How Christ Transformed a Former Iranian Revolution Leader With Dr. Shayesteh
From The Missions Show by Alex Kocman and Scott Dunford
April 26, 2026 · 29 min
About this episode
Dr. Daniel Shayesteh shares his transformative journey from a radical Muslim to a follower of Christ.
In this episode of The Missions Show, Alex and Scott sit down with Dr. Daniel Shayesteh. Dr. Shayesteh shares his powerful journey from a radical Muslim involved in the Iranian Revolution to a follower of Christ. Raised in a devout Islamic context that viewed Christianity as corrupt, he rose to prominence as a religious figure and political activist under Ayatollah Khomeini. But after witnessing deception and oppression, he became disillusioned, was imprisoned, and narrowly escaped execution before fleeing Iran. In Turkey, Shayesteh’s academic studies and unexpected encounters with Christians began to reshape his worldview. Drawn initially by practical needs, he encountered the love, freedom, and relational nature of God in Christianity, ultimately leading to his conversion. His story highlights the transforming power of the gospel and challenges believers to engage Muslims with truth and compassion. Dr. Daniel Shayesteh leads the ministry Exodus From Darkness. Key Topics: Background in Islam and role in the Iranian Revolution Disillusionment with Khomeini’s regime Escape from Iran and life in Turkey Comparative study of religions Encounters with Christians and conversion…
People in this episode
Hosts: Alex Kocman, Scott Dunford
Guest: Dr. Daniel Shayesteh
Topics covered
- Islam
- Iranian Revolution
- Christian conversion
- Missions
- Religious disillusionment
- Engaging Muslims
Keywords
- Iran
- Christianity
- gospel
- religious conversion
- Khomeini
- Muslim engagement
- freedom
- love of God
Sponsors
Oak Park Tables
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Exodus From Darkness
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