Jesus at home and Islam outside – the double life of Christian children in Iran: Mission Network News

By Joanne Khmel

Iran (MNN) — For a Christian child growing up in Iran, the key is understanding Truth.

At school, Christian children must live double lives. Home is the only safe place to explore real truth, while outside, Islamic ideology dominates.

Lana Silk from Transform Iran says, “All material has a flavor of Islam. You know, even if you’re doing math or the arts.”

Beyond regular subjects, students take religious classes to learn Islam and Arabic so they can recite Namaz and become proper Muslims. Even familiar Bible stories are rewritten through an Islamic lens.

“They have to be able to talk about the Islamic version at school, play along, and pretend that’s their reality — all while keeping the differences straight in their minds and not mixing them up. It’s a lot of pressure on the children,” explains Silk.

At home, Christian parents try to keep their children grounded in Scripture, but many lack training. That’s where Transform Iran steps in.

“We do a lot of ministry that focuses on children and have created resources focused on children to give parents the tools they need to help instill these foundations in their children at a young age, so that they grow up knowing the truth,” says Silk.

Whenever possible, the ministry organizes discreet gatherings — every few weeks or monthly — in small home groups led by trained teachers who use age-appropriate, biblically based materials.

For many children, the difference between truth and falsehood is tangible.

“They experience the love of God very early in their lives in Christian homes, and particularly in Iran’s toxic climate, they recognize that at home there is joy and peace — something lacking outside their home,” says Silk.

Yet this double life takes a toll. Many children struggle with anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem as they navigate two conflicting worlds. They need your prayers.

Pray for Iranian parents to wisely guide their children through the emotional strain of their environment. Pray for children to hold fast to the truth they know at home.

Learn more about how Transform Iran equips families and children to live faithfully in one of the world’s most challenging environments.

Read more about how Transform Iran is reaching the children of Iran

Header photo courtesy of Mohammad Moslehi via Unsplash.

Inset Photos: Sama Kindergarten and Elementary School and First day of Iranian new education year (both photos courtesy of Sonia Sevilla via Wikimedia Commons).

Originally published on: Mission Network News