The Iranian secret agent surprised by the gospel

An Iranian secret agent who was gathering undercover intelligence to ensnare Christians has found himself unexpectedly coming to faith.

Now ‘Arvin’ has started a new fellowship group which includes two relatives – former regime hardliners – who have also come to faith through his witness. The story came to en via Elam Ministries, an organisation founded in 1990 with a vision to reach the Persian-speaking world for Christ. Its executive director David Yeghnazar spoke of the extraordinary story of this dramatic conversion that took place in Iran recently:

‘Kamran, a Christian leader in a country near Iran, couldn’t shake his suspicion that something was not right about Arvin, the new believer he was working with. Every time they did a section of a discipleship course Kamran’s unease grew. He sensed Arvin was hiding something. After the course section on the Holy Spirit, Kamran prayed that the Spirit would convict Arvin. ‘Late that evening, Arvin called unexpectedly. “I need to tell you something. I work for the Iranian government and I’ve been posing as a Christian to gather information, but it’s been bothering me. Now, I really want to become a true follower of Jesus.” Kamran was amazed. That night he explained the gospel once more and Arvin genuinely gave his life to Christ.

‘Arvin completed the discipleship course and then began a new fellowship group with his family. Two of his relatives – also former hardliners – have since come to faith in Christ because of his witness. And so the gospel spreads.

‘The church in Iran has many enemies. But God is sovereign. This story shows that as people engage with the gospel, God is softening even the hardest of hearts. Please do keep praying for the thousands involved in Safar in the Iran region.’

SAT-7 PARS channel began operating in 2006. It is part of the SAT-7 Christian TV network that broadcasts across the Middle East and North Africa. PARS is watched by hundreds of thousands of people across Iran. Its spokesperson, Omeed, said: ‘The security of believers in Iran continues to be of concern. Some Iranian viewers have told us about neighbours watching them or they tell us they’ve been reported, arrested and spent time in prison. Yet, despite all these challenges, we see an increased desire among viewers to know more – and they are connecting with us for fellowship.

‘The things that were intended to bring harm are being turned into instruments of salvation, and God is calling many Iranians to Himself, even through the tough cir-cumstances in which they find themselves. Being a loving Father who loves to save those who are lost, He is even softening the hearts of some whose hearts were hardened against Him – just as He did with Saul’.