‘Even in war, God is moving’ 4 ways to pray for the Iranian Church

Hanieh (name changed)* walks the streets of her city, Tehran, at dusk. For days now, conflict has raged with Israel.

From all around, Hanieh is bombarded with noise. Horns blare along heavily clogged motorways as fearful people in slow-moving cars attempt to flee. An explosion rings out in the distance. A missile has struck another district. As usual, no siren gave warning of its approach. People shout. Children cry. Engines rev.

To block out the cacophony, she puts in her earbuds to listen to Christian worship music. Hanieh is one of Iran’s growing number of house church Christians. She is on a prayer walk around her beloved but now-besieged city.

As she walks, Hanieh worships and prays. Four themes are heavy on her heart - four needs that she wants believers around the world to join her in praying:

1. Comfort and strength for the people

Hanieh is not immune to the fear and grief surrounding her. The intense bombardment means chaos reigns. Everyone is on high alert. Sleep is hard to come by. The destruction is painful to see. She knows friends whose homes have been destroyed. Her heart is heavy.

Now more than ever, the underground Church needs to be salt and light in the darkness

So, Hanieh prays for comfort and strength for herself and others. She prays for mercy for those gripped by fear, and protection over lives and livelihoods. She prays for those most vulnerable in both Israel and Iran. She asks God to help people be kind and compassionate, pushing back against the natural tendency toward panic and selfishness amid the chaos.

2. Peace

Though her nation was at peace only days ago, a return to peace now feels like a far-off hope. Hanieh knows that the roots of the war between Israel and Iran run deep. There is no simple solution to the complex issues behind the conflict, nor an easy off-ramp for the current exchange of fire.

Yet with God, nothing is impossible. So, she prays for God to direct the hearts of leaders and decision-makers towards the Prince of Peace. She prays that he would raise up regional and global leaders who have the wisdom and determination to pursue de-escalation. She prays that her city and many others across Iran would not be razed to the ground.

3. Protection of the vulnerable

Hanieh knows that the Iranian regime is no friend to Christian converts like herself, nor to other minority groups who are deemed a threat to Iran’s Shia Islamic identity. In normal times, the government deals harshly with its perceived opponents. How much more now, Hanieh ponders, will they be determined to crush all those who could be seen as aligned with Israel?

Although Iranian Christian converts don’t have a political agenda, the Iranian authorities have long accused believers of seeking to undermine the stability of the nation. How much harder will they now push this false narrative as they grapple to keep control?

Hanieh prays for protection for Christians, Jews, and other religious and ethnic minorities in Iran who could face an intensification of persecution in the coming weeks.

4. The Church to be salt and light

Hanieh loves the Lord Jesus and has always wanted to see more fellow Iranians come to know him. Now more than ever, she knows the underground Church needs to be salt and light in the darkness.

Hanieh knows of Christians in the north who are opening their homes to refugees fleeing the major cities. She has heard of Christians who have gone to safety in their ancestral villages, sharing the hope of the gospel with extended family on arrival.

There is no simple solution to the complex issues behind the conflict. Yet with God, nothing is impossible

So, Hanieh praises God for how he continues to be at work. And she prays for wisdom for herself and other believers: “Lord, show us how else to serve. Show us what role you would have us play in these days.”

As she prays, Hanieh sees a family ahead of her on the street, clearly full of dismay and fear. She approaches and engages them in conversation. They, like many others at this time, are hungry for hope. Their hearts are warmed as she shares the gospel with them.

Here, on a street of war-torn Tehran, Hanieh has the privilege of leading the whole family in prayer as they put their trust in Christ.

Having promised to stay in touch with the family, Hanieh returns home. She praises God that even amid conflict, he continues to build his Church in Iran.

*Hanieh has been given a pseudonym for her security. She is one of many Christians in Iran who are committed to continuing to serve Christ in these dark days.

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