Iranians in Diaspora #7: Rooted in our Trust of God
Rooted in our Trust of God
By Bill Stevens
GRACE Church, Bethlehem, PA
The Outreach Foundation is on a week-long visit with our Persian friends in Europe. The second leg of our visit brings us to Germany where we are spending time with Sargez and Mehrdad along with their families. Sargez and his family are living in exile from his home country while Mehrdad and his family have temporary residence status and are awaiting their citizenship decision in Germany. We are here to enjoy their hospitality, listen to their stories, and encourage them.
Warm again! It was another warm day in Nuremberg with the high temperature reaching 70 degrees. Following breakfast, Mehrdad stopped by to share his current ministry as well as his vision for the future.
Mehrdad is part of a ministry called Quest, based here in the EU, which reaches out to Arabic and Persian Muslim background believers to train them to evangelize and teach new believers. It’s impressive work. He runs seminars and there is always a practical edge with participants going out to share the gospel and pray with people. His passion is for the next generation of leaders in the diaspora. We saw him in practice at the restaurant one night as he brought the gospel to our waiter who is from Iran.
Before we traveled to Sargez’s congregation for worship, Mehrdad shared a great devotional with our team on Matthew 28:18. It says, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” His reflection struck a familiar chord with what we have been hearing during this visit. Our Lord reigns and we have to trust in him. That’s the basis for a flourishing life. God’s mission is rooted in this essential trust.
We then traveled to Sargez’s congregation for worship at 1:30. He showed us the publishing room that publishes bound books on prayer and Christian basics for Persian speakers in the diaspora. There were in-person congregants as well as those on Zoom, with everyone being a former Muslim. Corporate prayer included both groups. The Holy Spirit was present through song and prayers. One woman gave a powerful testimony. Rev. Doug Stewart presented the sermon on Acts 1:1-5 with Mehrdad translating.
After the service, another wonderful meal was provided for us. Yes, that’s right. More delicious Persian food! Following this, Sargez presented a vision for his ministry which includes multicultural outreach, evangelism, advocacy for refugees, providing support to Persian-speaking house churches, and a center for lay leadership training.
Saying goodbye was difficult. These people have touched our hearts. Their stories are compelling. That the Holy Spirit is strongly at work here is without question.
