As we look back with gratitude over the past twenty years of Heart4Iran ministry through Mohabat TV, our hearts are full. What God has done in Iran and the surrounding region is nothing short of miraculous. We have witnessed many Iranians and Afghan Muslims come to faith, house churches multiply, families receive Bibles for the very first time, and countless men and women encounter the transforming love of Jesus. Every testimony, every phone call, every salvation story is a reminder that God is moving powerfully, even in the most restricted places.
And yet, none of this would have been possible without you. Your prayers, generosity, and unwavering belief in this mission have carried us through seasons of both great breakthrough and great challenge. You have stood with us, sowing into this ministry, and believed alongside us. For that, we are deeply grateful.
But as we celebrate these twenty years of impact, we also recognize that there is still much work to be done and we cannot do it without partners like you. Millions in Iran and the region are still waiting to hear the Gospel. Millions are hungry for truth, hope, and the Word of God. We believe that God has strategically positioned Mohabat TV “for such a time as this” to be a beacon of light in the midst of darkness. The harvest is ripe, and we are ready to go forth with boldness, creativity, and steadfast faith until all of Iran hears the Good News.
As we step into the next decade and beyond, we invite you to continue on this journey with us. If you have partnered with us before, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Your impact echoes in lives across the region. If you have never partnered with us before, we warmly invite you to join us now. Together, we can expand the reach of the Gospel, strengthen believers, and bring the hope of Christ to places where the Church is growing under great pressure and with great courage.
We stand on the promise of Scripture: “Look at the nations and watch, and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.” (Habakkuk 1:5) We believe this is exactly what God is doing in Iran today and that you are part of this promise.
As you read the inspiring journey of Mohabat TV and listen to the heartfelt testimonies of lives changed, we invite you to join us in prayer and support. Together, let’s embrace the incredible things that the Lord has in store for us in the days, months, and years to come.
Thank you for standing with us. Thank you for believing in this mission. Thank you for helping us bring the life-changing message of Jesus to Iran and the region, until every heart has heard.
With gratitude and hope, Heart4Iran Team and The Mohabat TV
THE VISION AND FOUNDATIONS: 1990’s-2005
In the 1990s, as satellite dishes began appearing on rooftops across Iran, international ministries started to dream. They realized that satellite television could reach Persian speakers inside the country, bypassing the restrictions that hindered traditional ministry methods. Satellite broadcasts were difficult to block or monitor at scale, making them a uniquely effective channel for sharing worship, teaching, and testimonies directly into homes where public church life was limited. Early experiments with diaspora-produced Farsi Christian programming confirmed that there was a real appetite for accessible spiritual content.
Seeing this opportunity, Mohabat’s founding leaders explored the bold idea of a dedicated Farsi-language Christian satellite channel. This exploration prompted consultations with Iranian Christian ministries to ensure that any future channel would faithfully serve the underground church and seekers both inside and outside Iran.
A major breakthrough came when a board member allocated a three-year seed fund specifically for launching a Farsi Christian channel, enabling immediate strategic planning, technical setup, and early content production. This ensured the new channel, later named Mohabat (“Agape love”), could begin with stable operations and consistent broadcasting.
Even in its formative stages, the ministry’s DNA emphasized coalition and cooperation. Iranian ministry partners were gathered to help shape content. This collaborative ethos would later be formalized under the Heart4Iran umbrella.
Mohabat TV, the satellite arm of Heart4Iran, is the story of a ministry born from strategic vision, collaborative partnerships, and a commitment to serving Persian-speaking seekers and believers through media, discipleship, and access to Scriptures. Its development spans several key phases: early vision, satellite launch, building follow-up systems, expanding discipleship tools, forming a global coalition, embracing digital transformation, and preparing for future outreach.
At Mohabat TV, we are a Christian media ministry focused on bringing the love and truth of Jesus Christ to Persian-speaking people around the world, especially those in restricted nations like Iran. We are a voice of hope, a bridge to the Gospel, and a companion to those seeking faith under pressure and persecution.
