A message to you from Daniel Shayesteh about the Understanding and Freedom Project

There is a thirst for Christ among Muslims! Many young Muslims who have seen a little of Islam and who also have access to western media are feeling exhausted and are searching for an alternative; they want to invest their lives for freedom and peace.

Imagine what life is like for those Muslims who live in strict Islamic countries like Iran or Afghanistan, where freedom is called evil and a product of the West. As a result many young people are thirsty for freedom and desperate for a radical solution that will turn their painful lives around. I thank Jesus that he is using me to respond to this deep thirst. The Understanding and Freedom Project enables me to do more broadcasts in Farsi (Persian), Arabic, Turkish and many other dominate languages that Muslims speak throughout the world.

By responding to this deep thirst, through producing videos that share my testimony and teachings about Jesus, we can touch their hearts and lead them to an everlasting freedom in Christ. We teach that unless a person becomes free in his or her heart from sin, they will not be able to be free in life and in relationship with others. Freedom begins in the heart, flourishing into every other dimension of life.

Let me tell you some stories that show why the Understanding and Freedom Project is so important.

A young man, whose family lost a great deal under the rule and terrorism of the Taliban (a Sunni group in Afghanistan), was able to escape to Iran. He soon discovered that what the Taliban performed in the name of Islam was also taught and performed by the Islamic Government in Iran.

He realized that Islam’s goal was not to grant confidence, peace or freedom to people. Rather Islam’s goal was to interfere in every affair of their lives and to rid them of their freedom of choice. One day when he was feeling disappointed with his life and every other thing, he turned on his TV and randomly listened to one of our TV presentations. He was amazed to hear from us that the God of the Bible values human freedom and does not impose Himself on His creation. To make a long story short, I can tell you that he left Iran in order to find a better quality of life. He finally met a Christian group, read the Gospel of Christ and gave his life to the Lord.

Another man, 33 years of age, called our live TV program from Iran and shared with us his frustration as a practicing Muslim. He was a committed Muslim because of the pressure placed on him by his father, as is often the case in Islamic countries. He told us that he has been praying to Allah for years but has not been allowed to express his needs and desires to Allah in his own mother language (Farsi). Rather it is compulsory to recite the Islamic daily prayers in Arabic only. He said that the years of conversations between him and his god had not been intimate as he and his god did not understand each other.

“Do you understand how frustrated I am since my god hates my mother language and I am not able to express myself to him in the language I know?” he said. He began to cry and said, “I see that you call your God your Father; He calls you His children and you and your God communicate in your mother language; what an intimate relationship! I desire for such an understandable conversation with God. Is this a good time for me to give my heart to Jesus and overcome my frustration and disappointment?” While we were all crying in the studio, we asked him to repeat a prayer of confession in Christ with us. He did and gave his heart to the Lord. The joy of his salvation filled our program and millions of Muslims in the world heard his testimony.

For the cause of our ministry, we have faced many oppositions. Yet we are very joyful in our hearts that Jesus has given us this opportunity to lead Muslims to His Kingdom. For this reason, we ask you to take steps of faith with us, to continue partnering alongside us and rejoicing with us in this amazing ministry for God’s glory.

Daniel Shayesteh