Our Story

A Legacy of Faith: The Story Behind Transform Iran

Lazarus and Maggie Yeghnazar were born and raised in Iran and have served the Iranian Church their whole lives. In 1988, they felt the call of God to move their young family west. This was a decision they wrestled with, as their hearts were tied to Iran and the increasingly persecuted Church there. In their own words, “we did not want to abandon our flock”. However, through a series of supernatural interventions, God made it clear to them and to pastors they respect, that He had a different plan for them.

A Prophetic Mandate

In obedience, they left for Europe in 1988. After their move, God spoke:

The Church in Iran is soon to be driven underground. But one day Iran will be open to the gospel. Your mission is to help the Iranian Church prepare for this opening and the harvest it will bring. Raise leaders who can pass on the baton and raise others. Prepare the workers. Get the people ready!

Uniting a Scattered Church

They began by drawing together the growing number of Iranian Christians emigrating west, reuniting and re-envisioning them for their country, Iran. In 1991, they gathered a large number of scattered Iranian Christians for a conference in Denmark. This became a significant time of fellowship and discipleship as they prayed and heard from God together. As the community grew, Lazarus and Maggie saw the need to establish a common name to unite all the parts. As they prayed, they felt God impress ‘2, 2, 2’ on their hearts. They searched the Bible and found that 2 Timothy 2:2 clearly stated the vision of the ministry they had been given:

…and the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.

This was to be a ministry that saw, envisioned, commissioned and equipped people into ministry towards Iran. People that would then do the same for others—and so the work was named ‘222 Ministries’.

For over three decades, they worked and served together as 222 Ministries, growing in impact and in vision. In 2022, it became clear that though discipleship and leadership development were still core to the work, the vision had grown to see transformation throughout Iran.

In November 2022 ‘222 Ministries’ became ‘Transform Iran’ and the 100+ churches across the network came under the banner of ‘222 Churches’, remembering the mandate to disciple people who will disciple others as the Church expands.

A Movement That Multiplies

Transform Iran continues to train leaders to plant churches that aim to transform the nation of Iran. Through this ministry, and by the grace of God, churches have been established in 17 nations including hundreds of underground churches in Iran and seven in Afghanistan. More than 100,000 have become followers of Christ, thousands have been directly discipled, and thousands of leaders have been trained and released into ministry.

Innovating to Reach Every Layer of Society

Transform Iran has pioneered a wide range of strategic initiatives and is honored to have paved the way for many other ministries as together we serve the nation of Iran. These include Farsi language Christian TV, Farsi language digital Church, Farsi language apologetics, Farsi Christian news, as well as a wide range of other activities that ensure every aspect of society in Iran is reached with the powerful message of the Gospel.

Meet the Founders

LAZARUS

A pioneer. A strategist. A leader who sees what must be done—and acts.

Lazarus Yeghnazar was born in Tehran, Iran in 1949 to an Armenian Christian family. At the age of six he saw a vision of Jesus and committed his life to His service. At 21, Lazarus was ordained as an elder at the Central Jamaate Rabani Church in Tehran and appointed as a member of the General Leadership of these churches across Iran.

At 23, despite the fact that he taught himself English, Lazarus became the head of the translation department of the Ministry of War in Iran, and the official translator for the Vice Minister of War in Iran.

He was imprisoned twice before he was 25 for preaching the gospel in different cities in Iran (during the time of the Shah). He had an official audience with the King and Queen of Iran at the age of 27. Years later, by special invitation, he met and prayed with the crowned prince Reza Pahlavi (then in exile).

After the Islamic Revolution, when the hostages were captured at the American Embassy, he was the only one called upon to conduct Christmas and Easter services for the hostages.

Lazarus also established Pars Link, one of the frontrunning electronics engineering firms in Iran and became a successful international businessman. At 30, he founded and led the first Tehran chapter of the Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship International.

