Jesus Speaks Farsi

Welcome to our new Hidden Gems season of Jesus Speaks Farsi, where we're revisiting some of our favorite conversations from our library.In this episode, we're looking back at a conversation Chrissy and Hannah had with Tom Hawksley, a member of Elam's Teaching Team, about the history of Iran's church and why, after centuries of hardship, it is growing faster today than ever before.Just before we meet Tom, you'll hear Joe and Chrissy on why they think this episode is a hidden gem worth revisiting in these days.In this critical moment, your prayers matter more than ever. Download the Iran 30 Prayer App to pray for Iran with daily updates, real testimonies, and guided prayer points. Download here: elam.com/iran-30-appSend us Fan MailDownload the Iran 30 app and pray for Iran with clarity, compassion, and hope. elam.com/iran-30-appSupport the show

In this episode, Chrissy speaks with Keyvan Separ, Elam’s Training Director, about the character of the Iranian church, and how believers have embodied the love of Christ throughout the trials and suffering of this year.In this time of conflict, your prayers are needed more than ever. Download the Iran 30 prayer app today through your App Store or visit elam.com/pray-for-iran-appSend us Fan MailDownload the Iran 30 app and pray for Iran with clarity, compassion, and hope. elam.com/iran-30-appSupport the show

In this episode, Joe speaks with Niloofar, a member of the Worship team, about how Iranians are learning and experiencing worship in new ways during these days of war and suffering.In this time of war, your prayers are needed more than ever. Download the Iran 30 prayer app today through your App Store or visit elam.com/pray-for-iran-appWatch the live-streamed worship events Niloofar mentioned: Netherlands: https://www.youtube.com/live/uvdod191kzAVancouver: https://youtu.be/kRXU6WcRpwM?si=bLY7Y023mDFj5EY9  Send us Fan MailDownload the Iran 30 app and pray for Iran with clarity, compassion, and hope. elam.com/iran-30-appSupport the show

In this episode, Chrissy speaks with David Yeghnazar, Executive Director of Elam Ministries, about the war in Iran and powerful testimonies from the Church living through darkness today. In this critical moment, your prayers matter more than ever. Download the Iran 30 Prayer App to pray for Iran with daily updates, real testimonies, and guided prayer points. Download here:https://elam.com/pray-for-iran-appSend us Fan MailDownload the Iran 30 app and pray for Iran with clarity, compassion, and hope. elam.com/iran-30-appSupport the show

In January 2026, Iran faced one of the most violent episodes in its recent history. Thousands were killed, and the nation was left grieving, after the government cracked down with unspeakable brutality on a widespread protest movement.Yet in the midst of suffering, the underground church has responded with prayer, compassion, and hope.Joe Connor speaks with Asrin Yousefi about how believers are caring for the hurting, sharing the Gospel, and even starting new fellowships in cities marked by loss.Listen as we reflect on Christ’s light shining in dark days—and please visit elam.com/pray-for-iran to discover how you can pray for the Church in Iran.Send us Fan MailDownload the Iran 30 app and pray for Iran with clarity, compassion, and hope. elam.com/iran-30-appSupport the show

As unrest spreads across Iran, many voices fill the news — but as believers, our response is rooted in faith and prayer.In this message, we reflect on how Christians are called to respond in times of uncertainty: trusting in God’s sovereignty, standing firm in prayer, and interceding for peace, wisdom, and salvation.We believe that prayer makes a difference, and we invite you to stand with us as we pray for the people of Iran during this critical moment.For guidance on how to pray for Iran at this time, visit: elam.com/pray-for-iranTo receive regular prayer updates and stand with us in intercession, subscribe here: elam.com/subscribeSend us Fan MailDownload the Iran 30 app and pray for Iran with clarity, compassion, and hope. elam.com/iran-30-appSupport the show

In this episode, Joe has an astonishing conversation with Behrang, who explains how he went from a devout Muslim in Iran to a powerful minister of the Gospel because of an incredible face-to-face encounter with Jesus Christ.So much of his story is about the impact of prayer on his life, and we truly believe that your prayers have impact too. Find more ways to pray for Iranians by visiting elam.com/praySend us Fan MailDownload the Iran 30 app and pray for Iran with clarity, compassion, and hope. elam.com/iran-30-appSupport the show

