Years before the 2015 refugee crisis began, Hesam and Sanaz were a typical couple in Iran. Their comfortable life, successful business and culturally Muslim life, however, was dramatically changed when cancer shattered Hesam’s dream. Doctors, treatments, nor the Iman could not save him. Then he remembered the little Armenian Christian grade school back in his village and simply prayed, “Jesus if You are real, heal me!”

Jesus saved his life, but now he faced possible divorce and prison. In Iran, most Muslim spouses get divorced when their spouse converts. Apostasy under Iranian law is punishable by imprisonment and death. Hesam saved his family by getting them smuggled to Liverpool, England. However, there in the refugee hostel, Sanaz, who was still Muslim, developed psychological problems and became addicted to medication. She wanted to be free, so one day, she prayed the same prayer her husband had prayed: “Jesus, if You are real, heal me!” She was delivered immediately, and since then, she has boldly shared this prayer for healing with other refugees.

In 2019, by divine arrangement, Hesam and Sanaz led a team to Thessaloniki to hold a three-day camp for 25 Iranian refugees from the FM church in Thessaloniki. God blessed this divine appointment with tears, dancing and baptisms. Since then, they have led weekly Zoom meetings, connecting dispersed Iranian believers across Europe, Greece and Iran. In December of 2024, they finally took the big step to start an Iranian Free Methodist church in Liverpool with just 12 members. Today, the average attendance is 25 with up to 50 sometimes.

Iranian refugees continue to become Christians in record numbers. Even more important than their conversion is discipleship. Today, young disciples secretly reach back to their friends and family in Iran through the internet. We confidently continue to pray this undercover mission will slowly grow until it changes the nation.