In 1988, after the end of the eight-year war between Iran and Iraq, Lazarus and Maggie felt God’s leading to leave Iran and settle in Europe. In 1991 they established 222 Ministries in obedience to the call of God. In 2022 ‘222 Ministries’ became ‘Transform Iran’ to better communicate the expanded vision they had received from the Lord. In 2026, Lazarus handed the leadership of Transform Iran to his daughter, Lana, continuing on to serve as Overseer of 222 Churches. In his new role, Lazarus dedicates his time to raising, training, mentoring and releasing gifted pastors and overseeing the hundreds of churches across the Transform Iran network.

Lazarus has a strategic pioneering spirit. He sees what is happening and what needs to be done and has the courage and voice to lead where others may hesitate to go.

MAGGIE

A teacher. A theologian. A voice shaping generations.

Maggie Yeghnazar (née Minassian) was born in Tehran, Iran in 1953, to an Armenian, nominally Christian family. At the age of ten she accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior and became absorbed into all aspects of spiritual life and service in the newly established Iranian Church in Tehran.

From her teenage years, Maggie has committed herself to serving wherever there was a need. Her main passion has always been studying and teaching the word of God—an area of great gifting. She has taught in various Bible schools, conferences and TV programs both inside and outside Iran, sourced and translated countless books to edify the body, and developed strategic groundbreaking discipleship courses for the growing Church in Iran.

An ordained minister herself, she is one of frontrunning female voices in the Iranian Church and has paved the way for many women to stand up and be counted in the mission. She continues to inspire and mentor men and women across Iran and the Iranian Diaspora to follow the call of God on their lives.

In 1991 she co-founded 222 Ministries with Lazarus, where she has served as Board Member, Bible College Director, Women’s Director, and Publications Director. Today she leads the way as Theology and Curriculum Director, ensuring all the growing products and programs at Transform Iran continue to be deeply rooted in accurate biblical teaching.

Maggie has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from Damavand College in Tehran, Iran and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Bible and Theology.

She is a gifted, groundbreaking, pioneering leader, teacher and mentor, with a passion for the Word of God.

Meet the President & CEO

LANA

A bridge between generations. A leader for such a time as this.

Lana was born on ‘Black Friday’ in Iran (8 September, 1978)—the day that took the greatest fatalities as Iranians desperately marched and fought to establish an Islamic rule in Iran. She spent her early years growing up in an increasingly ‘Islamic’ Iran, where she was forced to shout ‘Death to America! Death to Israel!’ every day before her school day would begin. After the family emigrated to Europe in July 1988, Lana felt her heart was left behind. She carried a deep conviction: Her future was tied to Iran.

She continued to faithfully read her Bible in Farsi, knowing that one day the Lord would call her to serve the nation she loves so deeply.

At the age of fifteen, on the day Lana was baptized in water, the Lord impressed this calling yet again when the church was shaken by the news of the martyrdom of their close friend and respected Iranian leader Rev Haik Hovsepian Mehr.

The Lord spoke clearly to Lana:

Let this be a reminder to you that what you have just done, is declare publicly that you will follow me fully and completely no matter what the cost. This is an all-or-nothing kind of faith that I am calling you to.

She completed her education in the UK, earning an honors degree in Computer Engineering and graduate studies in Marketing Communication Strategy and Mental Health & Safeguarding in Youth. She spent two decades honing her skills in organizational leadership, strategy and communications in the corporate world. In January 2022, after years of volunteering in various capacities, Lana stepped in as Transform Iran’s U.S. CEO and in January 2026, she assumed the role of President & CEO of the global organization.

Today, Lana actively advocates for the freedom and transformation of Iran. She is passionate about equipping the Body of Christ to walk in their full identity and inheritance, living lives of supernatural power and authority while engaged in global missions. Having served as a church minister, worship leader and college chaplain, Silk is now focused on seeing God’s purposes fulfilled in Iran, helping resource and strengthen the fastest-growing underground Church.