Iranian Christians, ICE Raids, and the Cost of Following Jesus with Ara Torosian

About this episode

The episode discusses the challenges faced by Iranian Christians and the implications of following Jesus amidst political pressures.

What does it mean to follow Jesus when governments demand your allegiance, your silence, or your fear? In this episode of The Bad Roman Project, Craig sits down with Ara Torosian, an Iranian-born Armenian pastor who grew up under the Islamic Republic of Iran, served in the underground church, and now pastors Iranian Christians in Los Angeles. Ara shares his journey from reading the Bible in Farsi as a teenager to smuggling Bibles, enduring house arrest, and witnessing the explosive growth of Christianity in Iran. He explains why many Western Christians misunderstand both Iran and the Iranian people, and why the underground church continues to thrive despite decades of persecution. The conversation also turns to the present. Ara discusses Iranian Christian asylum seekers detained by ICE, the challenges facing refugees fleeing persecution, and the responsibility Christians have to speak for those who have no voice. Along the way, Craig and Ara wrestle with difficult questions about war, government power, national loyalty, and what it means to follow Jesus when political solutions seem inadequate. At the heart of the discussion is a reminder that the Christian's ultimate citizenship…

People in this episode

Host: Craig Harguess

Guest: Ara Torosian

Topics covered

• Christianity
• Persecution
• Asylum Seekers
• Government Power
• Faith and Politics
• Iranian Christians

Keywords

• Iranian Christians
• ICE Raids
• Persecution
• Christian Asylum Seekers
• Underground Church
• Faith
• Government
• Citizenship

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Islamic Republic of Iran, ICE

Places: Iran, Los Angeles, Kingdom of God

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