Thank you for joining us for this bonus episode of Jesus Speaks Farsi. In this episode we’re sharing a very special message that our friend Sara shared at Lifted, a global online youth event. Join us to hear Sara share her testimony, experience of prison and persecution, and the truth that the Lord spoke to her in her darkest moments. We know you’ll find it encouraging.This excerpt comes from Lifted our first ever global online youth event on November 15th, but it’s not too late for you to watch. Register and watch the replay for free by visiting elam.com/lifted.Hear more from Sara by checking out these two episodes of the podcast.Everybody Gets to Play: Samuel and Sara Neilsen - https://www.elam.com/podcastA Follow Up Conversation with Sara - Life After Prison E2  -https://www.elam.com/podcastSend us Fan MailDownload the Iran 30 app and pray for Iran with clarity, compassion, and hope. elam.com/iran-30-appSupport the show

In this episode, we’re celebrating 35 years of ministry at Elam. By God’s grace we have seen the church in the Iran region grow and flourish, despite government opposition and persecution. Although Iranian Christians suffer for their faith, they are passionate in sharing the Word and love of Jesus Christ with those around them.We at Elam are filled with gratitude for the role God has given us to play in His story for Iran, and we are joyful that we get to partner in that story with you.To our faithful prayer partners and supporters, thank you for all that you have done to uplift the church in Iran and beyond. God bless!Send us Fan MailDownload the Iran 30 app and pray for Iran with clarity, compassion, and hope. elam.com/iran-30-appSupport the show

In this episode, we’re wrapping up the most recent season of the podcast. Chrissy and Joe get together to chat about conversations with David and Keyvan about the “Send Hope Back Home” initiative. Breaking down the three simple steps of the program, they reflect on the importance of evangelism, the joy of discipleship, and the hope of fellowship.For more information about “Send Hope Back Home” and how you can be part of supporting Iranians in your as they minister to friends and family inside Iran, visit elam.com/send-hope. Send a Bible and access Weekly Fellowship for free through the Kalameh app or visit https://www.kalameh.com/en Find out more about the Safar discipleship journey at www.safar.orgSend us Fan MailDownload the Iran 30 app and pray for Iran with clarity, compassion, and hope. elam.com/iran-30-appSupport the show

In the fourth episode of this series, Chrissy and Joe dive into step three of Send Hope Back Home: helping believers gather for fellowship. Hear more from Elam’s executive director, David Yeghnazar, and training team leader, Keyvan Separ as they share about the power of in-person fellowship. Despite the risks, Iranians long to gather together to worship, fellowship, and be discipled. Using Elam’s “Weekly Fellowship” resource, any believer can facilitate a small fellowship group and experience Christian life communally.Discover how “Send Hope Back Home” could mobilize thousands more in the diaspora, and how you can be part of this vital mission at https://www.elam.com/send-hope. Send a Bible by accessing the Kalameh app https://www.kalameh.com/enFind out more about the Safar discipleship journey at www.safar.orgThe Weekly Fellowship resource is available for free on the Kalameh app and kalameh.comSend us Fan MailDownload the Iran 30 app and pray for Iran with clarity, compassion, and hope. elam.com/iran-30-appSupport the show

In the third episode of this series, Chrissy and Joe dive into step two of Send Hope Back Home: discipling new believers.Hear more from Elam’s executive director, David Yeghnazar, and training team leader, Keyvan Separ as they share the heart and mission behind the ‘Safar’ discipleship journey and how intentional healthy discipleship can transform not only individuals and their faith journeys, but entire regions.Discover how this movement could mobilize thousands more in the diaspora, and how you can be part of this vital mission at https://www.elam.com/send-hope.Find out more and start your own discipleship journey at https://www.safar.org/ Send a bible by accessing the Kalameh app https://www.kalameh.com/enSend us Fan MailDownload the Iran 30 app and pray for Iran with clarity, compassion, and hope. elam.com/iran-30-appSupport the show

In the second episode of this series, Chrissy and Joe dive into step one of Send Hope Back Home: sharing the Gospel. Hear more from Elam’s executive director, David Yeghnazar, and training team leader, Keyvan Separ as they discuss why Iranians are so desperate for the Bible despite the danger, and how the Word of God is transforming the nation. Discover how this movement could mobilize thousands more in the diaspora, and how you can be part of this vital mission at https://www.elam.com/send-hope. Send a Bible by accessing the Kalameh app https://www.kalameh.com/enSend us Fan MailDownload the Iran 30 app and pray for Iran with clarity, compassion, and hope. elam.com/iran-30-appSupport the show

