The Iranian Church

James 1:2 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds.” Every week Pastor Robby Dawkins ministers to 150 believers in Iran. He says that the church there is the fastest growing church in the world. Man does he have some crazy stories about that place. One man was arrested for sharing his faith and jailed for over a year. Upon his release he jumped into a taxi and shared about Jesus immediately with his driver. One woman was detained and dragged into the police station where she told her captors “you can arrest me and you can torture me. I’m not afraid to die for the gospel. If you kill me 1,000 more of me will rise up in my place. You can not stop this unstoppable move.” They let her go. The secret police arrested another woman, beat her and demanded that she reveal the names of the other believers in her group. When that didn’t work they brought her daughter and started torturing her. As they started to pull out her fingernails, the little girl started screaming “Mommy! Mommy!!” The woman, at her wits end, turned to the police ready to renounce her faith and turn in her compatriots. But then the little girl finished her sentence. “Mommy! Mommy!! Mommy!!! Don’t let go of Jesus!!!!” Wow. One believer in Iran pleaded with Pastor Robby “tell the western church to stop praying that the persecution ends. Tell them to pray that it increases, because it’s not stopping us and it’s making us grow faster.” Pain that doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. And persecution has always proven to benefit the church. So consider it pure joy when you face trials of many kinds. Lord, I welcome any trials that may come my way today. Every set back is a set up for more of your favor. I love you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.