Iran – Persecuted Iranian Christians are forced to flee the country and face many challenges, including being treated as second-class citizens and feeling isolated, as they try to start a new life as refugees.
In response, the Christian service organization Help the Persecuted hosted a spiritual retreat for Iranian refugees in the country, which cannot be made public for security reasons.
GNA reporter Peter Wooding was there to speak to Help the Persecuted CEO Joshua Youssef.
*For safety reasons, the location is not disclosed and faces are blurred.
Strict embargo: This report may not be broadcast in the Middle East.
Persecuted Iranian Christians are forced to flee the country for their lives and face countless hardships as they try to start a new life in another country. One of the biggest hurdles as a refugee is being treated like a second-class citizen and feeling isolated. However, the Christian Ministry “Helping the Persecuted” recently hosted a conference for believers in Iran in a closed location, where believers could worship together and receive preparation and encouragement to live out their faith. I was able to receive it. During the conference, I spoke with his CEO of Persecuted Help, Joshua Youssef.
peter wooding:
Just set the context of what’s going on and what it means to you.
Joshua Yousef:
Now, we are hosting these conferences in the region to help people who have left Iran and people who have fled Iran from severe persecution in Iran. And these conferences are great because they encourage believers and encourage the local churches in the areas where we are to remain steadfast and to remain strong in the faith. And what’s surprising is that some, many of these people have spent time in Iranian prisons. They were extravagant and suffered severe persecution.
Qasem, leader of the “Help the Persecutors” field mission team who served three years in prison for his faith, said it was a very emotional time for many of the visitors who had previously felt alone. .
Qassem:
We tried to learn from each other, testify, talk, open our hearts, and build friendships. Some of them were crying because it was the first time that many of them really felt like they were someone and other people they cared about.
Mr. Youssef said that in addition to rallying these persecuted Christians, they stand with them to save, restore and rebuild their lives.
Youssef:
We provide so-called emergency relief kits. Many of these people live in deep poverty, either unemployed or so-called underemployed. These emergency relief kits contain rice, oil, and food for their survival. We also provide them with job opportunities so that they can become self-reliant and employ other converts.
And this year, Help the Persecuted will expand its reach across the Middle East, North Africa and Asia, helping tens of thousands of persecuted believers rebuild their lives as Christians in some of the world’s most dangerous places. are planning to. .
Read more news about nonprofit/faith-based organizations and humanitarian aid.
About helping the persecuted
relief. Restore. Rebuild. Help The Persecuted has been supporting struggling Christians with practical and spiritual help since 2011 and was established as an independent charity in 2018. We pray that through our efforts, the world church will flourish, not only in the Middle East and North Africa, but also in the Western world, so that we can share their sufferings and bear their burdens. Help The Persecuted is a 501(c)3 organization and member of the Council for Evangelical Financial Accountability, ECFA.