In this first episode of Send Hope Back Home, Chrissy sits down with Elam’s Executive Director, David Yeghnazar, and Head of Training, Keyvan Separ, to reveal the vision behind this powerful initiative. You’ll hear why this is a crucial moment for Iranians around the world to share the hope of Jesus with family and friends back home. David and Keyvan share moving testimonies — including Keyvan’s own transformation story — that show how ordinary believers are sparking change across Iran. Discover how this movement could mobilize thousands more in the diaspora, and how you can be part of this vital mission at https://www.elam.com/send-hope.Download the Kalameh app or visit www.kalameh.com/en to arrange a secure delivery of the Bible to a loved one in Iran. (Click the chat icon in the corner to start a conversation with our team.)Discover Safar https://www.safar.org/Send us Fan MailDownload the Iran 30 app and pray for Iran with clarity, compassion, and hope. elam.com/iran-30-appSupport the show

In this bonus episode, Elam’s Executive Director, David Yeghnazar, shares how the Iranian church has been responding to the recent conflict with Israel.You will hear encouraging stories and prayer needs for Iranian Christians at this critical time.Join us in praying for Iran’s church using free prayer resources at www.elam.com/pray-for-iran and by signing up to our regular prayer updates at www.elam.com/subscribe.To access free resources that will help your Iranian friends share the hope of the Gospel with loved ones still in Iran, visit www.elam.com/send-hope.Send us Fan MailDownload the Iran 30 app and pray for Iran with clarity, compassion, and hope. elam.com/iran-30-appSupport the show

In today’s episode, Dara Lynn has a conversation with Magda to hear a significant update to Magda’s story. She shares about a recent answer to prayer that has been 21 years in the making. To hear Magda’s full testimony, please go back to her episode from May 10th, “A Hard and Faithful Choice." For more information about the recent history and incredible growth of the Iranian church, please visit elam.com/iran-story. And for more information about our organization, please visit elam.com.Send us Fan MailDownload the Iran 30 app and pray for Iran with clarity, compassion, and hope. elam.com/iran-30-appSupport the show

In this episode, we’re wrapping up the most recent season of the podcast. Jennifer, Chrissy and Dara Lynn get together to chat about conversations with David, Bahar, Samuel and Sara, and Shahrokh. They discuss how God is using ordinary, even unlikely, people to impact the church in extraordinary ways. So, grab a cup of tea and join us for another episode of Chai time on Jesus Speaks Farsi.For more information about the recent history and incredible growth of the Iranian church, please visit elam.com/iran-story. And for more information about our organization, please visit elam.com.Send us Fan MailDownload the Iran 30 app and pray for Iran with clarity, compassion, and hope. elam.com/iran-30-appSupport the show

In today’s episode, Chrissy and Dara Lynn chat with Shahrokh, continuing the ongoing conversation about how everyone, even the most unlikely person, has a part to play in the growth of the church. In this fourth episode of our series, “Everyone Gets to Play,” they discuss how Christian Afghans are having an unexpected impact on the Persian-speaking church.For more information about the recent history and incredible growth of the Iranian church, please visit elam.com/iran-story.And for more information about our organization, please visit elam.com.Send us Fan MailDownload the Iran 30 app and pray for Iran with clarity, compassion, and hope. elam.com/iran-30-appSupport the show

In today’s episode, Chrissy chats with Samuel and Sara Nielsen to continue the conversation about our latest series  “Everyone Gets to Play.” In this third episode of the series, we talk about how God is moving in the hearts of Persian-speaking teenagers. More and more young people in the Iran region are experiencing life transformation through Christ and they are increasingly excited to tell their friends and family what God is doing, furthering the growth of the church. For more information about the recent history and incredible growth of the Iranian church, please visit elam.com/iran-story. And for more information about our organization, please visit elam.com.Send us Fan MailDownload the Iran 30 app and pray for Iran with clarity, compassion, and hope. elam.com/iran-30-appSupport the show

