Welcome to day 2 of the 2025 One With Them Challenge.
You might be aware that for Christians in Iran, the cost of faith is high. Some are arrested for holding Bible studies or sharing their faith. Others are accused of acting “against national security” simply for being part of a church. Many are sent to the notorious Evin prison in Tehran, where abuse is common.
Among them are people like Mina Khajav, sentenced to six years for “promoting Zionist Christianity” or Amir-Ali Minaei, a 31-year-old sentenced for helping run a house church.
These believers are not forgotten. We stand with them. Some are placed in solitary confinement. Alone in a dark cell, they face complete isolation. No human contact. No access to books. No light. No voice but their own. It’s just them, their thoughts, and the presence of God.
Today's Challenge
In solidarity, today’s challenge is solitary confinement. As an act of solidarity with Christians like Mina and Amir-Ali, your challenge today is to sit alone in a dark room for a set period of time. No phone. No lights. No music. No distractions.
Ten minutes. Thirty minutes. Maybe longer. You choose the amount of time but allow yourself to feel the weight of that silence.
This is a small taste of what believers in solitary confinement endure, not just physically, but spiritually. Use the time to reflect, to pray, or simply to sit in stillness before God.
Pray
It’s worth mentioning that if you look in your challenge booklet, you’ll notice that there’s an extra name listed as a prisoner in Iran, Laleh Saati. After we had designed and printed copies, we learned that she had been unexpectedly freed from captivity!
We rejoice at this miracle, and it’s a good reminder that our prayers really do work – as our founder, Brother Andrew used to say, there is no door closed to us when we pray, including cell doors.
Pray today for Christians like Mina or Amir-Ali imprisoned in Iran.