Facing Death for Faith
It is our religious duty, as long as the door of God’s mercy is open, to convince evildoers to turn from their sinful ways and find refuge in Him.” About three weeks after Dibaj made his defense, the court declared him guilty of apostasy for abandoning Islam and embracing Christianity. They ordered his death. Dibaj had been a disciple of Jesus for forty-five years when the court condemned him to die. Outraged by Dibaj’s death sentence, an Armenian minister, Bishop Haik Hovsepian, told the media about what he viewed as an unfathomable injustice. He thought that if enough public pressure were placed on Islamic authorities, they might overturn Dibaj’s sentence.
A Short-Lived Freedom
He knew the effort created great risk. “If we go to jail or die for our faith,” he said, “we want the whole Christian world to know what is happening to their Christian brothers and sisters.” On January 16, 1994, Hovsepian’s efforts bore fruit. Dibaj was released. But the joyous celebration was short lived. Only three days later, Hovsepian went missing. Weeks passed before authorities reported that he had been killed.
Martyrdom Inspires Many
Muslim extremists also killed Rev. Tateos Michaelian, Hovsepian’s replacement as chairman of the Council of Protestant Ministers. But what the Islamic authorities believed would silence and intimidate the global church, especially Muslim converts to Christianity, ended up doing the opposite. These martyrdoms drew the attention of more Iranians to the gospel and led to an increasing number of conversions from Islam to Christianity. Today more Muslims are coming to Christ than ever before in the history of the church. Yes, there is joy in giving up everything for Jesus. Then, five months later, Dibaj was abducted and killed on his way to his daughter’s birthday.
THE END
Date: 27th December 2025
Martyr: Mehdi Dibaj
Location: Iran
Source: The Voice of the Martyrs “I am n”
Author: Not specified
Suffering Saturday 175
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