The war in Iran is having an enormous impact on our work here with the Iranian refugees. The internet in that country has been shut down for weeks (to curtail any coordination of a potential uprising against the government) and so our parishioners have limited contact with their families back home, even though they are still able to place long-distance calls the old-fashioned way. To be sure, their government is listening in on these phone calls. As you might have heard, anyone who steps out onto the street in Iran is considered to be an Israeli spy and can be shot on site by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, the “gangsters” who run the country. Needless to say, our parishioners are very fearful for their families and friends. Several parishioners have already lost loved ones. All of this keeps our people so preoccupied and, in some cases, depressed, that worship attendance has been down in recent weeks, although it did bounce back up last Sunday. In sync with the vast majority of Iranians around the world, even in their homeland, our Iranian Lutheran congregation is extremely grateful for U.S. and Israeli Defense Force engagement, which they hope will topple their evil government. Here is what one parishioner recently wrote to our church WhatsApp group. “Do not forget that Iranians are the only nation in history who, in the past two weeks, cheered 250,000 people in Munich for Reza Pahlavi, and another crowd of 250,000 also cheered Senator [Lindsey] Graham. Inside Iran as well, people are thanking President Trump and Netanyahu right now. A nation that deeply loves Israel and America will certainly become the strongest friend and strategic ally of those countries.” So, Lula and I are now intertwined with our Iranian Lutheran congregation in two ways: as LCMS missionaries and also as American citizens. Unless you have loved ones serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, you might not notice that we live in extreme times. It is a strange thing to be indirectly tied to world history, even as we continue to spread the Gospel here in Hamburg. But we are grateful that our Lord controls all of history, and however He guides it is always for our best, even though we might not understand the ups and downs from our very limited point of view. On a different note, I am wrapping up the two courses that I taught at Luther Academy this academic year, and now also serve as “Area Visitor West,” mentoring our LCMS missionaries and alliance missionaries in Western Europe. *** In the meantime, thank you so much for your continued love and support. It is a privilege for Lula and me to serve on your behalf, out here on the front lines. God bless you all!
The Tiews in Germany 