UNMUTED

Heart4Iran Ministries

Welcome to Unmuted, a podcast that amplifies the voices and stories of Iranian Christianity. Each episode delves deep into the vibrant world of faith, featuring firsthand accounts from the underground church, innovative mission strategies, and inspiring cross-cultural ministry experiences. Join us as we uncover the resilience of those navigating challenging contexts, explore the impact of faith in transformative ways, and engage in meaningful conversations that challenge our understanding of community and belief. Whether you're passionate about missions, curious about the underground church, or seeking to broaden your perspective on faith across cultures, Unmuted invites you to listen, learn, and connect with the stories that often go unheard. Tune in and be a part of the conversation!

  1. Jun 2

    Iran's Christian Roots: Why the Regime Fears Its Own History | Dr. Christian van Gorder

    🔥 What if the Iranian regime's biggest justification for persecution—that Christianity is a "foreign" Western faith—is a complete lie? What if the roots of Christianity in Iran are deeper and more ancient than the regime itself? In this paradigm-shifting episode of Unmuted, host Edwin Keshish-Abnous sits down with Dr. Christian van Gorder—a leading expert on Islamic-Christian relations and author of Christianity in Persia—to uncover the explosive truth about Iran's ancient Christian heritage. Dr. van Gorder dismantles the regime's narrative that Christianity is a foreign import, revealing a vibrant, indigenous faith that predates Islam. Together, they explore the government's strategy of "gradual eradication," the inspiring legacy of martyrs like Mehdi Dibaj, and the incredible paradox of how state-sponsored pressure is fueling one of the fastest-growing church movements in the world. 🎯 Who This Is For: Believers seeking to understand the deep historical roots of the Iranian church and its incredible resilience.Anyone interested in how history is weaponized by authoritarian regimes and how reclaiming it can be an act of resistance.Christians looking for informed ways to pray for and advocate on behalf of their persecuted brothers and sisters in Iran.Supporters of Middle Eastern ministries who want to grasp the spiritual dynamics fueling the world's fastest-growing underground church.Listeners who need encouragement and hope by seeing how faith not only survives but thrives under immense, systematic pressure. 💡 Key Takeaways: → The "Foreign Faith" Lie Exposed: Discover how Christianity has deep, indigenous roots in Persia, with its own rich history in the Syriac and Farsi languages, completely dismantling the regime's primary justification for persecution. → The Strategy of "Gradual Eradication": Learn how the Iranian government uses quiet administrative pressure, surveillance, and legal restrictions as a more insidious form of persecution designed to suffocate the church from within. → The Martyr's Unshakable Legacy: Understand the profound impact of figures like Mehdi Dibaj, whose unwavering faith in the face of death turned the tables on his accusers and galvanized a generation of believers. → The Paradox of Persecution: Uncover the stunning reality that the regime's attempts to eliminate Christianity are backfiring, leading to widespread disillusionment with the state and fueling unprecedented growth in the underground house church movement. 🔗 Connect & Learn More: 🇮🇷 Learn more about Hear4Iran 📱 Follow us on Instagram 🙏 Support the persecuted church 🔔 Subscribe on YouTube

    44 min

  2. May 15

    Iran’s Invisible Christians: Surviving Religious Apartheid | with Fred Petrossian

    🔥 What happens when an entire government engineers a system of "religious apartheid" to erase your existence? Amidst state-sponsored hate speech, systemic violence, and laws that strip away basic human rights, what does it cost to follow Christ inside the Islamic Republic of Iran? In this powerful and revealing episode of Unmuted, host Edwin Keshish-Abnous sits down with Fred Petrossian—author, journalist, and human rights researcher—to navigate the harrowing reality of Christian persecution in Iran. Together, they unpack the three layers of state-sponsored violence, uncover what it means to be an unrecognized "ghost" citizen under Iranian law, and explore the incredible resilience of Muslim-background believers. Fred also shares heartbreaking real-life stories of structural violence—including families torn apart for their faith—while issuing an urgent call to the global church for awareness and advocacy. 🎯 Who This Is For: Believers seeking a deeper understanding of the underground church and the true cost of discipleship in Iran.Anyone concerned about human rights violations, digital authoritarianism, and state-sanctioned religious apartheid.Christians grappling with how to support brothers and sisters who are legally treated as unrecognized "ghosts" by their own government.Supporters of Middle Eastern ministries looking for frontline insights into the daily realities and struggles of Muslim converts to Christianity.Listeners who want to know how international pressure, advocacy, and global church awareness can actively save lives and combat systemic persecution. 💡 Key Takeaways: → Decode the Anatomy of Persecution: Unpacking the physical, structural, and cultural layers of violence the Iranian regime relies on to suppress religious freedom and dehumanize Christians.  → The "Ghost" Citizens of Iran: Understanding the stark legal differences between recognized ethnic minorities and Muslim converts who face absolute exclusion and the loss of basic human rights.  → The Weaponization of Digital Hate: How the Iranian state uses media, digital hate speech, and fake narratives to justify violence and extend physical oppression into the digital world.  → The Power of International Advocacy: A practical guide on why global awareness matters, how international pressure can actually force legal changes, and what the free church must learn from Iranian resilience. 🔗 Connect & Learn More: 🇮🇷 Learn more about Hear4Iran 📱 Follow us on Instagram 🙏 Support the persecuted church 🔔 Subscribe on YouTube