In today’s episode, Jennifer and Chrissy have a conversation with Bahar Shahabi, to talk further about our latest series on the podcast, “Everyone Gets to Play.” In this second episode of the series, we discuss how as Persian-speaking women meet Jesus, their passion for sharing Him with others is having a significant impact on the growth of the church.For more information about the recent history and incredible growth of the Iranian church, please visit elam.com/iran-story.And for more information about our organization, please visit elam.com.Send us Fan MailDownload the Iran 30 app and pray for Iran with clarity, compassion, and hope. elam.com/iran-30-appSupport the show

In today’s episode, Dara Lynn and Jennifer have a conversation with David Yeghnazar, Executive Director of Elam Ministries, to talk about our latest series on the podcast, “Everyone Gets to Play.” In this first episode of the series, they discuss how, in God’s kingdom, everyone has a part to play and often the most unlikely people are helping to grow the church in remarkable ways.For more information about the recent history and incredible growth of the Iranian church, please visit elam.com/iran-story.And for more information about our organization, please visit elam.com.Send us Fan MailDownload the Iran 30 app and pray for Iran with clarity, compassion, and hope. elam.com/iran-30-appSupport the show

In this episode, we’re wrapping up the most recent season of the podcast. Jennifer and Dara Lynn get together to chat about compelling conversations with Magda, Kenneth, Amir, and Tom. They discuss what it looks like when people say yes to Jesus, despite difficult consequences - and how stories like these can encourage the wider church. So, grab a cup of tea and join us for another episode of Chai time on Jesus Speaks Farsi.For more information about the recent history and incredible growth of the Iranian church, please visit elam.com/iran-story.And for more information about our organization, please visit elam.com.Send us Fan MailDownload the Iran 30 app and pray for Iran with clarity, compassion, and hope. elam.com/iran-30-appSupport the show

In today’s episode, Dara Lynn and Jenn chat with Kenneth Kuhn, the leader of Elam’s Europe team. Kenneth shares about his journey into ministry from growing up in Denmark as the son of a pastor to becoming one himself, as well as his experience of working with Iranian and Afghan refugees in Europe.Throughout his story, Kenneth gives helpful insights into the challenges of cross-cultural ministry and how churches can overcome them. He also shares the moving testimony of a woman who suffered for following Christ in her home country but stood firm in her faith and is now in a thriving church community in Europe.For more information about the recent history and incredible growth of the Iranian church, please visit elam.com/iran-story.And for more information about our organization, please visit elam.com.Send us Fan MailDownload the Iran 30 app and pray for Iran with clarity, compassion, and hope. elam.com/iran-30-appSupport the show

In today’s episode, Chrissy and Dara Lynn have a conversation with Amir, a young Iranian man currently living in North America. Amir shares about his experience of growing up in a Christian family in Iran, becoming a refugee in Turkey for 9 years, and finally, being resettled in Canada. Amir’s story gives helpful insight into what life as a refugee, particularly a Christian refugee, can look like. His story includes the challenges and the unexpected possibilities of being a refugee, all of which are part of how the Lord brought Amir back to Himself. Amir also shares how the Lord has called him into business and he is eager to see how he can use his work to benefit God’s church.For more information about the recent history and incredible growth of the Iranian church, please visit elam.com/iran-story.And for more information about our organization, please visit elam.com.Send us Fan MailDownload the Iran 30 app and pray for Iran with clarity, compassion, and hope. elam.com/iran-30-appSupport the show

In today’s episode, Chrissy and Hannah have a conversation with our resident historian Tom Hawksley on the story of Iran’s church through the ages. They also explore why so many Iranians are responding to the Gospel in recent decades.Tom, a British missionary, has served the Iranian church for 40 years alongside his Iranian wife Mojdeh, who serves in women’s ministry to Persian-speaking women. If you’d like more background on Tom and Mojdeh, you can hear their testimonies in past episodes of Jesus Speaks Farsi. You can find Tom’s story "here" and Mojdeh’s "here".For more information about the recent history and incredible growth of the Iranian church, please visit elam.com/iran-story.And for more information about our organization, please visit elam.com.Send us Fan MailDownload the Iran 30 app and pray for Iran with clarity, compassion, and hope. elam.com/iran-30-appSupport the show

