The beginning
About thirty months ago there were three, today (2003) there are one hundred and sixty people worshipping at the Iranian Church in Glasgow.
My second meeting with my brothers and sisters at the Iranian church was on Sunday 24th August 2003. I experienced a real move of God; a move that I have not felt in a long time.
Although the service was in the Persian tongue I had no problem understanding what was being said for seated on my left hand side was “Samantha”.
This sister was to be my own personal interpreter throughout the entire proceedings.
The meeting was in progress when I arrived at 2:30pm. It finished at 5:15pm.
The worship was sincere, honest, and genuine.
God was glorified, and honoured. The testimonies were remarkable and uplifting.
Truly God was on the move in this church.
The pastor
My first meeting with pastor Feridoon Mokhof was on 23rd August 2003 in a church in Glasgow where he was taking the Bible study.
Feridoon is a sincere brother who appears to have a real zeal for souls among the Muslim community. The study started at 9:30am and, with a break for lunch and a discussion, continued until 5:30pm. The hunger of these people for God’s Word is truly remarkable.
It puts a great many long-established Christian churches to shame.
Pagan Scotland
A recent poll in Scotland showed that the country is now pagan.
I therefore thank God for the ministry of pastor Feridoon Mokhof because Scotland badly needs the godly influence of these Persian brothers and sisters in Christ.
Truly they are an oasis in a barren land; salt to a decaying society, and light to a darkened people. I for one thank God with all my heart for their presence in my country.
With an asset like this, Scotland surely has to be the better off.
I have to admit that when I first went to visit them it was in my mind that they were a young inexperienced church and perhaps they were in need of guidance.
But having witnessed their zeal for Jesus I am convinced that it is we, the established church, that is in need of guidance from them.
Pastor Feridoon Mokhof by the grace of God is a very able leader and preacher.
With so much negativity being printed about Muslims (and perhaps with good cause) it is refreshing to see how God is moving among this people. God truly can save to the uttermost.
Praise His wonderful name.
Recent visit
(April 2004) I arrived at the Glasgow church on a Saturday around mid-day when the meeting was about to end.
I counted twenty in attendance and wondered at the low turnout until I was told that they were all Muslims who had come along to pastor Feridoon’s Bible study.
This meeting for Islamic people is only one of several functions that take place on Saturdays.
The meeting began at 9:30am and finished around 8:30pm.
In fact the church has grown from the one hundred and sixty to two hundred regular worshippers with an additional one hundred Muslims who attend the Bible study on a regular basis.
Two hundred converted Persian Muslims in two years and God is not finished yet.
Please pray that God will strengthen pastor Mokhof and his co-workers.
Pray that God will continue to add to the church such as should be saved.
Feridoon is a remarkable young man; his zeal for God is truly amazing.
Here is a man who travels all the way from Surrey in England to Glasgow in Scotland every week by bus to tend his flock.
He spends two to three days with them before returning home to his family in Surrey.
What else does Feridoon do?
BIBLE TRANSLATION
Feridoon is busy with the translation of the Bible into Azeri for the Southern Azeri dialect, along with several minority languages of many millions of speakers in Iran.
The text of the NT along with its audio version is available at www.korpu.net
You will find the text of Gilaki NT, which is another people group language of Iran at www.shalizar.net.
Radio programs
Over the years Feridoon has been responsible for the production, translation, and recording of more than 650 radio programs in Azeri.
These have been broadcast into central Asia for at least 12 years by FEBA.
You can have access to these programs and the other Azeri resource materials for Iran region on www.korpu.net
At the request of Scottish church leaders in Glasgow, Feridoon planted the Glasgow Iranian Church, which has grown from a few people to 200 plus the 100 or so unconverted Muslims in the last two years.
The travel cost of pastoring an asylum-seekers church has not been easy, but the fruit is clearly evident.
Rich in Christ but financially poor
Although they are rich in Christ the Iranian church in Glasgow, Scotland have precious little funds of their own and depend upon the kindness of a local Christian church, which allows them to use their buildings to meet.
They are also in need of Bibles in the Persian tongue and children’s Christian books in English.
If any one reading this little article feels led to help, you can reach Pastor Feridoon Mokhof at contact@gichurch.org
I am sure he would be pleased to hear from you.
Pray much for this work in the city of Glasgow.
Pray for Feridoon and his family.
ALEX LENNOX can be contacted by email: al_e_x63@yahoo.co.uk
Found this information useful?
Web Site by
S & R Cope in association with
Appeared in Issue CETF NR 29 2004
"...contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" -- Jude v3
© Copyright 2006 Christian Witness Ministries, except where noted. All rights reserved
|
|
|
|
|
-Last revised-
Monday, October 09, 2006
