Padina’s Journey: From Despair to New Life in Christ

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Hopelessness grips many in Iran today. With one of the highest suicide rates in the world, countless Iranians feel abandoned by Allah and left without purpose. For one young woman named Padina, that despair nearly ended her life.

From childhood, Padina devoted herself to Islam. She recited the daily prayers, and before she went to school she would memorize the Quran. She was taught that Christians were enemies of Allah and actually enjoyed hearing about Christians being persecuted. She was always told that killing a Christian earned a one-way ticket to Heaven.

She worked very hard to follow every rule of Islam. So much so, that if she was in the middle of praying and thought she hadn’t washed correctly, she would stop in the middle of her prayer, wash correctly, and start all over again. This would often happen ten times in one prayer session.

Yet the harder she tried to follow the rules, the more distant Allah felt. As her mother grew gravely ill with multiple sclerosis, Padina sank deeper into depression. Together, they planned to end their lives.

But one night, while Padina prepared to carry out her plan, her mother turned on a live satellite broadcast of Iran Alive Ministries. On the screen, Dr. Hormoz Shariat spoke directly to the brokenhearted: “If you are hopeless … if you are planning to commit suicide … stop. The Lord has a hope and a future for you. If you are planning to kill yourself, stop and contact us.”

Her mother called the program and spoke to him for half an hour. Meanwhile, Padina was resolutely making her plans. When she realized that her mother was repenting and saying the prayer of salvation, she became furious with her mother.

But her mom said, “Now you are going to Hell. Please Padina! Talk to him about Jesus.”

Angrily, Padina took the phone and told Dr. Shariat, “Your Jesus can do nothing for me. I am going to kill myself.” For over an hour, she resisted every word of encouragement that he spoke to her.

Then came a challenge that would change everything: Give Jesus just one chance. You can always kill yourself next week.

Padina reluctantly agreed. She would “test” Jesus for seven days. If nothing changed, she vowed to return live on air, denounce Christianity, and take her own life.

The very next morning, Padina witnessed the impossible: her mother, once crippled by MS, was walking perfectly. She couldn’t believe it, yet the doctors confirmed that the disease had vanished. It was a miracle!

“What Imam did you pray to?” they asked.

“It wasn’t an Imam,” Padina replied. “It was Jesus.”

When Padina said those words, her heart changed. At that moment she gave her life to Christ. “You are the living God. You cleansed me and filled me. I’ll give up my life for you.”

Today, Padina and her mother follow Jesus boldly, even though converting from Islam in Iran is punishable by death. They risk their lives by ministering in Iran’s underground church.

A Movement of Transformation in Iran

Iran Alive Ministries not only shares the Gospel into Iran through satellite, but also disciples new believers, supports underground churches, and provides counseling and prayer for those in crisis.

Padina’s story is just one among thousands. Through Iran Alive Ministries’ Gospel centric broadcasts and discipleship efforts, more than 117,000 Iranian Muslims have decided to follow Jesus since the beginning of this ministry in 2001. Many are now part of an underground church movement transforming Iran from within. The nation is desperate for hope. And right now, their hearts are open to the Gospel like never before.

How You Can Help

Padina’s story is powerful—but she is not alone. Thousands of men and women in Iran area searching for hope, secretly tuning in to broadcasts that could change their eternity. Every time Iran Alive Ministries goes on the air, hearts are touched, lives are transformed, and the underground church is strengthened.

Every broadcast, every answered phone call, every testimony of transformation is possible because of friends and partners who give generously. Your partnership helps bring the Gospel to millions of Iranians like Padina—people on the brink of despair who are ready to encounter and follow Jesus.

Now is the time. Iran is hungry for truth, and the window of opportunity is open. Together, we can bring hope to a nation in despair and ignite a movement that could transform the entire Middle East.

Together, we can make history.

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