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St Francis Magazine Vol 8, No 4 | August 2012 The rapid growth of the Christian faith in Iran seems to have caused significant concern and even fear in the hearts of the leadership of the Islamic regime which has sparked increased suppression of Christians especially in the last year. After the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's speech regarding the need to oppose and silence the home-based churches, a brutal and inhumane crackdown along with numerous arrests of Christians inside Iran has been witnessed. 4 Iranian believers from a Muslim background (BMBs) carry with them their cultural heritage, patterns of behavior, and values that are uniquely shaped by their religion, culture and family. As is common with most first generation churches, the Iranian church is very active in evangelism and the worship experience is passionate and enthusiastic. The church exhibits the deep Iranian cultural traits of loyalty, pride and cohesiveness towards family, along with altruistic, friendly, generous, caring and kindness to others expressed in their commitment to hospitality (Dastmalchain, Javidan, Alam 2001, 540-541). Fellowship reflects the deep core value of family and friendship found within traditional Iranian culture. BMBs often interact with each other more than just once a week, as members are intensely involved in the lives of each other throughout the week. Iranian Christians have developed a Worldwide Directory of Iranian/Persian Christian Churches at www.farsinet.com/icc/ 5 . At the time of this writing, the three areas of California, United Kingdom and Canada have a total of 45 churches indicated at farsinet.com. Christian Freedom International estimates between 1- 2 million Christians in Iran 6 . More conservative estimates call into 4http://www.mohabatnews.com/index.phpoption=com_content&view=article&id =3102:iranian-religious-authorities-acknowledge-the-spread-of-gospels-iniran&catid=36:iranian-christians (accessed April 6, 2012 12:00 PM) 5 For the month of 2/11 this website served 4,407,290 requests, with 990,137 pages viewed, and had 403,075 unique visits to the site. 6 http://www.christianfreedom.org/iran/ Since 1998, Christian Freedom International has been on the forefront in the battle for the rights of persecuted Christians around the world. Over the years, CFI has consistently remained active St Francis Magazine is a publication of Interserve and Arab Vision 398
St Francis Magazine Vol 8, No 4 | August 2012 question the commonly assumed numbers of approximately 300,000 Christians in 1979, and place that number somewhere between 80,000 and 200,000 Christians. Elam Ministries (n.d.c), however, claims on its website that the number of clandestine house congregations has increased strongly, but that the exact number of secret Christians remains unknown, even though at least ten networks are in operation. It is further reported that most of these house congregations grow because the Gospel is spread through extended families, and that there is evidence of secret followers all over Iran. The website describes how a house church is established in Iran, by speaking of Jesus to family and friends, by gathering new believers to weekly studies of the Bible and Christian community, and encouraging them to share their faith with friends and family members (Elam Ministries n.d.d) (Landinfo 2011, 12). Hiebert indicates that values are not immediately transformed upon conversion. Cultural beliefs shape the understanding of each individual’s Christian faith. Leading individuals to faith in Jesus Christ is the evangelistic dimension of mission. People come as they are, with their histories and cultures. We cannot expect an instant transformation of their behavior, beliefs, and worldviews. It is important, therefore, to disciple them into Christian maturity. This includes a transformation not only in the way people think and behave but also in their worldviews. (Hiebert 2008, 12) My work among Iranians in the diaspora, along with personal interaction with Iranian Christian leaders, has raised concerns that emerging Iranian fellowships struggle with internal conflicts which often end in church splits. Concern over disharmony within the Iranian BMB community was raised as a research topic with the end result of desiring to sustain healthy long-term relationships and ministry. Plueddemann wrote, “From my experience, the greatest difficulties in multicultural leadership arise from tensions growing out of internal values”. (Plueddemann 2009, 71) Recent research as a “voice for the voiceless” in Washington, DC, providing political advocacy for the millions of Christians who routinely suffer for their faith. St Francis Magazine is a publication of Interserve and Arab Vision 399
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