Our Back to Jerusalem partners do not only support believers who are hungry for the Word of God. They also support believers who are literally starving.
In Iran, international sanctions have hit hard, slowly destroying the economy and forcing more and more people into poverty. These include members of the fast-growing house churches.
We have been providing Bibles for Iran for years, but as the Bible teaches us, that is not enough when our brothers and sisters lack food. Our house church partners in Iran are sharing what little they have, and with the help of believers around the world, we can add funds so they can help more people.
Some of those receiving help expressed their thankfulness, and we would like to share a few notes we received.
“Hello, brave warriors of God, My son and I were in a desperate situation when it came to food. Every day, my son longed for rice, but I had no money to provide it for him. My heart was filled with pain, and the only thing I could do was pray to the Lord. With tears in my eyes, I cried out: “Heavenly Father, You know how hard it is for a child to go to sleep hungry. You see my empty fridge, so I surrender my child’s hunger into Your hands.” And in that very moment of need, the church called me and spoke about providing food! Tears streamed down my face, and I said with all my heart: “Lord, You always care for the needs of all of us.”
“I am a mother of two children, and my husband is disabled. Life has been very difficult for us, and as Nowruz (Persian New Year) approached, I kept thinking: “Lord, we have no food at home, but please bring joy to my children’s hearts. You, Lord, give them a gift.” And our faithful God, who always hears our cries, heard my voice, my disabled husband’s voice, and my children’s voices—and He provided for us. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for standing by us. May God’s blessings be with you.”
“Hello to all the beloved children of God, My name is **** and I don’t even know how to express my gratitude—first to God, and then to all of you, dear ones. My children and I were going through an extremely difficult financial situation. We only had a small amount of bread and cheese at home—so little that we had to ration it carefully to make it last. I was feeling dizzy from malnutrition, and with my heart condition, things were even harder for me. But in the midst of our struggle, God provided for us through your hands. You became a vessel of His love and grace, and my heart is overflowing with gratitude. I truly thank you with all my heart…”
We are working together with Naghmeh Panahi to support the house churches in Iran, by distributing Bibles and supporting evangelists, but also by practically supporting those who have pressing physical needs. You can help through this link:
It’s truly heartening to see the support being extended to our brothers and sisters in Iran, not just in terms of spiritual nourishment, but also in meeting their physical needs.
This is so touching. It’s heartbreaking to hear about the struggles of these families. It’s amazing to see the work Back to Jerusalem is doing to help them.
Have you heard of the 52 Underground churches being helped by the: RUN Ministries”? Is this a good charity to donate to? Blessings.
The personal testimonies shared here are deeply moving. The account of the mother praying over her empty fridge while her son longed for rice, and then receiving a call from the church at that very moment, illustrates something that statistics alone cannot convey — the intersection of material poverty and spiritual community in Iran’s underground house churches. It’s also worth noting the broader context the article raises: international sanctions have compounded economic hardship for ordinary families, including those in these growing house church networks, making basic food security a genuine crisis rather than an occasional difficulty. The collaboration with Naghmeh Panahi to address both spiritual and physical needs seems like a grounded, practical approach. One question I’d find helpful: does the article or the Back to Jerusalem team have any information on how the food distribution is organized logistically within Iran, given the legal risks that house church members already face? Understanding the safety measures in place would help readers assess how sustainable this support can be over the long term.
The personal testimonies shared here are deeply moving — a mother praying over an empty fridge while her child longed for rice captures just how severe the impact of international sanctions has become on ordinary believers in Iran. It is a powerful reminder that meeting physical needs is inseparable from spiritual ministry. The work of distributing food alongside Bibles reflects a holistic understanding of what it means to care for a community under such pressure. Thank you to everyone involved in making this support possible.