Trust me, if you want the Bible to come alive, if you want to see Scripture lived out right in front of your eyes, spend time with persecuted believers—or find a way to connect with them. You will never read your Bible the same way again. Your heart will burn within you. I have always been in awe of our Lord Jesus. He doesn’t only save and redeem—He makes faith heroes and Kingdom ambassadors. Let me share a recent experience.
Last month, I was honored to meet a beautiful Iranian family at our Ambassadors’ Conference. I lovingly call her Khale (Aunty in Farsi). When Muslim mullahs discovered her conversion, she was imprisoned and she endured severe brutality. She told me they blindfolded her and took her into a dungeon where she stood before many mullahs. And there, the words of Jesus came alive: “When they bring you before rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourself or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you what to say” (Luke 12:11–12).
She said the Holy Spirit spoke for her. Her daughter, Atarh (not her real name), shared their escape story with me. She had a 10-month-old baby when they were forced to flee Iran. They were warned, “Keep your baby from crying, or you may be shot.” Can you imagine a mother’s heart? Atarh said she prayed and her baby slept the entire time. It was the Lord. “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you” (Isaiah 43:2). As she spoke, I thought of Moses’ mother, hiding her baby, trusting God with a child she could not protect on her own.
Fast forward to today. Khale now pastors a Farsi church of over 400 believers in Canada. The persecuted became the shepherd. The prisoner became the pastor. “He raises the poor from the dust… and seats them with princes” (1 Samuel 2:8).
But it doesn’t stop there. When the Taliban took over Afghanistan, when ministries were shutting down and believers were fleeing, God opened a door for Khale to minister there. Yes, Afghanistan. “When God opens a door, no one can shut it” (Revelation 3:8).
She told me that during that dark season, God showed her widows and orphans—and He began His work through her. God is using Khale mightily to bless single mothers and children. The gospel is being preached in the darkest places.
Here are a few testimonies from Afghanistan. One night, a widow with five children (her husband killed by the Taliban), was starving. One of our brothers took food to their home. The children kissed his hands and said, “You are Jesus. You are God.” That night, the brother shared the gospel with them, and the children accepted Christ.
Another story still shakes me. A single mother, with no options left, sold her 5-year-old daughter just to feed her 3-year-old son. God used Khale to raise funds and rescue that little girl. She was 7-years-old when Khale was finally able to bring her to safety.
We know that, legally, schools are closed for girls in Afghanistan. But God has His ways of reaching His daughters and educating them. Khale now facilitates homeschooling, and through God’s provision, she has opened ba new school. Yes, the Taliban may build walls around women and girls, but the Lord knows how to take care of his daughters. The Gospel is being preached. Please pray that the gospel would spread swiftly in Afghanistan, and for the protection of Khale’s team.
And if you’re reading this and thinking, I wish I could meet persecuted believers—stay tuned. We will be announcing our Voice of the Persecuted Conference very soon.
