Leadership Development

Raising Leaders to Transform Iran

Transform Iran is committed to developing leaders that will transform Iran and the surrounding region. Our work centers on the three core pillars of evangelism, discipleship and transformation.

At the heart of our discipleship model is leadership development. We believe true discipleship always leads to multiplication – every disciple is called to lead in some capacity and to impact others for the Kingdom of God.

Discipleship That Reproduces

We believe every follower of Jesus is entrusted with influence:

“And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.” 2 Timothy 2:2

Not all are called to traditional leadership roles, but all are called to life-long growth, spiritual maturity, and fruitful impact. That’s why our senior pastors are always asking: What is this person’s calling? How can I help them become all that God has called them to be? How do I equip and release them into their own mission field?

Leadership Development in Action

And so discipleship flows into leadership development. Disciples making disciples. Leaders raising leaders. Each maturing and passing what they have learnt on to others. This is how we see God’s Kingdom advance.

Transform Iran provides strategic leadership development to both emerging and seasoned leaders. Our model includes personalized mentoring, immersive training, and an array of practical tools and resources that equip leaders for fruitful ministry, as they grow in anointing and in maturity.

Mentoring

Senior pastors walk alongside leaders 1:1, discipling and equipping them to lead ministries, plant churches, and multiply other leaders.

Leadership Training Events

Emerging leaders and leaders of underground house churches are invited to week-long intensive training weeks where they dive deep into the Word, learn essential leadership skills and build community with others serving across the Transform Iran network. These training and equipping events build up, support and grow the underground church in Iran and are run in secure locations in the Middle East. Thousands have been trained and developed in this way.

This training expanded my vision, deepened my passion, and gave me practical steps to serve others and guide them toward faith. I’m more motivated than ever to help build faithful, committed disciples of Christ.

Online Bible College

A free online Bible course in Farsi, our online Bible College (with almost 1,000 active registered students) removes the cost barriers to such in-depth study of the Word, and offers clear, well-prepared theological lessons, scaling in depth, to help Farsi speaking Christians mature in their faith and equip them for ministry.

Tools to Equip and Strengthen Leaders

Apologetics: Porpasokh

‘Porpasokh’ means ‘Question & Answer’ and that is the heart of our apologetics center. Transform Iran’s Porpasokh site draws tens of thousands of visitors each month and engages directly with the questions of those still trying to understand certain aspects of faith and theology. Answers are published on the site for others to benefit. To date more than 5,900 answers have been published and many have been strengthened in their faith as a result. As well as a powerful tool for evangelism, Porpasokh also supports young pastors who rely on the resource to help them answers questions their converts are asking them.

Freedom in Christ

We partnered with the wonderful authors of the Freedom in Christ course, translated the material to Farsi, and adapted and expanded it for an Iranian audience. This is a critical Bible-based discipleship and deliverance tool for Christians, ensuring churches grow healthy through personal breakthrough, freedom and fruitfulness for believers. To date, more than 1,600 have completed it. All leaders at Transform Iran complete this course as part of their own personal development and growth.

222 Publications

Transform Iran protects the doctrinal integrity of the Church in Iran by providing a wide range of Bible-based resources (printed and digital) through its publishing house, 222 Publications. 222 Publications identifies gaps in printed and digital media for the Farsi speaking church and publishes the materials needed to meet those gaps for a growing global church. 222 Publications does this as close to cost price as possible in order to ensure maximum accessibility of these resources for those who need them.

Bible Translation: A Foundation for Leadership

Some 26 million Iranians still lack access to the Word of God in their own heart language. While the primary goal of our Bible translation work is evangelism and early discipleship, heart language Scriptures also play a vital role in leadership development. When believers can fully grasp the depth and meaning of God’s Word in their native language, they are better equipped to study it deeply, teach it effectively, and lead others with confidence. This leads to stronger, more enduring churches that bring real transformation to their communities.

Lifelong Commitment to Kingdom Growth

At Transform Iran, leadership is not about titles or positions – it’s about lives transformed, churches planted, and nations impacted for Jesus.

“Thank you for how you have poured into my life and stuck with me all these years. I am forever grateful and committed to serving God to the best of my ability.”

Stories of Impact

Because Transform gives lots of people opportunities, people who might have been ‘small’ in the opinions or eyes of others, get the opportunity to really serve and grow here. And the result is a wonderful network of powerful leaders making a huge difference together!

I’ve seen in the church and in conferences how people are not kept down. They are trusted with the space to grow where they are. And QUICKLY these young disciples turn to potential leaders. I have benefited from this myself! I came to know the Lord, was discipled, then within two years I had planted a church. Now I am serving as an overseeing pastor and ministry leader. Praise God!

There is a zeal and integrity amongst leadership here. No one is building individual kingdoms. We are united in a cause but it’s also not even about the work we do – it’s about the loving relationship we have with God and with one another. It is truly a community on mission together.