You know, folks, when I hear news like this today, my heart aches. Just yesterday, March 19, three young Iranian men, Saleh Mohammadi, who was only 19, Mehdi Ghasemi, and Saeed Davoudi, 21, were hanged publicly in Qom. Publicly! Can you imagine? Just out in the open for everyone to see.
Saleh was a wrestler, part of Iran's national team. He had won a bronze medal at an international event in 2024, he was a strong kid, full of promise, the kind you would think has a bright future ahead.
Mehdi and Saeed were right there with him in those January protests, just ordinary young guys standing up against hardship, high prices, no freedoms, under the gosh of the heavy hand of the regime.
They got accused of killing two police officers during the unrest, knives, swords, the regime said. Charged with "moharebeh," enmity against God. But human rights folks like Amnesty and Iran Human Rights say it wasn't fair. Confessions beaten out of them, no real trial, lawyers shut down, evidence ignored. Just rushed through to make an example.
Oh, it breaks my heart. These boys were made in God's image, just like you and me (Genesis 1:27 ). Life is precious to Him. Thousands have suffered or died under this regime over the years, protests crushed, families torn apart.
We grieve for Saleh's family, for Mehdi's, for Saeed's. We grieve the waste of young lives caught in such darkness.
But deeper than that, we have to ask: Did they know the Lord? From everything reported, no sign they did. They grew up in a Muslim world, under a system that opposes the freedom Jesus brings.
No mention of faith in Christ, no house church connection, nothing. How sad if they never heard the simple message: "Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13).
Yet here's the amazing thing God is doing in Iran right now. In the middle of all this oppression, the church is growing faster than almost anywhere else. Ministries like Elam tell us hundreds of thousands, some say a million or more, have come to Jesus since the revolution in '79.
Secret house churches meeting quietly, Bibles on phones or satellite broadcasts, people disillusioned with the regime turning to the real Saviour. I have heard they are having dreams of Jesus, visions, and a simple Gospel shared one-on-one. It's the Holy Spirit moving, just like He promised, drawing people even in the hardest places.
You see, persecution doesn't stop the Gospel; it often spreads it. Remember what Jesus said: "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:10). And the early church, when they scattered under pressure, they went everywhere preaching the Word (Acts 8:4).
Iran's believers are living today, strong, faithful, growing.
So what do we do, brothers and sisters? We pray. We pray every day for Iran. For the comfort of these grieving families. For the protection of the secret believers. For boldness to share Jesus even when it's dangerous. For the regime's grip to loosen so the light can shine brighter.
Support ministries like Elam, they get Persian Bibles in, disciple new believers, reach out with love. And remember Hebrews 13:3: "Remember the prisoners as if chained with them, those who are mistreated, since you yourselves are in the body also."
Lord, we lift Iran to You. These young men, Saleh, Mehdi, Saeed, may their stories stir hearts, draw many more to call on Your name. Grow Your church there in power. Comfort the broken and help us love the lost as You do.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
P.S. The church we attend at ViZion Church in Glasgow, where we gather, the Lord has given us a real heart for Muslim folks, especially from places like Iran. We've had a few visit with us over time, and our Pastor David (a true father figure in the faith) loves welcoming them, sitting down to talk openly about Jesus, and showing them the love of Christ.
Praise God, he's even had the joy of baptising two Iranians right in the beautiful waters of Loch Lomond! It's a reminder that the Gospel is alive and reaching hearts close to home, just as it's exploding across Iran. Keep praying with us, the harvest is plentiful!
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