Our mission is to reach, disciple, and empower Iranians for Christ through media. We broadcast 24/7 satellite television in Farsi, produce culturally relevant Christian programming, and provide live trauma care and follow-up through a dedicated call center and social media team, connecting with thousands of viewers every year.
Our spiritual goals are clear:
• Evangelize through digital and TV outreach
• Disciple through teaching, mentorship, and follow-up
• Mobilize underground believers to form and lead home churches
In every interaction we aim to respond to viewers personally and promptly, affirming steps toward Christ and gently guiding when needed.
Our vision is to see a growing movement of Iranian Christ-followers who are rooted in Scripture, active in their communities, and courageous in sharing their faith.
We envision digital church gatherings, home fellowships, and trained local leaders all multiplying across Iran and the Persian diaspora.
Our vision is to equip every believer.
A Bible Arrived and God Spoke
A simple package arrived, but what it carried was far more than pages and ink. In a quiet moment, God met a searching heart through His living Word, speaking comfort, truth, and hope right when it was needed most. That Bible became a reminder that God sees, God knows, and God still speaks, no matter the distance or the darkness.
THE LAUNCH of MOHABAT TV: 2006
Mohabat TV officially launched on March 5, 2006, as a 24/7 Farsi Christian satellite channel reaching Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and the Persian-speaking diaspora.
Key components of the launch included:
• Full-time Farsi programming featuring worship, Scripture teaching, life testimonies, and introduction to the Christian message.
• Live viewer contact points, which created real-time interaction and gave isolated viewers a sense of spiritual connection.
• Clear ministry principles: non-political presentation, no disrespect toward Islam, and respect for all legitimate Christian traditions. These principles differentiated Mohabat from other Farsi channels and opened the door to broad partnership.
The launch established the first continuous Farsi Christian broadcast presence accessible inside Iran, an unprecedented development for seekers and underground fellowship, who had long lacked consistent Biblical teaching.
BUILDING the FOLLOW-UP INFRASTRUCTURE: 2006-2008
As the broadcasts went out, responses poured in. Immediate audience response revealed a need for structured pastoral care. Mohabat developed what became its follow-up backbone, a 24/7 system staffed by trained trauma agents who:
• Answered calls and messages
• Prayed with viewers
• Explained foundational Christian beliefs
• Guided seekers toward Scripture access
• Made safe referrals to discipleship pathways
This system quickly grew in scale, while maintaining core commitments to discretion, privacy, and round-the-clock availability, ensuring that every Persian speaker who reached out, at any hour, could find a listening ear and a faithful Christian witness.
From Doubting ... to Believing
Through Mohabat TV, Hamed’s life, once firmly rooted in religious leadership within Islam, took an unexpected and life-changing turn. As he encountered the teachings of Christ, the deep unrest he carried was gently replaced with peace and clarity. What began as curiosity became a personal encounter with God’s love and truth.
EQUIPPING the UNDERGROUND CHURCH: 2007-2013
As Mohabat listened to viewers, it became clear that most Persian-speaking believers could not safely attend church services or access theological resources. In response, Mohabat created a practical training series for house churches called “Our House, Our Church.”
• Worship practices for home gatherings
• Safety guidelines for meeting under pressure
• Leadership basic skills for emerging house-church leaders
• Foundational doctrine
• How to celebrate Sacraments in restricted environments
This series became an important tool for strengthening small fellowships across Iran and nearby regions. During these years, Mohabat also:
• Expanded in-house production
• Established quality standards and programming agreements with ministry partners
• Added children’s content and family discipleship resources
• Secured new studio spaces and broadened technical capacity
Behind the screens and satellite dishes, God was quietly building leaders, families, and fellowships; transforming ordinary homes into vibrant expressions of Christ’s church.
The Bible Opened My Eyes
When Kamran first opened the Bible, he didn’t expect it to speak so personally to his heart. Yet with every page, truth replaced confusion, and light began to break through years of unanswered questions. What started as simple curiosity became a powerful encounter with God’s love and grace.
