Closure of Tehran's Largest Persian-Speaking Church


Pray for the members of the AoG church in Tehran.
Photo: Mohabat News

The Central Assemblies of God Church in Tehran was closed last Thursday, May 23rd, due to pressure from Iranian security authorities. The authorities wanted to limit the church service to just the Armenian language, thus preventing any Farsi services from taking place. In another incident on May 21st, security authorities arrested Pastor Robert Asseriyan, one of the leaders of this church, in the middle of a worship service and transferred him to an unknown location.

Iran's Islamic regime has been implementing its anti-Christian agenda for a long time. This includes pressuring church leaders to prevent Farsi speakers from entering their churches, arresting members of the congregation and their pastors, and also closing down churches. Since the raiding of the country's house churches, many new Christian converts have been arrested and terrorized. For an historical overview, see the Iran Country Report.

May Pastor Robert Asseriyan experience the Lord's strengthening presence, protection and peace as he awaits his hopeful release from imprisonment. In fact, let's lift up in prayer all believers who are suffering persecution in Iran for their Christian faith. Ask the Lord to give the church leaders wisdom to know how to best encourage their congregations and deal with the authorities.

  • Current Ministry Fund

    By funding television broadcasts, VOMC is making it possible for a vast audience of viewers to be reached throughout Iran with the "Good News" of Jesus' love via satellite.

    Project Fund: Underground Church

  • Country Information

    Designation
    Persecuted

    Population
    87,590,873 (2023 est.)

    Ethnicity
    Persian, Azeri, Kurd, Lur, Baloch, Arab, Turkmen and Turkic tribes

    Religion (%)
    Islam (98.5), Christian (0.7), Baha'i (0.3), agnostic (0.3), other (0.2)

    Leader
    Ayatollah Ali Hoseini-Khamenei (1989)

    Government type
    Theocratic republic

    Legal system
    Religious legal system based on secular and Islamic law

    Source: CIA World Factbook

  • Pray for Iran

    As the Gospel message goes forth over the airwaves, may the growth of the church continue to multiply despite persecution. Pray that the Iranian government will be open to change, allowing full rights and protection for its non-Muslim citizens as well. In the meantime, may those who are forced to flee the country find safe refuge and help so they can live in peace and worship the Lord with freedom.

Iran News

  • Armenian Christian Faces Ten-Year Sentence
    Hakop Gochumyan
    Hakop Gochumyan
    Photo: Article18

    Hakop Gochumyan and his wife Elisa are citizens of Armenia who went to Iran for vacation in August 2023. While the Christian couple and their two children were having dinner at a friend's house, agents from the Ministry of Intelligence raided the property. The authorities took the Christian family to the home of Elisa's grandmother, where the believers had been staying, and proceeded to search the residence. During the raid, Christian books and other personal belongings were confiscated. The couple was then taken to Evin Prison where they faced interrogation and intense psychological torture.

  • Esmaeil Narimanpour Sentenced to Prison
    Esmaeil Narimanpour
    Esmaeil Narimanpour
    Photo: Article18

    On Christmas Eve of 2023, Esmaeil Narimanpour was apprehended by security forces. The Iranian follower of Jesus was charged with "acting against national security by communicating with Christian 'Zionist' organizations." As of April 30th, he was released on bail after spending more than four months in detention. For more details relating to his case, see these previously posted reports.