"These made me forget God...Now I am glad to worship and thank God"

On Sunday, 01 December 2019, Behnam shared this testimony with Grace Baptist Church Wood Green (www.gracebaptistchurch.org.uk). His English skills are very limited but he worked hard to translate and write it so he could read it in English to the church. At points, he was overcome with emotion for love of God for him in Christ and for the memory of fellow believers suffering persecution as Christians in Iran. His testimony was eagerly received by the church and he was baptised alongside another brother, upon his profession of faith and in obedience to the command of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ into the membership of the church. Please pray for his growth in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, for his perseverance by the Spirit's power, and for his ongoing witness to the gospel.    

My name is Behnam. I grew up in a middle class family in Iran with a normal childhood with my parents and a brother and a sister. It is good to mention that the majority of Iran's population are Muslim and if people's background is Muslim they are born Muslim without their own decision, so I was born as a Muslim.

About a year ago I lost my job as an accountant in the council in my city, because of absence of freedom of belief and not obeying fanatic religious rules in my​         working place. I was tired and protesting about the authority’s lies and unjust rules of those who call themselves spiritual leaders. These made me forget God and blame him for other’s fault. 

When I was totally hopeless, one day I met one of my old friends Amin. He had converted to Christianity about two years earlier. He invited me to his home to watch the documentary of Jesus Christ and after that we talk about him. I started to have a strange feeling in the day and became more interested to know about the Son of God. I asked him to tell me more about the Lord so he invited me to secret meetings which he had with his other believer friends.

After a few meetings, I start to have a different feeling, full of happiness and rejoicing. It was Light of the word Jesus, that has been lightening my life, even as he preached in the John 8:12, New testament: whoever follows him will never walk in darkness.[1]  

After three month of enthusiasm about the Lord and learning about him, when I have a feeling of loving Jesus, I announce among other believers, “I believe Jesus with all of my heart, soul and mind and I’ll follow him for the rest of my life.”

As the location of the meetings was unsuitable and unsafe we decided to move the place of gathering to my home. Everything was going on safe and well until a day when there was a gathering and because of an important matter I wasn't present at the meeting, One of my neighbours informed me that my home was raided by police and everyone in the building was arrested. I have​     to mention, converting from Islam to any other religion and faith is against Islamic and state law and its punishment is a long time in jail or even death penalty depending on the person’s faith and rank. So I didn’t have any choice other than fleeing from the country to save my life. Please, pray for the freedom of all new believers of Jesus from prison in Iran.

Now I am glad to worship and thank God with you for all that He has done for us. With you who love and follow Jesus and with you who could help me to learn and apply God's laws from the Bible inspired by God (2​ Timothy chapter 3 verse 16 [2]).

Today I announce ​that I’ve believed and will follow Jesus Christ.  As I read in​ Romans chapter 6​ verse 3 [3], today I die with Christ by baptism, I am buried with him, and I rise with him from the dead. 


[1] John chapter 8 verse 12 
"Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

[2] ​ 2 Timothy chapter 3 verse 16
 "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,"

[3] Romans chapter 6 verses 3-5
"Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ​We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.​ For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his."