Countries have been closing their borders to Iran due to fear about the coronavirus COVID-19, and it’s throwing a wrench in ministry efforts to the country.
Last week, we reported the peak and decline of COVID-19 in China. However, the virus has picked up steam in some other parts of the world, especially Europe and the Middle East. Now, Iran has the highest number of coronavirus-related deaths outside China.
This is a problem for Bibles For The World, says Vice President Jeff McLinden. Iran’s new year is March 20, and many Iranians leave the country to celebrate. He says, “They often travel outside the country and go places where they can find parties to attend. They drink, they enjoy themselves. They’ll bring their entire family, let their hair down and basically find a way to celebrate their new year without the authorities watching them as closely as they do in Iran.”
Bibles For The World is involved with a plan to reach the revelers while they are partying outside Iran. McLinden says, “They’re going to be meeting with people in coffee shops. They’re going to be providing written Scriptures for them. And they’re going to be providing SD cards with the Gospel on them and copies of the Jesus film in Farsi.”
But the outbreak of COVID-19 has thrown a wrench into the plan. What McLinden doesn’t know is whether Iran will completely close their borders, keeping their citizens from leaving the country at all.
SOURCE: Mission Network News, Kevin Zeller
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