Amin grew up in a strict Muslim family in Iran. But when he moved out of the country as an adult, he met his future wife Yasna, who was a Christian. Through her, he came to know other believers while accompanying her to house church meetings. “I saw the path of Christ is profoundly beautiful,” he said. “And I believed.”
When Amin and Yasna decided to marry, it was with a solemn vow to follow the teachings of the gospel. But when they returned to Iran for the birth of their first child, they also lost their community of believers. As a result, they drifted from their faith for nearly three years.
Yasna’s Dream
During this time of isolation from their Christian community, Yasna began to have a dream of a fellow believer whom she’d left behind when she and Amin returned to Iran. In the dream, the woman urged Yasna to contact her. Finally, after the fifth dream, Yasna reached out and reconnected with her friend.
“We began to evangelize, inviting others to choose the only true path to salvation.”
“That call marked our return to the path of Christianity,” Amin said. “Within a month, we began to evangelize, inviting others to choose the only true path to salvation.”
After a while, Amin agreed to help smuggle Bibles into the country via an assisted ministry. But someone betrayed him. He was ambushed outside his workplace, arrested, and—following a search of his home—taken to a detainment center, where he endured days of psychological torture aimed at making him confess the names of others in his network.
He refused to provide what the authorities wanted, but it didn’t take long for them to recover deleted data on his confiscated phone, data that showed his Christian baptism and marriage. It was exactly what was needed to attempt to blackmail him. “They threatened to terrorize my family,” he said. “But by the grace of the Holy Spirit’s presence in my heart, I was able to resist and exposed no one.”
A Fabricated Case
Amin was charged with espionage and mass proselytizing of Christianity, charges that would likely bring a sentence of execution. He was transferred to a different facility where he endured three more days of interrogation, and his bail was set at an astronomical amount. But there was hope. After his transfer, he was permitted to contact his family, and they immediately began fighting for him.
One week later, his family paid his bail, and he was released. But just a few days after, authorities demanded that he create fake social media profiles promoting Christianity so they could identify other Christians.
Miracles Begin to Happen
During this dark period, two miracles happened in rapid succession. First, the internet across Iran was cut off following riots against the government. As a result, the order for Amin to create social media accounts became impossible. Then came the second miracle: the sudden outbreak of war.
At this time, Amin and Yasna began monitoring the border and realized escape was viable. “Without hesitation, we packed our essentials and crossed the border,” Amin said. “It was unimaginably stressful. We had been living under heavy surveillance and our phones were tapped. We couldn’t risk contacting anyone.”
When, at last, they arrived at a safe destination, they called their friends, who immediately offered them a safe haven. Later, they provided the family with funds via an assisted ministry.
“That is how God poured out miracle upon miracle upon us.”
“That is how God poured out miracle upon miracle upon us,” Amin said. “We are endlessly grateful for His boundless grace and love.”
You Can Help Believers Like Amin and Yasna
Please consider a donation today to support persecuted Christians like Amin and Yasna. And pray for their perseverance, that they will keep their gaze fixed on Jesus, no matter the trials they might face.
* Names and some identifying details changed for security purposes.
