In this very difficult time for all Iranians and Afghans, in which the Iranian and Afghan governments, hated by the vast majority of the population, are still clinging to power, it is not surprising that a sense of hopelessness is also affecting our Persian congregants here in Hamburg. As such, from late spring into early summer, the average attendance at our Sunday Persian services at Zion Hamburg fell to sometimes fewer than twenty people. Before the current Iran war, which began at the end of February, however, we almost always had thirty people at the service, and sometimes even close to forty.
Unfortunately, we also saw a similar decline in our new Baptism classes. Normally, we can always welcome five to eight people to the Baptism class. This has been the case for years. But this spring and early summer, we did not have a single new visitor who was interested in Baptism.
Thanks be to God, however, the situation in both areas—the number of people attending worship and the number of Baptismal candidates—appears to be taking a turn for the better. We thank our Lord that, since July, attendance at the Persian service at Zion Congregation has increased again and that we have been able to return somewhat to normal, presumably because, especially during this very difficult time for them, they remembered to value God’s Word and the spiritual strengthening given by the Gospel and the true body and true blood of our Lord in the Lord’s Supper. Moreover, we are delighted to report that we once again have five people in our newest Baptism class. In other words, our triune God stands by us in every circumstance of life: in times of joy, but also in times of fear and hopelessness.
May the Lord continue to protect our Persian congregation here in Hamburg and also cause it to grow. And may He also bring about the disappearance of the inhumane governments in Iran and Afghanistan soon, so that religious freedom may finally take hold and Christianity may flourish.
Finally, we can report another piece of very good news. We now have three men from our Iranian congregation enrolled at Riga Luther Academy (the online seminary at which I teach). Lula recorded two videos of them telling their stories: Siavash and Rayan). These men, too, look forward to the freedom that will one day come to their homeland. And when that day comes, with God’s help and your continued support, they hope to be prepared to serve as the very first Persian Lutheran pastors ever, bringing Jesus Christ to their fellow citizens in Word and Sacrament, either in Germany or in a free Iran.
Thank you so much for your continued love and support, which makes all this possible. It is a privilege for Lula and me to serve on your behalf, out here on the front lines.
God bless you all!
Pastor Tiews and Lula
You can watch videos telling their stories here: Siavash and Rayan
The Tiews in Germany 