us specifically to pray for the people of Iran and Afghanistan, for the peace and the love of Christ to unite them in ways we can’t imagine. “May God reveal himself more in the hearts of people and change their hearts so they can be kind to each other.” May we all pray for these things, and for “Uncle Dariush,” that he continues to be used by God in powerful and loving ways – so that all may know that Jesus is “The way the truth and the life.”