I live in Kermanshah, a city nestled among the mountains of western Iran — a place where Kurdish culture runs deep and the air carries both pride and pain. My people are warm and resilient, yet weary from years of broken promises. Since the collapse of the 2015 nuclear deal, life here has grown harder. Sanctions have crushed our economy, shelves are emptier, and hope feels scarce. The government’s vision of an Islamic utopia has proven empty, and many are quietly questioning everything they were told to believe.

Kermanshah is home to many Kurdish tribes, families who once lived in distant villages but came to the city seeking stability after war and hardship. Most are Sunni Muslims — yet even here, where faith runs strong, the government’s heavy hand denies them the right to build mosques freely or worship without fear. For us who follow Jesus, the cost is even greater. We gather quietly, often in homes, knowing that discovery could mean imprisonment or worse.

Yet, in the midst of oppression, God is moving powerfully. I’ve seen hearts open to Christ through dreams and miracles, through whispered conversations over tea, and through the kindness of believers who serve in secret. Many are hungry for truth, tired of empty ritual and fearful rule. The gospel is spreading underground — unseen but unstoppable — and I believe Kermanshah will one day be known not just for its Kurdish heritage, but as a place where Jesus built His Church on unshakable faith.

• Pray for the people of Kermanshah to encounter the truth of Jesus amid disillusionment with political and religious systems. (John 8:32)

• Pray for Kurdish believers in Kermanshah to be strengthened with boldness and unity as they share Christ in quiet courage. (Acts 4:29)

• Pray for God to soften the hearts of local authorities and open doors for freedom of worship in the city. (Proverbs 21:1)

• Pray for revival among the Sunni Kurdish tribes, that they would come to know Jesus as their Shepherd and Savior. (John 10:16)

• Pray for Kermanshah to become a beacon of hope where the love of Christ overcomes fear and division. (Romans 15:13)