The call to prayer echoes through the streets of Tehran as the sun slips behind the Alborz Mountains. I pull my scarf a little tighter around my head and step into the crowded bazaar, careful to blend in. To most, I’m just another face in the city—one among millions—but inside, my heart beats to a different rhythm.
I wasn’t always a follower of Jesus. I grew up with the traditions of my family, reciting the prayers I was taught, fasting when I was told, doing everything to be good in the eyes of God. But deep down, I felt the weight of my own emptiness. Then, a friend quietly handed me a small book—the Injil, the Gospel. “Read it only when you’re alone,” she whispered.

That night, I read about Jesus—the One who healed the sick, forgave sins, and loved even His enemies. I couldn’t put the book down. The words seemed alive, as if they were speaking directly to me. I read about His death on the cross, and tears fell when I understood He had done it for me. A few weeks later, in the secrecy of my room, I prayed to Him for the first time—not out loud, just in my heart.

Now, every day in Tehran is a walk of faith. I meet with other believers in small, hidden gatherings. We sing softly, pray fervently, and share from the Word. We know the risk—being discovered could mean prison, or worse—but we also know the joy of belonging to the family of God.

Sometimes I stand on my apartment balcony at night, looking out over the glowing city. I think of the almost 16 million (Frontier Peoples) here who have never heard the truth about Jesus. I pray for them—my neighbors, my city, my country. I believe one day the Gospel will spread openly here, and the streets of Tehran will echo not only with the call to prayer, but with songs of praise to the living Christ.

Until that day, I will walk quietly, but boldly, carrying His light where it’s needed most.

When I meet with my brothers and sisters in the Gilaki, Mazanderani, and Persian communities, we gather quietly in homes—always aware that a knock on the door could change everything. Yet our hearts are full. We dream of seeing God-glorifying house churches rise up among our people. Will you pray that we will have the strength and boldness to begin?

Some of my friends are part of the teams sharing about Jesus. They pray over maps and speak in whispers about where God is leading them to find people hungry for hope which can only be found in Jesus. Every step feels risky, but the call is clear. Please ask the Lord to give them wisdom for each decision, courage for each conversation, and His protection over every journey. Pray for open doors into new peoples and places especially the 69 Frontier People Groups inside Iran.

You might be surprised to know there are believers here in government offices, business boardrooms, classrooms, and even art studios. Many of them work quietly, planting seeds in places where the Gospel has rarely been heard. Pray that their influence will grow—that the light of Christ in them will shape our nation in ways no one can ignore.

Some of us have been hiding—too long. We once spoke freely about Jesus, but fear has silenced us. Pray that God will awaken our hearts again, strengthen our faith, and give us the boldness to speak His name with joy.

And please, pray for my whole country. From Tehran’s busy streets to the remotest provinces, we long to see the Kingdom of God come in power—in signs, wonders, and miracles. Pray for a great multiplication of disciple-making birthed in prayer until all 84 unreached people groups know that Jesus is Lord.

• Pray for the advancement of God's Kingdom among all unreached people groups (UPGs) in Iran, asking the Lord of the Harvest to send trained laborers and for a successful "hot coals" strategy to fill gospel gaps where there is no engagement.
• Pray for rapid reproduction of disciples, churches, and leaders in Tehran. Ask for equipping and coaching for new believers to reproduce quickly, and for leaders to model healthy leadership and invest their time with those who are obeying God's word to accelerate multiplication.
• Pray for supernatural wisdom and discernment for leaders to strategically plan and identify spiritual strongholds and opportunities in new places. Ask for strength and glorious victory as disciples engage in spiritual warfare against the forces of darkness.
• Pray for a mighty movement of extraordinary prayer to be birthed and sustained throughout Tehran and Iran, recognizing its foundational role for movements. Ask God to raise up prayer leaders and Prayer Shield Teams, and establish permanent lighthouses of continuous prayer and worship as a beachhead for the Kingdom.
• Pray for patient endurance for persecuted disciples in Tehran, that they would look to Jesus as their model for overcoming suffering . Ask the Holy Spirit for discernment to be aware of the devil's schemes and for strength and glorious victory as they fight the forces of darkness in their area.