As we kickstart the podcast back into a new season, this first episode features a conversation with Magda, an Iranian woman who works in ministry to Persian-speaking women.From all the stories we’ve shared on this podcast, we know that persecution is a very real threat for Christians inside Iran, but we can mistakenly think that that only means the threat of prison and arrest. Today, we’ll hear how Magda, who’s never been arrested or imprisoned for her faith, had a life-changing experience with persecution, ultimately leading her to make an unimaginably heartbreaking decision. One note: This episode does touch on domestic abuse as well as detailing a difficult decision involving a child. So, you may want to listen without children nearby. For more information about the recent history and incredible growth of the Iranian church, please visit elam.com/iran-story.And for more information about our organization, please visit elam.com. Send us Fan MailDownload the Iran 30 app and pray for Iran with clarity, compassion, and hope. elam.com/iran-30-appSupport the show

Welcome back to Jesus Speaks Farsi! We've got lots of new stories and conversations from the Iranian church that we're excited to share with you.Today Jenn, Dara Lynn and our new host Chrissy have a chat about what's coming up on Jesus Speaks Farsi in the next few weeks.We're so glad you're here!Send us Fan MailDownload the Iran 30 app and pray for Iran with clarity, compassion, and hope. elam.com/iran-30-appSupport the show

In this episode of Chai Time, we’re wrapping up our last series of 2023, “Many Threads, One Tapestry.” Jennifer and Dara Lynn have a conversation about what it means for our individual stories of meeting and following Christ to be a part of the larger story that God is writing for His church.So, pour yourself a cup of tea and join us for another episode of Jesus Speaks Farsi.For more information about the recent history and incredible growth of the Iranian church, please visit elam.com/iran-story. And for more information about our organization, please visit elam.com.Send us Fan MailDownload the Iran 30 app and pray for Iran with clarity, compassion, and hope. elam.com/iran-30-appSupport the show

In this third episode of our “Many Threads/One Tapestry” series, Hannah has a conversation with Hessam, a well-respected pastor and teacher in the Iranian church who has been a follower of Jesus for 40 years. Years after his life was transformed by the Gospel, Hessam continues to train and equip the next generation of leaders in the Iranian church.For more information about the recent history and incredible growth of the Iranian church, please visit elam.com/iran-story.And for more information about our organization, please visit elam.com.Send us Fan MailDownload the Iran 30 app and pray for Iran with clarity, compassion, and hope. elam.com/iran-30-appSupport the show

In this second episode of our “Many Threads/One Tapestry” series, Dara Lynn has a conversation with Darya, a German/Iranian worship leader whose songwriting and worship ministry has had a significant impact on the Iranian church in recent years. She shares about God’s restoration of her family, what living and ministering across two cultures is like, and why Iranians value their freedom to worship through song so highly.To hear Darya’s music, you can find her on Spotify under her name Darya and on YouTube at Darya Music. For more information about the recent history and incredible growth of the Iranian church, please visit elam.com/iran-story. And for more information about our organization, please visit elam.com.Send us Fan MailDownload the Iran 30 app and pray for Iran with clarity, compassion, and hope. elam.com/iran-30-appSupport the show

In this first episode of our “Many Threads/One Tapestry” series, Dara Lynn and Jennifer chat with Dani, a young Iranian man whose unique story includes growing up in a Christian family inside Iran. He also shares about his mother's work as a Bible translator, his miraculous escape from Iran as a teenager, meeting his wife Niloofar, and working in ministry full-time with her today.Dani’s story highlights how each of our unique stories of coming to Christ are all part of the larger story God is writing for His Church.For more information about the recent history and incredible growth of the Iranian church, please visit elam.com/iran-story.And for more information about our organization, please visit elam.com. Send us Fan MailDownload the Iran 30 app and pray for Iran with clarity, compassion, and hope. elam.com/iran-30-appSupport the show

In this episode of Chai Time, we’re wrapping up our most recent series, “Church planting in the Iran region.” Joe, Jennifer and Dara Lynn have a conversation about what planting a church in the Iran region looks like as well as how that differs from our Western understanding of church planting. So, pour yourself a cup of tea and join us for another episode of Jesus Speaks Farsi.For more information about the recent history and incredible growth of the Iranian church, please visit elam.com/iran-story. And for more information about our organization, please visit elam.com.Send us Fan MailDownload the Iran 30 app and pray for Iran with clarity, compassion, and hope. elam.com/iran-30-appSupport the show

