Joni Eareckson Tada’s story brings hope to Iran

Iran (MNN) — Iran's nuclear aspirations
have the official support of Russian President Vladimir Putin. His visit this
week is the first a Kremlin leader has made to Iran since 1943.

Putin went on record saying the Islamic
Republic should be allowed to pursue its nuclear program for peaceful purposes. He further explained by saying Iran is cooperating
with Russian nuclear agencies, and the main objectives are peaceful objectives .

The alliance forming at a summit of the
Caspian Sea nations is making many governments jittery. The U.S. Defense Secretary says they're keeping
all their options open in confronting the threats posed by Iran. That could mean using military action against
the long-time U.S. adversary.

With the specter of war forming, SAT-7's
David Harder says their encouragement of believers is critical. "The
leadership of that country is actually not very popular with many people,
particularly young people. Life can be very difficult for Christians within
Iran. Our team needs prayer for how they respond, that they respond
appropriately. Also, the Christians living within Iran deserve our prayers
for their protection and for the growth of the church there." 

SAT-7 Pars has had a phenomenal
evangelistic effect in Iran. The hope of Christ shown in Joni Eareckson Tada's
life story will reinforce the ministry. "We are offering a new Farsi
translation of the classic 'Joni' movie." It will be airing several times over the next month.

Harder says, "It's quite a
touching story, and it is a video that we believe will offer hope, because many
people in Iran and neighboring countries are very discouraged."

Joni Eareckson Tada felt it was important for
viewers in Iran to understand that God loves and cares for them, whatever challenges they
may face. 

In a special interview for SAT-7PARS,
she gave a special message to the viewers in Iran:

"Hello,
I'm Joni Eareckson Tada, and I hope you will enjoy this special presentation of
the movie, 'Joni,' in which I played my own part. I would like to thank the
director of SAT-7 for sharing my life story with you, our dear Farsi speaking
friends. I hope that by viewing my story, your heart will be encouraged and
that you will come to realize that God can help you, too, through any difficult
circumstance, just like He has helped me in this wheelchair. I also hope that,
through the message in this movie, you will see that He can use you to be a blessing
to many other people."

Joni goes on to say
how she is actually thankful for her accident and that God can make something beautiful
come out of something even as tragic as her experience. "I believe that the God of the Bible allowed
my accident so that His glory, that is His smile, and His power and His
strength might be made visible through my disability.

"It has been many, many years since the accident occurred in which I
broke my neck, and even after all these years, I am so thankful that God allowed it to
happen because it has given me the opportunity to encourage other people who struggle with
suffering. And maybe you are one of those people. Well, if you are experiencing
hardship, then get ready to be really inspired by the upcoming movie. And if
you would like to tell me more about your life or if you would like to learn
more about helping other people with disabilities in your own community, then
please contact us at the Joni and Friends International Disability Center. And
now, sit back and get ready to be really encouraged by the following story. Thanks
so much for listening, all my friends who speak Farsi."

Please pray that many
viewers in Iran will be encouraged by this special broadcast. If you can help cover
the costs of airing this special version of the film "Joni," please go to www.sat7.org.