FORMALIZING THE COALITION: HEART4IRAN 2016-2018
The partnership ethos that catalyzed Mohabat’s TV launch matured into a formal platform model called Heart4Iran. This network eventually grew to include over one hundred partner ministries, each contributing to evangelism, discipleship, Scripture distribution and media production.
Through Heart4Iran, these partners worked in unified ministry streams, including:
• Farsi broadcast media (Mohabat TV)
• Original production series
• Partner collaboration
• Follow-up and trauma care
• Digital outreach and analytics
• Bible distribution channels
This structure reduced duplication, strengthened content diversity, and expanded the ministry’s reach across the Persian-speaking world.
By 2018, the ministry consolidated major production functions in Virginia Beach and received international recognition, including the NRB International Impact Award, for its sustained media and discipleship impact.
Hope is Breaking Through Iran
Through Mohabat TV, hope is breaking through Iran, reaching hearts in homes, villages, and hidden places where the name of Jesus is rarely spoken aloud. In the quiet moments of watching and listening, faith is being stirred, and courage is rising. What once felt impossible is becoming a living testimony: God is at work, and His hope is reaching Iran.
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION and VIRTUAL CHURCH: 2019-2021
Recognizing evolving media habits and the rise of secure digital access inside Iran, Mohabat TV launched a live online Farsi church in late 2019, months before global lockdowns. This initiative offered:
• Scheduled worship services
• Teaching with live interaction
• Chat-based pastoral care
• Integrated follow-up pathways into existing Mohabat ministries
When the pandemic arrived, this digital church became a lifeline for countless Persian-speaking believers who needed safe, consistent connection and discipleship.
Simultaneously, Mohabat invested in digital Bible distribution, using privacy-aware methods for Bible delivery such as VPN-based delivery and secure download links. These campaigns resulted in unprecedented Scripture access inside Iran, surpassing historical annual distribution levels.
I Should Have Died ... God Saved Me
There was a moment when life felt completely lost, and survival seemed impossible. In that darkest hour, God stepped in with mercy, protection, and undeniable grace. What should have ended in death became a powerful testimony of life preserved by His hand.
EXPANDING REGIONAL REACH: AFGHANISTAN,
TAJIKISTAN and TURKEY: 2021-2023
The satellite footprint and digital infrastructure allowed Mohabat and Heart4Iran to respond rapidly to regional crises. After major changes and growing instability in Afghanistan in 2021, the ministry launched:
• Afghan-focused programming
• Dedicated Afghan follow-up teams
• An Afghan online church initiative
• Adapted Scripture distribution pathways
A production hub in Turkey expanded secure, near-field filming capacity for:
• House-church leadership training
• Children’s discipleship content
• Partner collaboration
Redeemed. Restored. Free.
Once weighed down by pain and brokenness, a life was met by the healing love of Christ. Through His grace, despair gave way to hope. What was once lost has been redeemed, what was wounded has been restored. Today, freedom tells the story of a heart made new by Jesus.
HOW GOD IS USING HEART4IRAN TODAY
2024 —
Today, Heart4Iran operates as an integrated ministry ecosystem consisting of:
• 24/7 Farsi Christian broadcasting via satellite
• Digital streaming and social media outreach
• Studios in the U.S., Turkey, and UK
• A trained trauma care network covering evangelism, discipleship, providing live broadcasting support, crisis care, and referrals
• Partner ministries across Bible agencies, churches, children’s media, leadership networks, advocacy groups, and Iranian Christian ministries
• Ongoing Scripture access initiatives designed for safety, anonymity, and scale
• A virtual church ecosystem supporting believers across restricted countries
I Finally Found Joy
Mahsa, an 80-year-old Iranian woman, found Christ through Mohabat TV in the quiet of her own home. After a lifetime of searching, she encountered the love, peace, and joy of Jesus in a way that deeply touched her heart. What began as watching a program became a life-changing moment of faith and hope.
