Giving Tuesday: Reza and Bahar

Reza and Bahar both grew up as Afghan refugees in Iran. Both were raised Muslim and followed Islamic customs and expectations. As a young man, Reza began to question the Islamic faith and the Koran—eventually forming a Facebook page called Atheists and Agnostics.

After being challenged by a friend who was a new believer to read the Gospels, Reza concluded that if he was questioning the Koran, he should do the same for the Gospels—also “one of those religious books that is probably full of lies.” He read in Matthew 7 of the father who gives his child what they ask for (bread, not a stone) and, as a father himself, was impacted by the love of the father. Through reading Scripture, the witness of his friend, and a dream that seemed like a meeting with Jesus, Reza chose to follow Christ.

Iran was becoming more hostile to Afghans, so Reza and Bahar moved to Turkey. Bahar was much more devout in her Islamic faith; she was concerned as she watched her husband’s faith in Christ grow. While in Turkey, Reza invited her to an Iranian church. She went reluctantly, not looking forward to encountering more Iranians. Instead of hostility, she found a welcoming community. Their prayer, worship, and relationship with God were deeply moving; Bahar, too, chose to believe in Christ.

While in Turkey, Reza and Bahar became involved in the church and were discipled, baptized, and equipped to serve. Through social media, they discipled new believers in Afghanistan. Reza felt God’s pull to return to Afghanistan to minister. Bahar took longer to convince, but a year and a half later, they returned to Afghanistan.

During the two years they served in Afghanistan, they moved three times due to threats, culminating with the Taliban arriving at their door looking for a man named Daniel—Reza’s pseudonym.

The work in Afghanistan was dangerous and difficult but immensely rewarding. During the two years they served, they moved three times due to threats, culminating with the Taliban arriving at their door looking for a man named Daniel—Reza’s pseudonym. They decided to leave. After several failed attempts, they landed in a refugee camp in Abu Dhabi. Reza and Bahar had expected to be relocated quickly, so the year spent in the camp was stressful. Through friends, they were introduced to a church that wanted to sponsor them—Blumenort Community Church.

Bahar and Reza (centre) arrive with their family.

“When we heard this, we were overwhelmed with joy. We had been so overcome with worry as to what would happen to us, so the news that a church would sponsor us made us so happy. This was from God, that a church would invite us, sponsor us. That day was a day of thanksgiving!”

Reza and Bahar, along with their three children and a brother, are the first family to arrive in Canada as part of our Christian Afghan refugee project—and more are coming! Eight to ten EMC churches are in the process of sponsoring Christian Afghan families.

The window to sponsor these families is closing faster than we would like, and there are many more in need. Would you consider exploring with your church if sponsorship is something God is calling you to? This Giving Tuesday, we are also raising funds to provide EMC churches with seed money as they sponsor Afghan refugees. Would you consider donating to this project? Donate at www.emconference.ca/givingtuesday or by contacting the office.

Watch for the rest of Reza and Bahar’s story in the next issue of The Messenger!

*This story is written by Ruth from an interview between her, Arley Loewen, and Reza and Bahar.