Iran, Elam Ministries told Mohabat News that a growing number of Farsi churches had been closed and Christian converts had been imprisoned for merely praying and worshipping in their own homes.
However, despite the state-sponsored crackdown, the group which "exists to strengthen and expand the Church in the Iran region and beyond", said the intimidation isn't stopping people from embracing Christianity.
Elam team member Behrang Masoumi became a Christian after he attended a Christmas gathering at a house church, where he discovered a relative had already secretly converted.
"I was shocked. I was even more shocked to discover that she had been secretly following Jesus for five years... and she had been praying for me all that time," said Masoumi.
Meanwhile, United Nations human rights experts have issued a statement, urging Iran to ensure "a fair and transparent final hearing" for three Iranian Christians who have been sentenced for "conducting evangelism" and "illegal house church activities," among other charges.
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