43 Years of Faithfully Engaging Muslims with Christ
Vahid’s Testimony
Vahid was born in the city of Shush (Susa of the Bible), Iran, in a Muslim family during the Iran-Iraq war. In his family, Islam wasn’t just a religion, but a way of life. From a young age, he grew up surrounded by the practices of Islam. The call to prayer, his parents’ devotion, and his father’s military discipline deeply influenced him.
As he began school, Islamic teachings became more central to his life. They recited the Quran daily, and he participated in group prayers with classmates and teachers. By the age of ten, he had started praying regularly and attending the mosque with his friends. He did this partly out of love for his father wanting to make him proud. However, as he got older, he started noticing inconsistencies. Some of the people who taught him about Islam didn’t practice what they preached. This hypocrisy was hard to ignore. At the same time, he witnessed violence and injustice in society-public executions, the mistreatment of women, and so much more. Despite these doubts, he continued fasting and practicing his faith, though he increasingly felt a void within himself.
By the time he was 19, he was overwhelmed with despair, feeling like he could never please Allah. He attempted suicide but survived. His depression deepened, and he tried again, unsuccessfully. It was during this time that he also became addicted to drugs, which added to his hopelessness. At one point, he entered a drug rehab camp and was able to physically quit drugs, but his mental and spiritual struggles remained. A friend encouraged him to pray in his mother tongue instead of Arabic, which when he did, it brought a temporary sense of peace. Still searching for answers, he explored other religions, including New Age and Dervish practices, but found them also to be empty.
Eventually, he met a Christian named Mehrdad, who invited him to church. He attended and started reading the Bible, which spoke to him in a way no other book had. After months of reading and searching, he made the decision to follow Jesus Christ. At the age of 22, he became a Christian, and his life changed completely. He felt freed from the oppressive religious rules he had known all his life. For the first time, he experienced true peace and a sense of approval in his newfound faith. When he read the parable of the lost son in Luke 15, he saw himself in that story. Just as the father in the parable welcomed his son back, he realized that God had welcomed him, too, without judgment or conditions.
Now, brother Vahid lives outside of Iran. He was forced to escape Iran because the head of the intelligence agency of his province threatened to shoot him in the knees to paralyze him for life due to his extensive evangelical activities. He has been with our ministry full-time for the past 2 years and is heading the evangelism department. He personally has handed out thousands of Bibles to Muslims and seen the salvation of hundreds! He is one of the greatest Christians you can have on your side.
Turning the Enemies of Israel to its Best Friend
Dear Friend,
I want to extend my sincerest thanks to you from the bottom of my heart for being a part of our lives and supporting the ministry to which God has called us. Your prayers, thoughtful words, and generous giving have been a great source of encouragement, inspiring us to continue fighting the good fight of Faith.
You are always in my thoughts and prayers, and I never take your presence in my life for granted. Thanks be to God, the Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, for divinely bringing us together as friends and partners in ministry.
There is a prophecy in the Scripture concerning Elam, modern-day Iran, which is being fulfilled before our very eyes. In the book of Jeremiah 49:38-39, the Bible tells us that God will set His throne in Elam and destroy its ruler and officials. There are only two places in the entire Bible where God declares He will set His throne: one in Jerusalem and the other in Elam. When God establishes His throne in a place, doesn’t that signify that He will reign as the ultimate ruler there?
Since 1979, Iran has been ruled by the Islamic regime, which came to power through a bloody revolution. The people were promised an Islamic utopia. In one of Ayatollah Khomeini’s most significant speeches, he assured the Iranian people: “Free electricity, water, and even free transportation and bus services for all. These would be funded by oil revenues under a just Islamic system.”
A just Islamic system that provides equality for all sounded promising at first, but what the Iranian people received was the complete opposite. The empty promises of the Islamists and their evil behavior in the name of Allah prompted the Iranian people to examine Islam more closely. However, the more they looked, the worse it became, and the disillusionment with Islam grew in the hearts of Iranians. Recently, a high official from the regime stated that out of the 75,000 mosques in Iran, 50,000 have closed. This trend has persisted for the past 45 years. Islam has held sway over the hearts of Persians since 650 AD. BUT, the exciting development occurring right now is that Islam is being uprooted from the hearts of the Iranian people. This reign is being replaced. As I write this, my friend, the Iranian church is the fastest-growing evangelical church in the world. The prophecy in Jeremiah 49:38 is being fulfilled in our lifetime – what a remarkable time to be alive. God’s throne is being set in Elam. Hallelujah!