In this third episode of our “Planting churches in Iran and Beyond” series, Dara Lynn talks with Keyvan, an Iranian man who came to faith as a teenager and now plays a significant role in helping train church planters in the Iranian church. If you’ve ever wondered how church planting works in the Iran region or how church planters become church planters, this is the episode for you.For more information about the recent history and incredible growth of the Iranian church, please visit elam.com/iran-story.And for more information about our organization, please visit elam.com.Send us Fan MailDownload the Iran 30 app and pray for Iran with clarity, compassion, and hope. elam.com/iran-30-appSupport the show

In this second episode of our “Planting churches in Iran and Beyond” series, Joe talks with Samuel, an Argentinian pastor and evangelist, about God’s calling him to minister to people across the world from his home country, specifically in Iran. His unique church-planting story includes smuggling Bibles into a closed country, meeting and marrying his Iranian wife Sara, and serving as a senior leader in the Iranian church movement.For more information about the recent history and incredible growth of the Iranian church, please visit elam.com/iran-story.And for more information about our organization, please visit elam.com.Send us Fan MailDownload the Iran 30 app and pray for Iran with clarity, compassion, and hope. elam.com/iran-30-appSupport the show

In this first episode of our “Planting Churches in Iran and Beyond” series, Joe talks with Kambiz about his story of encountering Jesus as a young soldier in the Iranian army and ultimately becoming a prolific church planter in the Iranian church. In this conversation, Kambiz shares his on-the-ground experience of what planting Persian-speaking churches in the Iran region actually looks like.For more information about the recent history and incredible growth of the Iranian church, please visit elam.com/iran-story.And for more information about our organization, please visit elam.com.Send us Fan MailDownload the Iran 30 app and pray for Iran with clarity, compassion, and hope. elam.com/iran-30-appSupport the show

In this episode, Joe sits down with David Yeghnazar, Executive Director of Elam Ministries, to talk about the recent growth of the Iran church and the lessons the global church can learn from what God is doing among Iranian Christians today. They also share compelling testimonies of ordinary Iranians being transformed by the Gospel and going on to impact the Iran region through evangelism, discipleship and church planting.Send us Fan MailDownload the Iran 30 app and pray for Iran with clarity, compassion, and hope. elam.com/iran-30-appSupport the show

In this episode, we’re wrapping up our most recent series, “Life After Prison.” Joe, Jennifer and Dara Lynn get together to chat about this series’ conversations with Anahita, Ladan and Sara. They talk about what it means or doesn’t mean, to be “on fire” for Jesus, how being young (in life or in faith) doesn’t exclude believers from the call to ministry, and how persecution is never the end of the story. So, grab a cup of tea and join us for another episode of Jesus Speaks Farsi. To hear Anahita, Ladan and Sara’s persecution stories, check out episode two and three from our Persecution series and episode 4 of our Women In Iran series.For more information about the recent history and incredible growth of the Iranian church, please visit elam.com/iran-story.And for more information about our organization, please visit elam.com.Send us Fan MailDownload the Iran 30 app and pray for Iran with clarity, compassion, and hope. elam.com/iran-30-appSupport the show

As part of our series on Life after Prison, this episode includes a conversation with Ladan, a senior leader in the Iranian church who ministers to Iranian women in the Iran region. In this episode, Dara Lynn and Jenn talk with Ladan about how her experience of being in prison for her faith and how she learned what it meant to fully trust God in an incredibly challenging time.   Ladan’s story highlights how her experience of being in prison for her faith became a dividing line for her between the first part of her life before prison and her life after. To hear Ladan’s testimony in our earlier series, “Persecution,” episode 2, please visit Jesus Speaks Farsi at your favorite podcast platform. For more information about the recent history and incredible growth of the Iranian church, please visit elam.com/iran-story.And for more information about our organization, please visit elam.com.Send us Fan MailDownload the Iran 30 app and pray for Iran with clarity, compassion, and hope. elam.com/iran-30-appSupport the show

As part of our series on Life after Prison, this episode includes a conversation with Sara, a senior leader in the Iranian church who works directly with Persian-speaking youth. Sara’s story highlights how God turns difficult seasons into blessing and beauty from ashes. She also shares about her recent experience of losing her father and how that hard experience is also stretching her understanding of faith and life with God, both here and beyond.To hear Sara’s testimony in our earlier series, Women in Iran, episode 4, please visit Jesus Speaks Farsi on your favourite podcast platform.For more information about the recent history and incredible growth of the Iranian church, please visit elam.com/iran-story. And for more information about our organization, please visit elam.com.Send us Fan MailDownload the Iran 30 app and pray for Iran with clarity, compassion, and hope. elam.com/iran-30-appSupport the show

