By Sandra Elliot

12/22/2016 Washington, D.C. (International Christian Concern) – On June 24, 2016, a gathering of Iranian believers was ambushed by 15-20 undercover police officers in Iran. Four men were arrested that day for their faith in Jesus, one Iranian and three Azeri pastors visiting the Islamic republic. The arrests of Yusif Farkhadov, Eldar Gurbanov, and Bahram Nasibov sparked immediate international outrage.

The men were in prison for 128 days, 70 of which were spent in solitary confinement. They had limited contact with their families and faced up to 10 years in Iranian prison under unknown charges. Their families, thousands of miles away, waited anxiously and fought tirelessly for their release.

Because of you and your generous donations, International Christian Concern (ICC) was able to help support these three families during these four months when no one else was willing. Even their home country, Azerbaijan, did very little to secure their release.

“Our own government does not value us because we are Christians. The consul of Azerbaijan in Iran for all the time of our stay in Iranian prison did not visit us even once,” Pastor Yusif told ICC after his release.

During their imprisonment, the three faced countless hours of interrogation under harsh conditions. Their solitary confinement cells reportedly had no bed or windows, just a sink.

“There were different times when I wanted to die, sing, pray, cry, praise the Lord, but I never wanted to renounce the faith,” Pastor Eldar told ICC.

When the three were moved to the notorious Evin Prison in Tehran, they were finally reunited under normal prison conditions. This is when your prayers were truly answered.

The three were able to join and contribute to a prison Bible study with men facing lifetime sentences for their crimes.

“In the main body of prison, there were brothers from Africa who have committed crimes in Iran. They repented, and God said to one of them to start a church in prison,” Pastor Bahram told ICC. “God had set the heart of the chief of prison and he singled out a place in the yard for the ministry. And so it started from the church of seven to eight people. We join them. Every day we were praying, praised God.”

We can take great encouragement from this as the Lord proved his plan through this ordeal. Yes, Nasibov, Gurbanov and Farkhadov were treated unjustly, but God brought great joy out of this trial in prison, of all places.

“Continue to pray for these countries,” Pastor Bahram continued. “God wants to use every opportunity to save people.”

We want you to know that you had a first-hand contribution in this story. In the case of the Nasibov family, Pastor Bahram’s oldest son has Down Syndrome. With his father behind bars in a foreign country, there were no finances for the eldest Nasibov to get his medications and afford doctor visits. This was just one of the ways in which your generosity helped this Azeri family.

“Thank you very much for your financial support to us,” Kamilla, Pastor Bahram’s wife, expressed to ICC. “Our family thanks you for your love and attention, for your moral and material support. Let our Lord God bless you, our dear brothers and sisters!”

As for the three pastors who spent over four months in Iranian prison, their mission is not complete.

ICC was able to speak with the three concerning their plans for future ministry in their own country and in Iran, and each expressed love for their persecutors and faith in their calling.

“People have lost hope and they are in need of the Gospel,” Nasibov explained concerning his future plans in ministry. “Continue to pray for these countries, for the change and freedom.”

This is a reminder to us that the work in Iran is not yet complete. Just as these men risked their lives and freedom, more like them are bound to do the same. So remember to still pray for this Iranian regime and the people trapped inside. Your contributions and faithful prayer directly affect the lives of those who are sacrificing everything for the sake of the Gospel.