The Iran Conflict - Praying for the Persecuted Church Artwork

The Christian Optimist

Pastor Raef Chenery tackles the real world issues and questions you face every day head on from an eschatologically optimistic perspective. Rooted in the Word of God, we’ll look at worldview, apologetics, politics, news, theology, evangelism encounters, and so much more. The aim is to allow God’s Word to inform and guide you through each and every moment.

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The Christian Optimist

The Iran Conflict - Praying for the Persecuted Church

March 06, 2026 • Raef Chenery • Episode 123

0:00 | 55:51

In this episode Pastor Raef looks at the recent joint efforts by the USA and Israel to end the Islamic Republic of Iran. After briefly discussing a variety of opinions held by folks across the political landscape, we then move to one topic that very few are discussing, the state of the persecuted church in Iran. This factor should cause us to pray fervently for the future of Iran, to pray for an Iran where the gospel can flow freely, where Christians are not persecuted, and where God's glory is put on display!

Resources

https://ishr.org/iran-shocking-statistics-of-christian-persecution-latest-individual-fates/

https://persecution.org/2025/04/09/the-brutal-persecution-of-iranian-christians-is-growing/

https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/441219-IRAN-2022-INTERNATIONAL-RELIGIOUS-FREEDOM-REPORT.pdf

https://www.newsmax.com/draft-stories/donald-trump-iran-surrender/2026/03/06/id/1248565/

https://www.namb.net/apologetics/resource/historical-muhammad-the-good-bad-downright-ugly/