There is much for us to do in this hour, and together, we are having an important role in the destiny of a nation and in God’s plan. Together with God and for His glory, we are transforming Israel’s enemies into its greatest friends. Persia and Israel will reconcile once again.
– Mohamad Amin Faridi
Lessons from Years of Evangelizing Muslims
After years of street evangelism and engaging with thousands of Muslims, we’ve gained valuable insights into sharing the Gospel with people from Muslim backgrounds. Our team has spent countless hours on street corners speaking to total strangers determined to introduce them to the love of Christ. Now, I’d like to share some of what we’ve learned from our experiences and encounters with real people.
On average, we’ve seen 500+ salvations each year. These results come from three weeks of Bible distribution during our two annual mission trips. During these outreach efforts, we’ve been blessed to witness many people come to faith in Christ.
A key part of our outreach is the gift of a beautifully wrapped Bible. Included with the Bible is:
- A tract that includes Father’s Love Letter, our contact details for follow up, and the prayer of salvation.
- A mini-SD card that includes an electronic Bible, a Bible app, the Jesus movie in every language spoken in Iran, and the book “What is Christianity?”
Our focus is to reach Iranians who are vacationing in a neighboring country close to Iran. Our opening line is: “Hi, are you Iranian?” If it’s around the Persian New Year, we add, “Happy New Year!” as we present them with the gift. The gesture surprises them – how often does a stranger approach with a big smile and hand them a gift? The unexpected kindness usually sparks curiosity, and they ask, “What is this all about?” That’s when we share, “It’s the Good News.” This often opens the door to deeper conversation. Sometimes we ask, “Do you know what Jesus has done for you?” or “Have you ever heard anything about Christianity?”
The Three Responses
In our experience, we’ve found that people typically respond in one of three ways:
- The Receptive Type:
These are people who have been seeking the truth and are ready to hear the Gospel. Many had significant dreams pointing them to Jesus. They listen intently, sometimes even being moved to tears. When asked if they’d like to receive Jesus into their life, they respond with an emphatic “Yes.” These moments are the fruit of the seeds sown and the prayers lifted for each encounter.
- The Suspicious Kind:
Some people are more skeptical and have questions, often wondering about our motives. “Why are you doing this?” or “Do you get paid for this work?” are common questions. We respond by reassuring them that we’ve experienced the goodness of the Lord and simply want them to taste His love too. For those who remain on the fence, we offer to pray with them, and in many cases, they experience the presence of the Holy Spirit. We’ve seen countless hearts softened in these moments of prayer.
- The Rejecting Ones:
Some are just not ready to accept the truth yet, and that’s okay. We try to leave a Christ-like impression understanding that we are sowing seeds that may grow in time. Even when someone pushes the gift back into our chests, we beg them to at least take the tract. In family or group settings, there’s often one person who tries to shut down the conversation for everyone, but we handle these situations delicately by sometimes pulling the antagonist aside to allow others the opportunity to listen freely.
Of course, not every day is easy. There are times when we face significant rejection, and it can weigh on the team. In those moments, we pause to check our hearts, ensuring that we’re aligned with God’s will. We lift up prayers in unity for open hearts and divine connections, and God is always faithful. Time and time again, we’ve seen Him provide the right encounters at the right time.
Videos Produced
The purpose of documenting the testimonies of Ex-Muslims is to:
- Show Christians that Muslims coming to faith is not a rare thing.
- Show Muslims that other Muslims are renouncing Islam.
There is a wrong belief among Christians that it is a difficult thing to get Muslims saved, or that you have to know Islam inside and out before you can witness to a Muslim. These wrong beliefs are being addressed by the testimonies of Ex- Muslims. Through the testimonies, Christians are seeing how Muslims are accepting Christ and have been encouraged to start evangelizing their Muslim neighbors, co-workers, etc.