Its guiding focus remains:
• Evangelism at scale
• Robust discipleship
• Strengthening house churches
• Serving families and children
• Ensuring access to Scripture
• Supporting partner ministries across the region
I Needed the Bible ... God Sent It
Pirouz reached out to us for months, faithfully and eagerly asking for a Bible. The Bible finally reached him, and his joy overflowed. He wrote to us three times to say thank you, sharing, “Your Holy book is so simple and yet so mature, so full of knowledge and depth that a person enjoys reading it. I am very happy. THANK YOU!”
THE ROAD AHEAD
Looking ahead, Mohabat / Heart4Iran continues to pursue:
• A hybrid model of satellite broadcasting + digital discipleship
• Deepened data-informed follow-up for timely and personal responses
• Expansion of children and family discipleship ecosystems
• Strengthened leadership formation for emerging Christian networks
• Improved digital security and distribution pipelines
• Greater regional production capacity and partnership collaboration
The ministry remains anchored in three enduring ministry commitments: non-political posture, respect for cultural and religious sensitivities, and unity across Christian traditions.
This posture has allowed us to serve with humility and credibility in places where trust is fragile and the Gospel must be shared with great care. Because of this, doors continue to open — conversations are happening, hearts are softening, and lives are being transformed. We are able to walk alongside people with compassion, meeting them where they are while pointing them to the hope found in Christ. These commitments don’t just guide our strategy; they shape the way we love, serve, and stand faithfully with those we are called to reach.
As we look to the road ahead, we do so with confidence, not in our own strength, but in God’s faithfulness and in the partnership of those who walk this journey with us. The challenges are real, the need is urgent, and the opportunity before us is unprecedented. Yet we are seeing, again and again, that when the Gospel is shared with wisdom, compassion, and perseverance, it takes root in even the hardest places.
Together, we are not just responding to the moment; we are preparing the ground for lasting impact. With prayerful discernment, courageous obedience, and steadfast partnership, we believe the days ahead will be marked by deeper transformation, stronger indigenous leadership, and a growing movement of hope across Iran and the region.
Secret Faith ... Found
Stories like Zahra’s remind us that God is quietly at work, even in the most hidden places. Through Heart4Iran’s Christian satellite broadcast, Mohabat TV, Zahra encountered the hope of Christ, and her secret faith was awakened and strengthened. What began in silence became a life transformed by truth, love, and courage.
This is a pivotal moment for Iran and the region. The hunger for truth is growing, the window of opportunity is open, and the work before us cannot wait. Every broadcast, every conversation, every Bible shared, and every leader equipped is a response to God’s call in this hour. What we do now matters, not only for today, but for generations to come. As God continues to move in powerful and often unexpected ways, we invite you to stand with us in faith, prayer, and partnership, so that together we can press forward, seize this moment, and boldly carry the hope of Christ to those who are searching for it right now.
God Heard My Cry
Joy and peace fill our hearts as we share Kobra’s beautiful transformation. Through a powerful encounter with Christ, her life has been made new, marked by hope, healing, and freedom. What once held her captive no longer defines her story.
THE IMPACT OF FARSI SUPERBOOK
With great joy and deep gratitude, we reflect on the incredible journey God has allowed us to embark on through Farsi Superbook. Since 2006, we have joyfully dubbed all five seasons of Superbook into Farsi, ensuring these timeless biblical stories come to life for children around the world. These episodes have been broadcast on Mohabat TV, reaching homes, families, and young hearts in every corner of the Persian-speaking community.
