Where is the World’s Fastest-Growing Evangelical Movement?

The church is growing in many surprising areas. Countries that you may never expect are experiencing growing numbers of Christians despite the suffering and persecution that result in Christian conversion.

According to Operation World, Iran has the fastest-growing evangelical movement in the world. An article from TGC (The Gospel Coalition) recounts some of the history of Christian growth in Iran:

“About 20 years ago, the number of Christian converts from a Muslim background was between 5,000 and 10,000 people,” Crabtree said. “Today that’s between 800,000 to 1 million people. That’s massive growth.”

How does the Christian church grow in the midst of such obvious hostility? How do the Christians endure and even expand their numbers when the government is committed to their eradication?

In Iran, anyone who shares their faith, publishes Christian literature, or holds church services in the common language of Farsi can be arrested—and they are. Punishment is often prison, and sentences are long. Last year two Christian converts were flogged 80 times for drinking communion wine, then sentenced to several years in prison for organizing house churches. In 2018, four Christians were sentenced to 10 years in prison—one of them had originally been sentenced in 2010 to die by hanging.

Check out the TGC article to read about God's amazing work in the country of Iran and pray for the faithful Christians serving there.

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