We provide, free of charge, tracts and other Christian literature to Christians so that they can engage Muslims around them with Christ.
The other aspect of sharing these testimonies on the YouTube Channel is to expose Muslims to the truth of the Gospel. Through the testimonies of Ex-Muslims, Muslims are seeing other former Muslims renouncing Islam. This leaves them wondering and questioning their faith and provides an opportunity for us to minister to them. Below are comments from our Youtube channel:
@meditationspells393
“As an ex muslim. I believe in Christianity and I believe in Jesus. khuran is a copied book of Holy Bible.”
@imransiddique8794
“I am from PakistanPK, I am also Ex-Muslim now…”
@sajeda.matthew26.39
“I’m an Afghan ex Muslim that recently converted to Christianity and this was such a beautiful testimony
God bless you sister”
@JohnMugheiry
“Ex Muslim watching from Tanzania”
@Sandysanddra
“I was Albania Muslim know I am Canadian ex Muslim I thank you lord Jesus Christ I was blind but know I see I thank you brothers for everything you done we need to pray for the Muslim there is power in the name of Jesus Christ and to pray for our earth family to know the truth about fake Muhammad he is the best deceiver he deceiving all nations lord Jesus Christ have mercy on all brother thank you for your testimony God is Good and he is coming soon amen”
@mariamagbo4424
“I’m ex Muslim, born in a Muslim family. As a Christian and I’m glad that He saved me the best thing that happened to me.”
@afolabioduwole8712
“Watching from Ogun state in Nigeria and being an Ex-muslim too, I enjoyed my fellowship with Jesus I enjoyed my fellowship with Jesus”
@allpraisekingjesus3725
“God’s greatness, miraculous healing and awesome love from this testimony brings me to tears. God is so good. I receive my healing in Jesus name, amen. Ex-muslim from Borneo.”
@Mouhamadoukhaly
“All Glory to Jésus Christ.
Jésus Christ is lord.
Proud ex-muslim from Sénégal in west Africa”
@motolanijogunosinmi3918
“Tk be to God for d great works bro M. Faridi is doing more conversations to Christianity in Jesus name amen am ex Muslim from Nigeria”
Finding Truth Through a Dream
A former Muslim testifies of transformation
It all started when I came across a video on YouTube titled “Allah is Ba’al.” The idea was something I had never heard before as a Muslim, and it deeply unsettled me. One Saturday, after coming across this one video and reflecting on what I had watched, I decided to pray earnestly. I asked God to reveal to me if these teachings were true. I said, “God, if this is your truth, if this person is right, and all that I’ve learned is true, please confirm it to me.”
The following night, I had a vivid dream that shook me to my core. In the dream, I found myself sitting with a dark presence – a demon, seated on my left side. It felt terrible. There was darkness all around, and I could sense evil near me. The demon laughed, mocking me, and I felt powerless. Then, suddenly, a massive light began to invade the place I was in. It was unlike anything I had ever seen. As the light grew, I started to hear singing in my left ear – beautiful singing, like the worship song being sung in a mass praising the Lord. The light became brighter and more overwhelming and surrounded me completely. I felt weak, trembling as this immense presence stood before me. And I said I’m afraid, I’m scared. It was at that moment that this light completely surrounded me. And then I woke up, but I was calm. My fear was replaced with peace. I used to say and think, “How come people sin when they saw Jesus in person? How could they do that?” As I was thinking about this, the voice said to me; “So, how can you sin after you saw Me in your dream?” He said, “Now you know the answer…” That’s when I repented of my sin and accepted Him as my Lord and Savior.
2025 Vision Expansion
A unique and unprecedented shift is happening among Muslims across the world – particularly the youth – in this decade. Something never seen before in the history of Islam. For the first time, Muslims are exploring their religion independently of the larger Islamic community (Ummah). Only 13 percent of the 1.8 billion Muslims worldwide speak Arabic, yet Islamic religious texts have been locked in Arabic for centuries. Today, however, these texts are being translated into numerous languages, making them accessible in ways they never were before. Previously, understanding Islam required turning to Muslim family members, relatives, or the local mosque’s clergy. However, because of the honor-shame culture and the immense persecution for questioning religious tenets, many culturally Muslims were left with unanswered questions. But now, with the rise of translations and the accessibility of the Quran and other Islamic texts on the internet, Muslims can privately investigate their faith through their smartphones without the pressure of their peers.
