Iran and the Kurds

Join us today through May 24 for the International Day of Prayer for the Unreached.

Nearly 8 million Kurds live in Iran, one of the top ten most dangerous countries in the world. They have long been oppressed by the government, but with recent protests and now a war, the Kurds have come under all the more fire.

They trace their roots to the Medes of ancient Persia. Traditionally a nomadic people, grazing their flocks on rough mountain terrain, where clean water is scarce and diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis abound, many Kurds are very poor. Today, the majority of this unreached people group are Sunni Muslim, while some are Shia. A Bible exists in their language and is available online, but most Kurds have never seen one or heard the Good News about Christ.

Iran is 98% Muslim, with 84 people groups still unreached with the Gospel. Nevertheless, Islamic violence and oppression, not just against Christians but against Muslims, Kurds, women and children, has only served to fuel many Iranians’ hunger for Truth. Iran’s evangelical annual growth rate, in fact, is almost 20%, compared to a world average of 2.6%.

Despite conflict, drought, poverty, severe persecution of Christians and executions, Iran has the fastest growing underground church in the world. Let’s continue praying for those valiantly risking their lives to stand up for freedom.

Lord, we ask You, please, to have mercy on Iranians and their unreached peoples, especially the Kurds. Protect them and make a way for them to know the Gospel. Lift the veil from their minds and hearts so that when they hear about Jesus’ sacrifice for their sin, the Truth will set them free. Please be a Shield around every Kurdish believer and their families, hiding them from those who wish to do evil. Flow through them to spread Your love in such tangible ways the lost will be drawn to You like moths to a flame. Use this present persecution to multiply Your church by the thousands. In so many areas of Iran, people are turning to faith in Christ because they see the atrocities their Muslim countrymen are committing, and they want Love instead. So we ask You, Lord, to bring Christians to the Kurds to tell them of Jesus, to provide for those in need, to heal those who are injured or suffering, to comfort those who grieve, to counsel those who fear, and to demonstrate clearly what Your love is like. Save Iranians in positions of influence, and meet every Muslim, especially those bent on violence, abuse, rape, abduction and other atrocities, in such powerful ways, they fall to their knees before You in repentance, and choose salvation through Christ. Get up in their face and invade their space. Haunt their dreams at night and give them visions by day to show them the truth of Christ and to bring them face to face with Your plan of salvation. Let them see Your angels blocking their way every time they seek to do evil, so that they crumble with the weight of their sin and seek Your forgiveness and salvation.

Thank You, Lord, for the perhaps one million Christians in Iran faithfully clinging to You in the midst of unrest. Please protect them from harm, and raise up every Christian strong in faith, bold in witness and empowered by Your Spirit to share Your good news and show many more millions the greatness of Your love. Call out those who will take Your plan of salvation to the Kurds and to all the unreached peoples of Iran. Continue growing Your church until every heart has heard the truth about Jesus. Bring down this evil regime, and raise up leaders in their place who will love the peoples of Iran and allow Your gospel to be freely preached. Bring forth Your great purposes for that country, O Lord. In Your name, Jesus. Amen.

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Mikaela Vincent and her husband are missionaries who live by faith, trusting in God to provide for their needs as they pray for and share Christ with the nations. If you would like to help their ministry through a donation, or by finding gifts for those you love at Mikaela’s online bookstore, click the buttons below:

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