    34 min

  3. Apr 27

    Faith in the Crossfire: The True Story of Iran and Palestine | with Fares Abraham

    🔥 What happens when scripture is used to justify modern warfare? Amidst active geopolitical conflict, widespread misconceptions, and the dangerous weaponization of biblical texts, what does it mean to truly love our neighbors across the Middle East? In this powerful and revealing episode of Unmuted, Edwin Keshish-Abnous sits down with Fares Abraham—Founder and CEO of Levant Ministries—to navigate the complex intersection of theology and geopolitics. Together, they unpack the realities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, uncover the true cultural landscape of Iran and Palestine, and explore what faithful Christian witness looks like when both of their homelands are locked in deep political turmoil. Fares also shares his powerful testimony of encountering Christ and his mission to empower the next generation of Christian leaders in the Arabic-speaking world. 🎯 Who This Is For: Believers seeking clarity on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the broader Middle East through a biblical worldview.Anyone concerned about the misuse of scripture and biblical theology to justify warfare and political agendas.Christians grappling with what it means to radically "love your neighbor" amidst deep-rooted political hostility and Islamic agendas.Supporters of Middle Eastern ministries looking for frontline insights into reaching the Arabic-speaking world and the Iranian underground church.Listeners who want to know how to effectively and specifically pray for the people of both Palestine and Iran. 💡 Key Takeaways:  → Shattering Middle East Misconceptions: Uncovering the "true" Iran and Palestine beyond the headlines, and understanding the reality of the region's religiosity and political agendas.  → Geopolitics & Theology: The dangerous intersection of modern conflict and faith, including the alarming ways scripture is weaponized to frame geopolitical battles as holy wars.  → The Cost of Discipleship: Fares’ personal journey of encountering Christ, leaving the corporate world, and answering the urgent call to share the Gospel through Levant Ministries.  → A Call to Intercession: A practical, spiritual guide on how the global church can stand in the gap and pray for Palestine and Iran right now. 🔗 Connect & Learn More: 🇮🇷 Learn more about Hear4Iran 📱 Follow us on Instagram 🙏 Support the persecuted church 🔔 Subscribe on YouTube

    1h 3m

  4. Apr 6

    The Theology of Rebellion: Iran, Islam, and the Fight for Freedom | Dr. Douglas Groothuis

    🔥 Is it ever biblical to pray for the downfall of a corrupt government? As millions of Iranians risk their lives to overthrow an oppressive regime, an unprecedented mass rejection of Shiite Islam is paving the way for the fastest-growing underground church in the world. In this powerful and revealing episode of Unmuted, host Edwin Abnous sits down with Dr. Douglas Groothuis—veteran philosopher, apologetics expert, and author—to examine the Iranian crisis through a biblical lens and unpack the theology of resistance. 🎯 Who This Is For:  Christians grappling with the theology of government submission and civil disobedience.Supporters of the persecuted underground church in Iran and the Middle East.Students of Christian apologetics, philosophy, and biblical theology.The Iranian diaspora seeking an intellectual defense for their faith in a newly secularizing nation. Anyone trying to process deep personal or global suffering through a biblical worldview. 💡 Key Takeaways:  → Why the 1979 Islamic Republic functions as an illegitimate "alien insurrection" and exactly when physical resistance becomes a biblical last resort under Romans 13  → How to navigate the tension between loving your enemies and praying for the destruction of wicked regimes using the imprecatory Psalms  → The power of lament as a Christian apologetic to process profound political evil and suffering without losing faith 🔗 Connect & Learn More: 🇮🇷 Learn more about Hear4Iran 📱 Follow us on Instagram 🙏 Support the persecuted church 🔔 Subscribe on YouTube

    44 min

  5. Mar 12

    The Battle for Iran’s Future: Democracy, Religion, and the Power of Women | Dr. Ladan Boroumand

    🔥 "Khomeini promised freedom, but Iranians got the opposite. Today, millions are rejecting the regime's ideology entirely as a massive cultural shift threatens the very foundation of the Islamic Republic." In this powerful and revealing episode of Unmuted, host Edwin Abnous sits down with Dr. Ladan Boroumand—human-rights scholar and co-founder of the Abdorrahman Boroumand Center—to unpack the deep ideological roots of Iran’s current crisis: 🎯 Who This Is For: Human rights advocates and activists focused on the Middle EastAnyone trying to understand the current protests and revolution in IranStudents of Middle Eastern history, theology, and geopoliticsIranians in the diaspora seeking clarity on their nation's democratic futureSupporters of the global women's rights movement 💡 Key Takeaways:  → How Khomeini’s authoritarian doctrine actually contradicts traditional Shiite beliefs  → Why women were the first to resist the regime and how the veil became a tool of systemic oppression  → The blueprint for a free Iran: why moving toward a tolerant, secular democracy is no longer just a dream, but a demand 🔗 Connect & Learn More: 🇮🇷 Learn more about Hear4Iran 📱 Follow us on Instagram 🙏 Support the persecuted church 🔔 Subscribe on YouTube

