Pars Theological Center - June 2020 Update

Sasan teaching a seminar for Iranian churches

2020 Pars seminar in Vancouver

We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars...

2 Corinthians 4:7 (NLT)

Pars Theological Center is a London-based virtual seminary that uses the internet, IT technology, satellite TV, and conferences to deliver Farsi-language theological training to Iranian Christians both inside and outside Iran. Classes are taught by well-known Iranian pastors, Bible teachers, and theological instructors including Rev. Dr. Sasan Tavassoli, Coordinator of Iranian Ministries for The Outreach Foundation. Students are mentored by the Pars team on how to integrate the principles they are learning into their ministry and personal spiritual lives. Pars also includes a Christian Counseling Center. The words that follow reflect the thoughts of the leaders of Pars Theological Center.

You will have read or heard by now about the impact that the Coronavirus pandemic is having on mental health all over the world. At Pars, this is manifested through a 50% increase in Iranian Christian clients seeking therapy through our Counseling Center in the months of April and May. Our counselors report that the majority of these cases concern marital and familial struggles (among refugees in particular) that have come to the surface as a result of life in lockdown. Others have sought therapy due to relapses into addiction and the return of depression as a consequence of experiences of loss too difficult to bear.

Depression and anxiety, grief, and post-traumatic stress disorder are struggles with which the Iranian Christian community is all too familiar. These struggles are often the outcome of persecution: there is the heartbreak of being rejected by one’s family and friends, the loss of jobs and opportunities for education, continuous harassment and discrimination, and forced migration. Furthermore, such struggles are also the deposit of overwhelming social problems that come with a society oppressed under totalitarianism.

The New York Times op-ed writer, David Brooks, once wrote about how in times of great suffering there are those who are broken and those who are broken open. Those who are solely broken withdraw, shrivel up and disconnect from others. In contrast, those who are broken open seek out others as they yearn for healing and wholeness. The Christian thinker, Eleanor Stump, has also written beautifully on this topic in her book, Wandering in Darkness (2012). She notes that in the 'Christian tradition there has long been this idea that something about suffering enables you—doesn’t make you, but it enables you—to open and open and open and open more deeply to God and to others... to seek communion... It is not a coincidence that Job has the longest face-to-face conversation with God than any other person in the Biblical narrative.' 

At Pars, we want to try to model and encourage the act of breaking open in times of suffering. This carries particular weight for us since we are part of an honor and shame culture, where opening up is rarely encouraged. Especially through our counseling center, we want to provide a safe space for people to break open; to share their pain and their sorrows, and to be pointed to Jesus' broken body. Ultimately, it is only his body - broken for us - that brings healing to individuals, families, and communities.

Read more about Pars Theological Center HERE.

THE NEED

The Outreach Foundation is seeking to raise $75,000 to support Multimedia Theological Training for the house church movement in Iran. You may make a gift HERE or by sending a check to our office. Please designate gifts to Multimedia Theological Training.