Iranian Christians in U.S. praying for their homeland [Excerpts]
Members of the Iranian Christian Church of San Diego are praying for their homeland amid continuing turmoil over Iran's disputed presidential election.
The Rev. Sohrab Ramtin, whose sermons are broadcast by satellite into Iran, says his congregation believes reformist candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi defeated President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, though the incumbent claims to have won a landslide victory.
Ramtin says Iranian Christians hoped a Mousavi victory would ease persecution in Iran. Iran's supreme ruler, meanwhile, has warned Iranians to unite behind the country's Islamic system.
The pastor of the Iranian Christian Church of Colorado says Iran's hardline Islamic regime has caused many Iranians to turn their backs on Islam and become Christians. The Rev. Ashton Stewart, who grew up in Iran, says God also has been converting Iranians in ways only God can.
"God has been showing himself through visions of Christ, incredible healings, incredible experiences that have just confirmed for thousands of people that Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life," he shares.
While many Iranians hoped for the defeat of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Stewart says his main prayer is that the post-election crisis will help grow the church in Iran. He's also asking American Christians to "pray for the persecuted" in Iran, where he says "there are many Christians in jail today, and some of them are being treated very, very brutally."
