As missionaries Omid* and Alborz* approached a roadside security checkpoint, they tried not to glance at the bag of 40 Bibles sitting in the front seat of their car. Their destination was a small village in which they planned to distribute those Bibles—an illegal act with severe consequences—and they knew their faith in the Lord’s protection over them was about to be put to a serious, life-threatening test.

As they slowed their car to comply with the checkpoint’s rules, they tried not to think about the disaster that would unfold if the Iranian security guards—now motioning them to stop—searched their car and discovered their not-so-hidden contraband.

“God, please, we surrender to you because they will search everywhere.”

Instead, they prayed. “God, please, we surrender to you because they will search everywhere,” Omid whispered. “Take care of us.”

A Highway Miracle

The two missionaries were ordered to step out of their car so the security guards could conduct a search. Omid and Alborz stood, side by side, hearts pounding, as the guards opened the trunk, glanced inside, and closed it. They repeated this through the backseat. Finally, they stepped to the front of the vehicle, where the bag sat on the passenger side.

“This vehicle is clear,” one of the guards announced a few seconds later. “You can go.”

The missionaries didn’t dare look at one another as they returned to their car and drove away. It wasn’t until the checkpoint disappeared from view that they allowed themselves to smile in relief and thanksgiving, praising God for their answered prayers.

“The guards were blinded.”

“The guards were blinded,” the ministry leader later reported. “They could not see the bag of Bibles in the front seat. It really was a miracle.”

Bibles Distributed, Lives Changed

Omid and Alborz arrived at their destination and safely delivered the Bibles to a house church leader there. Later, the cousin of the leader saw the Bibles and demanded to know what kind of book they were. When the leader admitted they were Bibles brought to him by two men, his cousin asked if he could have one.

“He took the Bible and started reading,” the ministry leader said. “He kept reading and kept reading, and then he came back to the leader and said, ‘Do you have any numbers for the guys who brought this? Please, I need to talk to them.’”

The house church leader contacted the missionaries, and they agreed to talk to the leader’s cousin. “They just trusted God and went to him and shared the gospel with him,” the ministry leader said. “He was so interested that he gave his life to Christ, and now he’s one of our leaders. He has multiple house churches. It’s awesome.”

Iranians are Searching for Truth

 In the last year, multiple news outlets have reported on the “Jesus Revolution” occurring across Iran. In a viral social media video, one Iranian believer said, “God is changing Iran from within,” and at least one million Iranian Muslims have given their lives to Christ.

“It is phenomenal the amount of people who are coming to faith.”

“It is phenomenal the amount of people who are coming to faith and the excitement that they have,” the ministry leader said. “People have rejected Islam and many of them are looking for freedom. Some people see Jesus in their dreams, but they don’t know Him. Then, after they share the dreams with their friends who are believers, they learn of His significance. When Christ comes into the picture, they accept Jesus.”

You Can Be a Part of This Spiritual Transformation

In the last six months, missionaries in Iran have managed to distribute 27,000 Bibles across the country, and access to Scripture is helping change the spiritual landscape here. “When house churches start to grow, they ask us for Bibles and we try to send them,” the ministry leader said. “It is not safe, but I remember a few years ago when one of our missionaries said, ‘God called me to do this.’ So, they just pray and go distribute them.”

Please consider a donation today to support missionaries as they share the gospel in Iran. “Pray for the security of our leaders and believers,” the ministry leader requests. “And pray for all the churches, for their health and their strength.”

*Names changed for security.