Here are two powerful testimonies that highlight the impact of our work:
Maria’s Story
Maria, an 11-year-old girl living in Tehran, faced severe depression and overwhelming thoughts of suicide due to family struggles. One fateful night, a mysterious man appeared to her in a dream, whispering, “You are chosen, and you are mine. Do not hurt yourself.” Intrigued, she asked, “Who are you?” The man replied, “I am Jesus Christ.” Awakening with a sense of purpose, Maria turned to Google in search of answers and soon discovered Mohabat TV and Superbook. Reaching out to our call center, she poured her heart out to Jesus. Our dedicated prayer agents walked alongside her on this incredible journey, introducing her to the Superbook app and sending her an electronic Bible. Today, Maria describes herself as the happiest person alive, experiencing profound peace in her heart. Our prayer agents continue to nurture her faith, supporting her discipleship journey. Maria’s story is a testament to the power of hope, love, and transformation.
Hope is Reaching Afghan Hearts
Mohabat TV is reaching Afghanistan with the Gospel, bringing hope, truth, and God’s love to people who are hungry for something more. Through trusted media, Scripture, and compassionate follow-up, hearts are being reached even in the most difficult circumstances. Quietly and faithfully, the message of Jesus is crossing borders and barriers.
Yalda’s Journey
Yalda, a 13-year-old girl, eagerly watches Mohabat television programs and has felt a deep love for Jesus Christ. Concerned for her uncle struggling with addiction, Yalda called during Superbook Sunday school, requesting prayer. We guided her on how to invite Jesus into her heart. With joy, Yalda prayed earnestly and surrendered her heart to Him.
In addition to these stories, we are proud to have produced the seventh season of Superbook Sunday School, which is built upon the carefully crafted Superbook Academy curriculum. This program enables children to learn the living Word of God in a vibrant, meaningful, and spiritually nourishing way.
None of this would have been possible without the faithful partnership of those who stand with us. To our dear partners: thank you. Your prayers, generosity, and unwavering support have been the foundation of this ministry’s success and growth. You have helped place the truth of God’s Word into the hands and hearts of children around the world.
“My Children Behold My Hand,”
A song for Iran
Pastor Amir, from the Mohabat TV Online Church, wrote this beautiful song from his heart and used AI technology to voice and produce it. Because ministering in a restricted region requires wisdom and creativity, this innovative approach allows us to share worship safely while still reaching people with excellence. It’s a powerful example of how we are using forward-thinking tools to speak hope, truth, and encouragement into Iran.
This song is more than music; it is a reminder that God sees His children, holds them in His hands, and has not forgotten them. In places where open worship is impossible, these songs become quiet prayers, strengthening faith and drawing hearts closer to Jesus. We invite you to listen, worship, and pray with us as you experience this beautiful song of hope and encouragement.
Scan the QR code to watch the music video.
As we celebrate twenty years of God’s faithfulness through Mohabat TV, we stand in awe of what He has done, and in expectation of what He is about to do. The story of Iran is not one of darkness, but of a people with a deep, ancient Christian heritage. From the Day of Pentecost, when the very first communities to respond to the Gospel were from what is now Iran, God has been writing a redemptive story in this region. Today, that story continues, and it is accelerating.
Yet, there is still much work ahead of us. Millions across Iran and the Middle East are spiritually hungry, searching for truth, hope, and healing. We believe the Gospel is poised to spread like wildfire across this land once again. But we cannot do this alone.
We invite you, our faithful partners, and those who may be joining us for the very first time, to step into this story with us. Walk with us as we reach the unreached, strengthen the weary, and bring the light of Christ to those who have never encountered His love.
For twenty years, by God’s grace and your partnership, we have witnessed miracles. And we believe the next twenty will be even greater. Will you join us as we continue to be the hands and feet of Jesus to Iran and the region? Together, we can see a spiritual awakening that echoes all the way back to the first days of the Church, and carries the Gospel forward to generations to come.
Let’s write the next chapter together.
Edwin Keshish-Abnous Executive Director of Heart4Iran
We invite you to scan the QR code and witness powerful testimonies of what God is doing in Iran through Mohabat TV. Behind every story is a life being touched, hearts turning to Christ, prayers answered, and hope rising in places where it is most needed. Thank you for standing with us and making this life-changing work possible.
