What the Headlines Aren’t Telling You About Christians in Iran

Send us Fan Mail

When most of us hear the word Iran, we think about war, missiles, political conflict, and the Strait of Hormuz.

But there is another story unfolding inside Iran.

There are men and women trying to follow Jesus, sometimes without a church they can safely attend, Christian friends they can trust, or open access to biblical teaching. For some, becoming a Christian can cost them their family, their employment, their freedom, or even their life.

In this episode, Mike Pileggi and Iggy sit down with John Cerniglia, President of SAT-7 USA, to discuss what Christians inside Iran are actually experiencing.

John explains how Christian programming reaches Iran through satellite television, how viewers safely contact SAT-7 with questions about Jesus, and what happens when someone says, “I believe.”

We also discuss:

• Why John describes life for Iranian Christians as “a little bit of heaven and a little bit of hell”
• What following Jesus can cost someone from a Muslim background
• How isolated Christians receive biblical teaching and discipleship
• How SAT-7 protects viewers and believers inside restricted countries
• Why some Iranian Christians gather secretly in homes
• What comfortable Western Christians can learn from believers under pressure
• How Christians can pray for Iran, Lebanon, and the wider Middle East

This is not primarily a conversation about geopolitics. This is a conversation about ordinary people, the cost of discipleship, and the work of Christ in places many of us only encounter through the news.

GUEST

John Cerniglia
President, SAT-7 USA

LEARN MORE AND PRAY WITH SAT-7 USA

https://sat7usa.org

John encourages viewers to begin with SAT-7’s prayer resources and learn how to pray specifically for believers and civilians throughout the Middle East and North Africa.

FOLLOW PURSUING FAITH NETWORK

YouTube: @pursuingfaith
PFN Clips: @PFNClips
Instagram: @pursuingfaith__
TikTok: @pursuingfaith__

CHAPTERS

00:00 What the Headlines Miss About Iran
03:28 “A Little Bit of Heaven and Hell”
07:58 How SAT-7 Reaches Christians Inside Iran
10:38 Stories From Inside Iran
17:11 How Iranian Christians Gather and Worship
20:28 What Happens After Someone Says, “I Believe”?
25:59 Why Converts Face the Greatest Danger
32:27 How Discipleship Works Without a Church Building
37:56 Why Iranians Teach Iranians
41:51 The Chosen, Christian Media, and Finding Jesus
46:01 Dreams of Jesus in the Middle East
51:06 Why Petty Church Fights Disappear
54:17 The Ministry Ethos That Guides SAT-7
57:54 Reaching Young People Through Creative Programming
1:01:45 What Western Christians Must Learn
1:03:24 How to Pray and Support SAT-7
1:08:59 Final Challenge to the Western Church

Subscribe to Pursuing Faith Network for conversations about Scripture, faith, culture, sound doctrine, and following Jesus in the public square.

What part of this conversation challenged you most? Share your response in the comments.

Please pray for Christians inside Iran, share this episode with someone who needs to hear their story, and help bring attention to the Church the headlines rarely show us.

#Iran #IranianChristians #PersecutedChurch #SAT7 #PursuingFaith


LICENSE CERTIFICATE: Envato Elements Item
=================================================
This license certificate documents a license to use the item listed below
on a non-exclusive, commercial, worldwide and revocable basis as part of
one specific project to create an End Product.

Item Title:                      Dark Retro Synthwave Intro Trailer
Item URL:                        https://app.envato.com/item/dbc83da1-393f-4852-bd2c-b322e378e005
Item ID:                         dbc83da1-393f-4852-bd2c-b322e378e005
Author Username:                 AntonShilo
Licensee:                        Mike Pileggi
License Name:                    Envato
License Date:                    July 28th, 2026
Item License Code:               2Q9EYL4TKP

LICENSE CERTIFICATE: Envato Elements Item
=================================================
This license certificate documents a license to use the item listed below
on a non-exclusive, commercial, worldwide and revocable basis as part of
one specific project to create an End Product.
Item Title: Minimal Background
Item URL: https://app.envato.com/item/8bec576f-3037-4fc2-ada0-de8195970200
Item ID: 8bec576f-3037-4fc2-ada0-de8195970200
Author Username: Fugu_Vibes
Licensee: Mike Pileggi
License Name: Envato
License Date: July 28th, 2026
Item License Code: PUZ5BXDTR7