Iranians in Diaspora #4
Common Ground
Submitted by Tom Boone
Associate Director for Mission
Pictures included in this blog are from an angle that preserves the identities of those gathered for worship due to security concerns.
Sunday was another long day of visits, but worship was the main event. The Outreach Foundation’s diaspora team celebrated the work of the Holy Spirit with a congregation of Muslim background believers (MBB). Over 75 people crammed into a space meant for about 50, and 25 people joined online. Singing flowed into prayers of gratitude to God, which flowed into more singing and liturgy! Was that the Lord’s Prayer we just heard? The doxology, too. A Persian worship leader featured on Spotify played the “tar,” a traditional Persian instrument. The sound of home echoed through the space. Tears welled. We had a brief technical glitch on Zoom, then came two testimonies. Testimonies are a common feature of worship because people need to share that Jesus is showing up in dreams, visions, and through miracles.
“T” recalled her days in Iran as a Muslim. Her father was a soldier, and often drunk. She recalled how he forced the family to pray, once even with a machete to her face. Her experience of Islam was not positive. A zealous legalism without any grace and harshness led to a broken spirit. Her brother took after the father: violent, harsh, and an addict. In Iran, addiction is rampant and the 12-step program has become popular, used even in some mosques. Her brother entered the program and discovered the God of grace. Secretly, he was given a Bible and read it. It is a story we often hear that through this encounter with God’s Word Jesus entered his life. “T” recalled, suddenly my brother was very different. But wounds of the past from a violent father run deep. As attractive as the changes were, she could not believe. Until Jesus approached her in a vision, showing himself as a man with love in his heart. She felt his love peel away the layers of disdain in her heart for God. I am Jesus and I will heal your broken spirit. She celebrated with us that the next day she started reading God’s Word with her brother and learned what Jesus did for his brokenness. Irresistible grace drew “T” to the Lord!
Then a young man, “M,” stood up and approached the microphone somewhat sheepishly. He was there to say thank you – he was alive because of their prayers. Fully active one day and a week later, 3 days before Easter, he was in a COVID coma. Yet that is not the whole story. For several years, “M” has been separated from his family in Iran and unable to get “the gift of God,” their phrase meaning I have permission to become a German resident. Despite his prayers, fasting, and devotion, God has not swayed the court. Who would not become angry, defeated, and pessimistic about the process and God? He decided to abandon Jesus. While he was in a coma this congregation and even his Muslim friends were praying for this young man who had turned from Jesus. His testimony shared many details about his coma, but this was the main course. “M” saw Jesus hanging on the cross. He looked down from the cross directly at “M” and said words that brought him back to the Lord. I defeated death in three days and in three days I will raise you up as well. “M” thought he might die, but instead he told Jesus that he was sorry for his anger against him. In his heart he knew Jesus really was the Lord, but he was hurting so much. Then he woke up and realized what was going on. To experience God’s grace in this way has transformed this young man’s heart. Through tears he said Merci merci merci. Thank you Thank you Thank you. The congregation applauded with Amens and Hallelujahs.
Hearing all this, I could only think I have to preach after that? The day of worship ended with an abundance of Persian food and even more stories from both the team and the Iranians gathered. Friends share one another’s stories, discovering the common ground between us, and in the end our God is glorified! Together we sing Hallelujah.