    53 min

  6. Feb 27

    The Hidden Roots of Iranian Christianity, and Why They Matter Now | Dr. Philip Hopkins

    🔥 "Many believe Christianity is a 'Western religion' imported to Iran—but the truth is that the Persian Church has deep, indigenous roots that predate Islam and once influenced the entire East." In this historical and inspiring episode of Unmuted, host Edwin Abnous sits down with Dr. Philip Hopkins—historian and expert on Iranian Christianity—to trace the lineage of the Nestorian and Armenian traditions and explain why this ancient heritage matters for the massive revival happening today. 🎯 Who This Is For: Students of Church History and Global ChristianityIranian believers wanting to connect with their spiritual heritageMinistry leaders engaging with Persian cultureAnyone curious about the "Nestorian" mission movementBelievers praying for the persecuted church in the Middle East 💡 Key Takeaways: → How the Nestorian Church became one of history’s most powerful mission movements  → Why the modern Iranian revival is distinct from Western Christianity  → The role of persecution in shaping the resilience of Persian believers  → How the 1979 Revolution inadvertently fueled indigenous church growth 🔗 Connect & Learn More: 🇮🇷 Learn more about Hear4Iran 📱 Follow us on Instagram 🙏 Support the persecuted church 🔔 Subscribe on YouTube

    40 min

  7. Feb 6

    Why Iranian Believers Need a Different Kind of Church Leadership | Dr. Roy Oksnevad

    🔥 "The Iranian church is one of the fastest-growing underground movements in the world—but few understand the cultural wounds and leadership tensions threatening to fracture it from within." In this raw and revelatory episode of Unmuted, host Edwin Abnous sits down with Dr. Roy Oksnevad—veteran Iranian diaspora minister, author, and cultural bridge-builder—to unpack what most never talk about: 🎯 Who This Is For: - Church leaders working with Middle Eastern diaspora communities - Cross-cultural missionaries and ministry workers - Anyone interested in persecution, trauma-informed care, or global Christianity - Iranian believers seeking language for their own experience - Students of honor/shame cultures and non-Western Christianity 💡 Key Takeaways: → Why traditional Western leadership models often fail in Iranian contexts  → How to create safe spaces for emotional healing in high-shame cultures  → The difference between unity and uniformity in multicultural church planting  📎 Resources Mentioned: 📖 "The Burden of Baggage" by Dr. Roy Oksnevad 💻 COMMA: Reaching Muslims Together 🔗 Connect & Learn More: 🇮🇷 Learn more about Hear4Iran 📱 Follow us on Instagram 🙏 Support the persecuted church. 🔔 Subscribe on YouTube #IranianChurch #UndergroundChristianity #TraumaHealing #DiasporaMissions #HonorShame

    42 min
  8. The Voices of Iran: Women’s Resilience and Spiritual Awakening | with Yelena Keshish-Abnous

    10/30/2024

    The Voices of Iran: Women’s Resilience and Spiritual Awakening | with Yelena Keshish-Abnous

    In this insightful episode, we speak with an Iranian Christian mother who, though she left Iran at a young age, has stayed deeply connected to the struggles of women in her homeland. Now living in the U.S. and working for a Christian organization, she offers valuable commentary on the social, economic, and spiritual challenges Iranian women face today. From navigating a repressive regime to seeking spiritual freedom, she shares a unique perspective on the resilience and courage of these women, as well as how faith is offering hope in the midst of oppression. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of faith, freedom, and women’s rights in Iran.  This podcast will bring you the powerful insight on the underground church movement and persecution happening in Iran + Afghanistan– all within 20 minutes! Each month will feature a new episode with one of our partners who shares the same calling and heart for this mission as we do. We would love to connect with you! Please reach out with any questions, comments or prayer requests!  📧 Email: info@heart4Iran.com 📞 Phone: 330-983-5001  🖥️ Website: heart4Iran.com  📲 Social Media: @heart4Iran

    21 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Welcome to Unmuted, a podcast that amplifies the voices and stories of Iranian Christianity. Each episode delves deep into the vibrant world of faith, featuring firsthand accounts from the underground church, innovative mission strategies, and inspiring cross-cultural ministry experiences. Join us as we uncover the resilience of those navigating challenging contexts, explore the impact of faith in transformative ways, and engage in meaningful conversations that challenge our understanding of community and belief. Whether you're passionate about missions, curious about the underground church, or seeking to broaden your perspective on faith across cultures, Unmuted invites you to listen, learn, and connect with the stories that often go unheard. Tune in and be a part of the conversation!

Information

  • Creator
    Heart4Iran Ministries
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    51
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Heart4Iran Ministries
  • Show Website
    UNMUTED

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