In this season, we’re catching up with a few of our Iranian friends about what life and faith have looked like after their very personal experiences with persecution.Today, Dara Lynn is joined by Anahita, a senior church leader in the Iranian church who serves in the Middle East alongside her husband Matthew. In this episode, we’ll hear about how the time she spent in prison shaped her faith going forward and how God has used that experience to bless others in similar circumstances. For more information about the recent history and incredible growth of the Iranian church, please visit elam.com/iran-story.And for more information about our organization, please visit elam.com.Send us Fan MailDownload the Iran 30 app and pray for Iran with clarity, compassion, and hope. elam.com/iran-30-appSupport the show

In this episode, we’re wrapping up our most recent series, “Pray, Give, Go, Stay.” Joe, Jennifer and Dara Lynn spend some time talking about the implications of each of these opportunities to engage with the global church. They also share how their own imaginations were stirred as they talked with friends of the Iranian church about what it can look like to participate in the story God is writing for the church today. So, grab a cup of tea and join us for another episode of Jesus Speaks Farsi.For more information about the recent history and incredible growth of the Iranian church, please visit elam.com/iran-story. And for more information about our organization, please visit elam.com.Send us Fan MailDownload the Iran 30 app and pray for Iran with clarity, compassion, and hope. elam.com/iran-30-appSupport the show

As part of our Pray, Give, Go, Stay series, Neil and Celeste Rogers share their experience ministering to refugees within their own community in rural Texas. They encourage those looking for ways to reach the nations to simply look in their own backyards. The opportunities for mission work among Afghan and Iranian refugees where we all live only continue to grow.One note: In this episode, Joe mentioned sharing available resources for ministry to refugees. If you’re in the US, we suggest connecting with Neil for information on reaching out to Afghans and Iranians in your community. You can contact him at [email protected]. If you’re in the UK or Europe, you can email [email protected] for more info on how to reach out to Afghans and Iranians in your locality.For more information about the recent history and incredible growth of the Iranian church please visit elam.com/iran-story.For more information about our organization, please visit elam.com.Send us Fan MailDownload the Iran 30 app and pray for Iran with clarity, compassion, and hope. elam.com/iran-30-appSupport the show

As we continue our series on how to effectively engage with the global Church through praying, giving, going, and staying, this third episode focuses on what it can look like to courageously go.Today, Joe and Jennifer are joined by Tom Hawksley, a Brit who has spent his adult life in ministry, particularly with the church in Iran. He shares about his unconventional way of learning Farsi, how he met his Iranian wife, and what Mark 16:15 means when Jesus says “Go and Tell.”For more information about the recent history and incredible growth of the Iranian church please visit elam.com/iran-story.For more information about our organization, please visit elam.com.Send us Fan MailDownload the Iran 30 app and pray for Iran with clarity, compassion, and hope. elam.com/iran-30-appSupport the show

As we continue our series on how to effectively engage with the global church through praying, giving, going, and staying, this second episode focuses on the personal and wider impact of obedient giving.Today, Dara Lynn and Jennifer are joined by Mark Howard, a non-profit development director with a pastor’s heart. He shares with us the impact obedient giving can have in the life of a believer as well as in the life of the global church. Mark also talks about his personal experience with the Persian-speaking church and how the ministry God has currently called him to is very different than the one he envisioned.For more information about the recent history and incredible growth of the Iranian church please visit elam.com/iran-story.For more information about our organization, please visit elam.com.Send us Fan MailDownload the Iran 30 app and pray for Iran with clarity, compassion, and hope. elam.com/iran-30-appSupport the show

In this season of Jesus Speaks Farsi, we’ll be talking to friends whose lives have been deeply impacted and shaped by the story of Iran’s church – even though they’re all from the West. Our hope is that in hearing their stories on how they’ve become involved, your imagination would also be stirred for ways the Lord might have you become more deeply connected to what God is doing in the global church.In this episode, our focus is on what it can look like to participate in prayer with the global church. Joe and Dara Lynn talk with Louise Yeghnazar about the journey she’s been on with the Iranian church and what she’s learned about prayer from that experience. Louise shares personal stories of her own prayer life that we know you’ll be encouraged by.Louise also shares about her work with the prayer ministry, 24-7 Prayer. If you’re interested in the significant work they are doing, please visit, 24-7prayer.com.For more information about the recent history and incredible growth of the Iranian church please visit elam.com/iran-story.For more information about our organization, please visit elam.com.Send us Fan MailDownload the Iran 30 app and pray for Iran with clarity, compassion, and hope. elam.com/iran-30-appSupport the show

