In 1979, when the Islamic revolution swept to power there were only about 500 Muslim Background Believers, according to the reference book "Operation World." It estimates that today there are at least 100,000 MBB's and [in] some places the number [is] as high as 1 million.

Dissatisfaction with the harsh Islamic regime and disillusionment with Islam in general are part of the shift, but the main reason is bold outreach by Christians inside the country, Mark Howard of Elam Ministries told CBN News.

Elam Ministries works to strengthen the Iranian Church both inside the country and among the diaspora living in the Middle East and Europe.

"I think first and foremost we have to acknowledge that many people have been praying for Iran for a long time and that the Lord is doing something special in that region," he said.

Powerful testimonies of people from all walks of life—including hardened criminals, Muslims imams, and abused women—are finding faith in Christ are pouring out of Iran, Howard wrote in a blog on The Gospel Coalition web page.

He told the story of Fatemah, a young Muslim girl who was sexually abused by her brothers from a young age. When she was 11-years-old her family sold her into marriage, but soon her husband divorced her and sent her back. Facing the prospect of more sexual abuse, Fatemah ran away and began living on the streets.

It was there that she heard about Jesus and gave her life to Him. She began attending church and married a Christian man. As she and her husband, Howard, attended a ministry training session hosted by Elam Ministries, Fatemah sensed the Lord telling her to go back and minister to her family. (File photo: via Elam Ministries)

Her husband struggled with the decision.

"He told the Lord, 'I can't love these people after what they've done to my wife, but give me Your love for them,'" Howard said.

When they returned, the family listened to the Gospel message and they all turned to Christ. Today, their home is a house church and Fatemah is one of the leaders.

Fatemah's story "speaks to the tragic beauty ... of so many testimonies that come out of that region," Howard said.
It demonstrates not just the saving power of the Gospel, but its transforming power, as well.

"The Lord saves us, but the Gospel's also full of the power to redeem and the power to restore and to bring reconciliation and her testimony really speaks to that and shows it in a very powerful, tangible way," he said.

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

Long Beach, California Cancels Their Popular July 4th Fireworks Show, Even for America's 250th Birthday, Citing Pollution as the Reason

Digital Nightmare? Anthropic Withholds AI Model Too Dangerous for Humanity

'A Victory for All Pro-Life Oregonians': Federal Judge Rules State Can't Force Oregon Right to Life to Pay for Abortions

10 Republicans Side With Dems to Provide Amnesty to Haitian Illegals

Virginia Dems Pass National Popular Vote Law that Experts Warn Is Unconstitutional

Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire Begins; Trump Says Iran's Regime Agrees to Give Up Having Nuclear Weapons

President Trump: Strait of Hormuz 'Fully Open', Oil Prices Drop

Clarence Thomas Destroys 'Progressivism' in Ruthless Speech

Trump Reveals He Has Multi-Pick SCOTUS Plan Ready as Justice Retirement Speculation Heats Up

Trump Admin Pushes Global Plan to Protect Kids Online

Youth Mental Health Deteriorates after Gender Reassignment Services, Extensive, Long-Term Study Finds

Trump Administration Pulls $11 Million in Funding for Catholic Charities that Sheltered Illegal Alien Minors

Prayer Alert: Former Democrat Lt. Gov. and Wife Found Dead in Apparent Murder-Suicide; Kids Were Home at the Time

Israeli Forces Discover Huge Hezbollah Weapons Cache Inside School; Destroy 70 Hezbollah Terror Sites in Lebanon

US War on Iran's Regime Could Be Ending Soon; Ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon Announced

Melania Trump Joins Lawmakers for Roundtable Discussion on Empowering Foster Care Children

Heroic Oklahoma High School Principal Shot in the Leg as He Tackles Would-Be Shooter Before Gunman Opens Fire on Students (VIDEO)

Teachers' Union Webinar Sparks Indoctrination Fears

'Deadnaming' Is Now Classified as 'Gender-Based Violence' in Liberal Canada

The War on Biology Is Far from Over