This unprecedented access to information is leading many to critically question Islam, and for some, this journey is resulting in apostasy. In our context, in Iran, recent private studies reveal that north of 45% of Iranians have privately left Islam, yet they cannot openly declare it. Under Sharia Law, apostasy is punishable by death, creating an atmosphere of fear and silence for those who abandon Islam. The growing number of secret ex-Muslims reflects a significant internal shift, but they remain trapped by the legal and societal consequences of their decision.
This massive exodus from Islam has created a vacuum that can be filled with the unconditional love of God and the message of Christianity. The destiny of a nation can be transformed, and Iran has the potential to become the South Korea of the Middle East – a nation known for its vibrant Christian faith and missionary outreach. Imagine Iran as a sheep nation, a missionary-sending nation right in the heart of the Middle East. Iranians who love the Jews, who love the King of the Jews, and are willing to go, proclaim, and transform the nations all around them in the Middle East.
At Iranian Christians International (ICI), we’ve had an incredibly productive year, engaging on multiple fronts with remarkable effectiveness. We conducted three international conferences and organized two mission trips to the Middle East for street evangelism where we distributed Bibles to Muslims. Our outreach extended to Europe, where we facilitated the mass distribution of tens of thousands of the Gospel of John to ministries and churches which are engaging the Muslim community in Europe. We also oversee and equip underground churches and Bible study groups, translating, publishing, and delivering Christian literature, discipleship resources, and leadership materials to fuel the revival in Iran. In times of persecution against Muslim-background Christians, we stand as advocates for them. These initiatives represent just a portion of our ministry’s efforts yet they highlight our core operations. As we look ahead, we plan to continue these vital activities and expand them.
By God’s grace and in dependence upon Him, we will establish two new ICI offices – one in a northern neighboring country of Iran and another in Greece, a nation that is home to a significant number of refugees. We are excited to announce that the Colorado Springs Persian Church is on the verge of becoming a reality, and we will also expand our pastoral and leadership conferences to Europe, which are currently held only in the Middle East.
As the Muslim population continues to grow, so too must our evangelistic efforts. With the increase in apostasy among Muslims and the rise in conversions to Christianity, our commitment to discipleship must also intensify. Furthermore, as the number of immigrants and refugees rises, our engagement in their lives must deepen, leading to the establishment and growth of churches and Bible study groups within these communities.
We are deeply involved in these missions, and we need your support now more than ever. Stand with us in prayer and support as we carry out this important work. “One can chase a thousand, but two put ten thousand to flight…”
Your Partnership Fuels the Advancement of the Gospel
As we look back on another fruitful year at Iranian Christians International (ICI), we are filled with gratitude for the countless lives transformed through our ministry. Each step we take in spreading the Gospel among Muslims is powered by the incredible support of partners like you.
Why Your Support Matters!
- Fueling Our Mission: Your contributions allow us to amplify our evangelistic efforts, ensuring that more Bibles reach those who seek the truth. Together, we are training indigenous pastors and church planters who will continue to make disciples in the most unreached places in our world.
- Responding to Needs: With an increasing influx of Iranian and Afghan refugees, your generosity provides essential humanitarian aid and advocacy for those enduring persecution. Your support is a lifeline for many.
- Strengthening Our Community: As we raise our Ex-Muslim army of believers, we are nurturing a new generation of lions who are ready to stand firm in their faith and share the love of Christ with other Muslims.
As we approach the end of the year, we invite you to make a special contribution that will make a lasting impact. Your investment in Iranian Christians International (ICI) is a powerful commitment to transforming lives and strengthening the church among Persian Christians – ultimately turning the enemies of Israel into its best friends. God assured Abraham, the father of our faith, in Genesis 12:3, “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” This promise remains steadfast and continues to unfold through our ministry today.
Thank you for standing with us in the call of God and this vital work!
In His Service,
Mohamad & Susan