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The Islamic Republic of Iran is predominantly a Muslim-majority nation. The estimated variety of Christians accounts for roughly 1% of the inhabitants. Nevertheless, as an Iranian Christian convert, I’m vastly inspired as a result of Christianity is on the rise in Iran.
According to a report launched by Operation World in 2016, Iran has the best Evangelical development price globally, with an annual enhance of almost 20%. This continues to be the pattern in Iran, as many proceed to decide on to comply with Jesus as Saviour. The development has been fuelled principally by Iranians who’re disillusioned with Islam. However, we can not overlook the Gospel’s energy and transformational influence on so many. My personal journey to Christianity, which started with a dream my mom had, is a testomony to that energy.
Many years in the past, my secular-Muslim mom skilled a divine encounter when she dreamed about Jesus Christ. This divine expertise will not be unusual for Iranians. Although it’s troublesome for folks in our area to entry details about Jesus, many Muslims expertise a reference to Him by means of goals and visions. My mom’s introduction to the Saviour got here by means of a dream, which started a change in our household.
Shortly after her dream, a visiting church graciously supplied us with a VHS copy of the 1979 JESUS movie, which had been translated into the Farsi language to share the message of Christ with the folks of Iran. Upon viewing the movie, my mom’s coronary heart was drawn to the love and teachings of Jesus, main her to commit her life to Him wholeheartedly. In the next months, I made the identical choice to provide my life to the Lord.
After surrendering my life to Christ, the Lord opened the door for me to spearhead a ministry devoted to sharing the excellent news of the gospel with the Iranian folks. The life-changing influence of the JESUS movie by myself religious journey compelled me to achieve out to Jesus Film Project, the Cru ministry that launched thefilm, and to safe the required rights to broadcast the Farsi rendition of the JESUS movie by means of our satellite tv for pc tv community, Mohabat TV, into the nation of Iran.
This allowed us to carry the timeless story of Christ’s life, loss of life, and resurrection to numerous Iranians, lots of whom had by no means encountered the message of salvation by means of Jesus. Over the years, we’ve got had the blessing and privilege of working carefully with Jesus Film Project. The director of the 1979 movie, Paul Eshleman, was a private mentor of mine who helped form my Christian religion journey.
The 1979 JESUS movie continues to be being broadcast on our satellite tv for pc TV in Iran, and persons are nonetheless selecting to comply with Christ. The movie’s potential to transcend cultural and non secular boundaries performs a pivotal position in these selections. The prevailing cultural norms of honor and disgrace within the Middle East typically render non secular debates counterproductive. However, when folks expertise the story of the gospel by means of visible mediums, it erases the necessity for arguments. People can merely witness the lifetime of Jesus on display and the facility emanating from God’s Word by means of His Son. This strategy creates a bridge of understanding, enabling people to attach with the truths of the Christian religion on a extra visceral and emotive degree fairly than relying solely on mental discourse.
Another notion within the Middle East is that Westerners are trying to impose their cultural values upon the area. Many people within the Middle East view Christianity as a religion rooted in Western traditions. However, after they encounter the JESUS movie of their mom tongue and acknowledge that Jesus hailed from the Middle East, it resonates deeply and redefines their perspective on Christianity. This realization challenges preconceived notions and fosters a deeper understanding of the religion’s origins and its connection to the area’s cultural heritage.
The altering dynamics of the way in which the subsequent era consumes media are essential to think about in the case of ministering to Iranians. Research signifies that immediately’s youth are much less inclined to have interaction with older content material, necessitating the manufacturing of a brand new JESUS movie to successfully attain and join with this demographic. Advancing the gospel fact to the subsequent era is of paramount significance, and I’m glad this crucial is being addressed with the event of a brand new JESUS movie.
While denominational variations relating to Christian content material could exist inside the broader religion group, there’s a unifying recognition of the 4 New Testament Gospels as the inspiration of the Christian religion. Therefore, I really feel the Christian group should come collectively to advertise, showcase, and unfold Christian movies based mostly on true biblical accuracy. As the Middle East grapples with shifting cultural dynamics and the evolving wants of the subsequent era, having a useful resource that reframes the Christian narrative as one that’s deeply rooted within the area’s historical past and heritage, and which frees Christianity from unfavorable stereotypes, might be profoundly impactful.
Mike Ansari is CEO of Heart4Iran.
