September 3, 2012 – The Peanut Gallery

September 3 | Iran – Give thanks to God for the openness of many (young) people for the gospel of Jesus Christ. Please pray that this new generation will find real hope and perspective in their lives.

Wikipedia has an extensive entry on Iran (click here) and describes the religious demographics as follows:

Religion in Iran is dominated by the Twelver Shia branch of Islam, which is the official state religion and to which about 90% to 95%[230][231][232] of Iranians belong. About 4% to 8% of Iranians belong to the Sunni branch of Islam, mainly Kurds and Iran’s Balochi Sunni. The remaining 2% are non-Muslim religious minorities, including Bahá’ís, Mandeans, Hindus, Yezidis, Yarsanis, Zoroastrians, Jews, and Christians.[21]

The latter three minority religions are officially recognized and protected, and have reserved seats in the Majlis (Parliament). However the Bahá’í Faith, Iran’s largest religious minority,[233] is not officially recognized, and has been persecuted during its existence in Iran. Since the 1979 revolution the persecution of Bahá’ís has increased with executions, the denial of civil rights and liberties, and the denial of access to higher education and employment.[234][235]

Hinduism in Iran has a history stretching back to the Middle Ages. Presently, Hindus are known to travel to Iran, but the vast majority consist of migrant workers from India. Out of Iran’s population of 68,017,860, there are 68,017 recorded Hindus, making them 0.1% of the total population.[236] Some of the poetry of Sohrab Sepehri shows Buddhist influence, and another major contemporary poet, Ahmad Shamlou, translated a book of Japanese haiku poetry into Persian.

Open Doors explains the plight of Iran’s 450,000 Christians click here.

UPDATE: Pastor Nadarkhani – click here – please pray for Pastor Nadarkhani and his family… and all believers who are imprisoned in Iran. For more on Pastor Nadarkhani – click here.

We loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. (1 Thes. 2:8)

So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing. In fact, the Father will show him how to do even greater works than healing this man. Then you will truly be astonished. For just as the Father gives life to those he raises from the dead, so the Son gives life to anyone he wants. In addition, the Father judges no one. Instead, he has given the Son absolute authority to judge, so that everyone will honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son is certainly not honoring the Father who sent him. John 5.19-23 NLT