Show Notes
How do believers respond to the situation in Iran?
In this episode, Scott Dunford talks with “Sam,” an ABWE missionary serving Persian and Iranian communities, about the crisis gripping Iran. Looking at ancient Persia's biblical roots, home of Daniel and Esther, to the 1979 Islamic Revolution that installed a Shiite theocracy, Iran’s story is both historic and volatile. Sam explains the regime’s ideology, the nationwide uprisings across hundreds of cities, and the crushing reality facing ordinary Iranians amid economic collapse and violent repression.
Yet in the shadows of persecution, the gospel is advancing. Iran’s underground house church movement continues to grow despite infiltration, imprisonment, and the killing of pastors and believers. Drawing from firsthand connections inside the country, Sam calls the global church to pray, stand with suffering Christians, and boldly engage Iranian neighbors with truth and hope.
Key Topics
Iran’s biblical and ancient Persian heritage
The 1979 Islamic Revolution and rise of the ayatollahs
Shiite apocalyptic theology and its political implications
Widespread protests and violent government crackdowns
Economic crisis, corruption, and regional proxy conflicts
The growth of Iran’s underground house church movement
Practical encouragement for connecting with Iranian neighbors
*The views expressed in this episode are those solely of the participants and do not necessarily align with the views of ABWE or all of its representatives.
Do you love The Missions Show? Have you been blessed by the show? Then become a Premium Subscriber!
Premium Subscribers get access to:
Exclusive bonus content
A community Signal thread with other listeners and the hosts
Invite-only webinars
A free gift!
Support The Missions Show and sign up to be a Premium Subscriber at missionsshow.com/premium
The Missions Show is powered by ABWE. Learn more and take your next step in the Great Commission at abwe.org.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email [email protected].
More from The Missions Show
What does it take to go from feeling called to missions to actually reaching the field? And how can you trust God through the challenges of raising support?
How should missionaries teach deep biblical truth in cultures where storytelling, rather than reading, is the main way people learn?
What is God’s mission—and how does the church fit into it?
In the final installment of the Defining the Missionary Task series, Alex and Scott explore what it means to entrust the mission to others. The missionary task doesn’t end when people are evangelized, churches are established, and leaders are equipped. Healthy churches should grow into sending churches—taking responsibility for making disciples, planting churches, and carrying the gospel to other peoples and places.
Are missionaries doing their job if they never work themselves out of one?