This Good Friday, we wanted to share our friend Bahar’s story with you again. Her story is featured in our earlier series on Women in Iran, so if you haven’t already, we hope you’ll go back and listen to these incredible Iranian women share their experiences of meeting Jesus. In this episode, Bahar shares her story of growing up as an Iranian woman, which includes her experience of significant discrimination by men in her home country of Iran. When Bahar learned that a Man named Jesus Christ had valued her enough to die for her, she was amazed. Bahar shares about the freedom Jesus brought to her life and the impact she’s seen Him have on many others’ lives since.   For more information about the recent history and incredible growth of the Iranian church please visit elam.com/iran-story.For more information about our organization, please visit elam.com.Send us Fan MailDownload the Iran 30 app and pray for Iran with clarity, compassion, and hope. elam.com/iran-30-appSupport the show

In this bonus episode, we're marking the twentieth anniversary of the modern Farsi translation of the New Testament. 2.5 million copies later, stories of life transformation like the one we share in this episode are happening every day in the Iran region.In this episode, Joe sits down for a conversation with Rasool, an Iranian Christian whose life was changed dramatically after receiving a New Testament. Rasool shares how, after a difficult childhood and a desperate season in early adulthood, a stranger reached out to him online to tell him that God loved him. Not long after, he received not one, but two New Testaments, which began a trajectory that ultimately led him to place his faith in Jesus. Rasool is now involved in full-time ministry and is happily married with a young son. For more information about the recent history and incredible growth of the Iranian church please visit elam.com/iran-story.For more information about our organization, please visit elam.com.Send us Fan MailDownload the Iran 30 app and pray for Iran with clarity, compassion, and hope. elam.com/iran-30-appSupport the show

In this episode, we’re wrapping up our Encounters with Jesus series. Jennifer, Joe and Dara Lynn get together at Jennifer’s farm to discuss the conversations in this series about what it can look like to encounter Jesus and the difference that made in each of our guests’ lives. Sharing their own personal experiences of spiritual encounters, our co-hosts find a lot to talk about in this Chai time. So, bring your cup of tea and join us for another episode of Jesus Speaks Farsi.For more information about the recent history and incredible growth of the Iranian church please visit elam.com/iran-story.For more information about our organization, please visit elam.com.Send us Fan MailDownload the Iran 30 app and pray for Iran with clarity, compassion, and hope. elam.com/iran-30-appSupport the show

David Yeghnazar, Executive Director of Elam Ministries, shares how God is moving supernaturally in Iran’s church today.This episode is a recording of a 30-minute message David gave at the 2022 Lausanne conference in Asia titled “Recovering the Supernatural.”In his message, David explains how Jesus is presenting Himself alive today in the Iranian church through His Word and through supernatural visions and dreams. We believe including this message is a great way to pull together all we’ve heard so far in our series on Encounters with Jesus.For more information about the recent history and incredible growth of the Iranian church please visit elam.com/iran-story.For more information about our organization, please visit elam.com.Send us Fan MailDownload the Iran 30 app and pray for Iran with clarity, compassion, and hope. elam.com/iran-30-appSupport the show

In this episode, Joe is joined by fellow podcast teammate Moread, who handles the design and publishing for Jesus Speaks Farsi.We love having Moread on the team and we’re so grateful for his insight and first-hand experience of Persian culture. Born and raised in Iran, Moread left the country as an adult and has since become a follower of Jesus. Today, Moread is passionate about sharing the story of what God is doing in his beloved homeland. In this episode, we’ll hear his story of encountering God while still a professing atheist. Moread had forsaken all religion after turning his back on Islam until a follower of Jesus he’d never met before told him things about his life no one else knew.For more information about the recent history and incredible growth of the Iranian church please visit elam.com/iran-story.For more information about our organization, please visit elam.com.Send us Fan MailDownload the Iran 30 app and pray for Iran with clarity, compassion, and hope. elam.com/iran-30-appSupport the show