Pars Theological Center - February 2021 Update
Iran and the Iranian Diaspora
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. We recently received the following from Pars Executive Director Rev. Dr. Mehrdad Fatehi:
Dear friend and partner,
I write this letter to you having just received news that an Iranian couple - both leaders in Iran with whom we work closely - have gone missing for 3 days. It is not yet clear if they have entered into hiding, or if they have been taken in for questioning; their children remain at home. In the past few weeks, at least 3 other believers have been arrested due to their involvement in Bible distribution. Sadly, 2 of these believers have been subjected to brutal beating by their interrogators.
An important aspect of our training at Pars over the years, and in 2020 particularly, has been about entering into the pain of others, specifically those with a background of trauma.
We had the privilege of serving 554 leaders through our B.Th. program* last year. Many of them, while courageously leading house churches in the most restrictive environments, joined Pars wounded by traumatic events similar to the cases I have described above. I think of our student, Nima, who was imprisoned with his father and mother in 2014 because they were leading house churches in their city; he was only 25 years old at the time. I think of Athena who was imprisoned with her sister in 2012 for their work among women across the country. I think of Maryam and her husband who, after being forced to flee to Turkey after their release from prison, have just received news that their case to resettle in North America has been rejected by the UN.
It has been our work to listen, to understand, to study, to teach, to resource, to lament, to pray, to mentor, to encourage, and to enter into our students' pain as we witness the Lord restore and revive them. As we have watched God bring healing and change to their lives, we have learned that our students have been sent by God to change us, also. As one thinker has put it,
“If you enter into the suffering of people, you enter into darkness. Such darkness would lead to despair were there not a treasure there. The treasure in the darkness is the Crucified Christ. He who can sympathise is there. He who knows anguish is there. He who has felt tormented, abandoned, unheard, and crushed, waits there in the darkness. To enter into the fellowship of his sufferings is to find Him. [1]
I want to thank each of you for entering into the pain of the persecuted church of Christ in Iran through your incredible support, financial and otherwise. I hope that you will be encouraged by all the ways the Lord has used you to empower the Iranian church so that she can be an agent of transformation in Iran and the whole region.
With deep gratitude,
Rev. Dr. Mehrdad Fatehi
Executive Director, Pars Theological Center
* Our B.Th. program is not accredited yet.
[1] Diane Langberg, Suffering and the Heart of God: How Trauma Destroys and Christ Restores (New Growth Press: Greensboro) 84.
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. Please designate gifts to Multimedia Theological Training. You may make a gift HERE or by sending a check to our office.