On countless occasions during CSW’s 40-year history, we have seen the impossible become possible when we pray. We pray in faith, knowing that God has the power to deliver justice for the oppressed, to set captives free, and to transform nations. The answers to our prayers may not always be visible to us. In fact, we may never know whether our prayers have been answered. Even so, we pray expectantly, knowing that every prayer has the potential to bring transformation in so many ways.

Prior to the pandemic, we spoke with Dabrina Bet-Tamraz about her family’s experience as Christians in Iran. At the time, her parents, Pastor Victor Bet Tamraz and Shamiram Issavi, were charged with national security crimes for undertaking normal church activities. Her brother, Ramiel Bet Tamraz, who was serving a five-year sentence after being arrested with friends at a picnic, had been released from prison early due to the pandemic.

Growing up, it was always obvious that Dabrina’s family were treated differently. Victor and Shamiram were regularly taken in for interrogation; they even talked through what would happen if one of them were killed.

Despite this backdrop of sustained persecution, Dabrina said that her parents were the strongest people of faith she had ever encountered.

‘This is the body of Christ – this is what we do for each other.’

‘My dad always told us we should tell our testimonies so that Christians outside Iran may stand firm in their faith,’ said Dabrina. ‘And your prayers, your advocacy, your support, they make it possible for Christians in Iran to keep standing strong in their faith. This is the body of Christ – this is what we do for each other.’

Pastor Victor and Shamiram were eventually forced to flee Iran, facing a combined 15 years in prison. In March 2023 they were the keynote speakers of a side event at the United Nations Human Rights Council where, among other things, Victor called for the return of church buildings and for freedom of worship, including for converts. Shamiram highlighted the suffering of women since the Iranian revolution.

Your prayers make an unknowable difference

When we asked Dabrina what we could do to support Christians in Iran, her answer was clear: ‘Pray, pray, and pray! Every prayer is heard – and God reveals to Christians in prison that you are praying for them.’

We have received the same message from other Iranian Christians whenever we have spoken with them: God uses our prayers to encourage and strengthen those who are walking through the darkest valleys (Psalm 23:4). We may never hear every story, nor see the difference our prayers have made.

But every now and then we catch a glimpse of how God is working in people’s lives as a result of our prayers. May this stir us to pray all the more.

Your prayers are an act of solidarity

After the unprecedented peaceful protests of 11 July 2021, CSW supporters rose up in an incredible way to pray for people of all religions or beliefs in Cuba. Several church leaders were among those targeted, including pastors Yéremi Blanco Ramírez and Yarian Sierra Madrigal, who were violently detained.

Pastor Yarian told us that God used your prayers and postcards to ‘make [their] adversity a spring of joy’, saying that the difficult times they had been through ‘...dimmed over the course of these months by the mercy God has shown us giving us new friends in different parts of the world.’

At a time when their families were facing immense pressure – including being evicted from their homes – God used your prayers to show them they were not alone; Christians around the world were standing with them.

When the government sought to isolate them, and target so many church leaders, your prayers were an act of solidarity.

There are so many ways that you can persist in prayer with us!

Daily:

Pray through the latest Prayer Diary. Could you encourage a friend to join you?

Weekly:

Receive our weekly prayer email every Saturday morning: csw.org.uk/pray

Special events:

Gather your church to pray in November on the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP). Register for our online event on 5 November: csw.org.uk/IDOP