Mark Bradley - Too Many to Jail: The story of Irans new Christians

Text copyright 2014 Mark Bradley
Appendix 2 Elam Ministries
This edition copyright 2014 Lion Hudson

The right of Mark Bradley to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Published by Monarch Books
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Lion Hudson plc
Wilkinson House, Jordan Hill Road,
Oxford OX2 8DR, England
Email: monarch@lionhudson.com www.lionhudson.com/monarch

ISBN 978 0 85721 596 3
e-ISBN 978 0 85721 597 0

First edition 2014

Acknowledgments
Scripture quotations marked ESV are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV) copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked RSV are from The Revised Standard Version of the Bible copyright 1346, 1952 and 1971 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches in the USA. Used by permission. All Rights Reserved. Scripture quotations marked TNIV are taken from the Holy Bible, Todays New International Version. Copyright 2004 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Hodder & Stoughton Publishers. A member of the Hachette Livre UK Group. All rights reserved. TNIV is a registered trademark of International Bible Society. pp. 80, 83, 84, 85, 92. Extracts taken from Then They Came for Me by Maziar Bahari. Copyright Maziar Bahair, 2013. Extract reproduced with permission of Oneworld Publications, London. pp. 174, 175, 190, 191, 194, 195: Extracts taken from Christians in Parliament: All Party Parliamentary Group Report on the Persecution of Christians in Iran copyright 2012, Christians in Parliament. Used by permission. p. 197: Extract taken from The Cost of Faith: Persecution of Christian Protestants and Converts in Iran copyright 2013, International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. Used by permission. p. 89: Extract taken from Violent Aftermath: The 2009 Election and Suppression of Dissent in Iran copyright Iran Human Rights Documentation Center. Used by permission. pp. 87, 188, 189, 202: Extracts taken from Captive in Iran by Maryam Rostampour & Marziyeh Amirizadeh. Copyright 2003. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

Credibly documents what appears in Iran to be the greatest response to Christ among Muslims ever known in history!

From an analysis of recent political history and the efficacy of house churches, one can now understand why so many Iranians have bowed their knee to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Greg Livingstone, founder of Frontiers mission agency and author of Youve Got Libya

When I want to understand what is happening behind the opaque walls surrounding modern-day Iran, I always turn to Mark Bradley. Marks lucid writing and extraordinary research provide the reader with an unforgettable experience of seeing what God is doing and how He is at work giving birth to His kingdom today inside the Islamic Republic of Iran. I highly recommend to any follower of Jesus Christ, Marks latest book: Too Many to Jail .

David Garrison, author, A Wind in the House of Islam

We have worked with Elam for many years. We feel privileged to have personal connection with some of those whose stories Mark tells, and count them our friends. It is a privilege to endorse this book.

Stuart and Jill Briscoe

Without exception history proves that persecution always provides fertile soil for the growth of His church through the Gospel. Read and see this truth delineated in the story of Iran.

Pastor Johnny Hunt, former President, Southern Baptist Convention

A precise, honest and informative account of the ordeals of a growing (Muslim-background) Christian population inside Iran. This affirming message of perseverance, hope and faith will excite and challenge the reader a must read.

Dr Mike Ansari, Director of Operations, Mohabat TV

This is a compelling, inspirational and hopeful book. Once I started reading I could not put it down. Mark Bradley skilfully and accurately leads us through the story of the church in Iran today. This book is an act of great service to those who want to know what has happened and is happening with the church in Iran. Through reading Too Many to Jail my admiration and appreciation for the church in Iran and Iranians has grown, along with an understanding of the circumstances in which such remarkable growth is taking place. If you are tempted to believe that God does anything the same way twice, read this book and let this Iranian story teach you. If you are tempted to believe there is anything more beautiful on the planet than the church of Jesus Christ, read this book and let God speak to you through the Iranian church in the middle of its weakness, empowering and glory.

Viv Thomas, Hon Teaching Pastor St. Pauls Hammersmith and associate International Director OM International

As the son of Iranian martyr, Haik Hovsepian Mehr, I can relate to many instances in this book. I admire Mark Bradley, who has so carefully researched and presented the facts about the persecuted believers in Iran. He gives a 360 degree view of the fastest growing church in the world, in the face of political and governmental oppression. Too Many to Jail is not merely an informative read that helps us stand with Iranians in prayer, but it inspires us by their stories to grow in our walk with the Lord.

Joseph Hovsepian, Founder/Director of Hovsepian Ministries

Be aware! When you read Mark Bradleys Too Many to Jail , you will encounter Eugene Petersons interpretation of Jesus saying the invisible moving the visible! In his most recent book Mark has carefully examined three effective elements in the huge and widespread house church movement in Iran. There is no wall that could stop the Holy Spirit. There is no wall in Iran that could stop satellite TV signals! The Holy Spirit is using satellite TV as a bridge to the fastest growing house churches in the world. By reading this book you will see that this bridge makes Jesus encounter a growing possibility; Christian growth a responsibility; and the expansion of Gods Kingdom a reality. So Petersens translation rings true: the invisible, the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, is indeed moving the visible, with lives being changed as people encounter Jesus and the church growing in houses of Iran.

Rev. Mansour Khajehpour, Executive Director of SAT-7 PARS

Too Many to Jail is an insightful and reflective book about a new emerging church with echoes as old as the house churches of the Acts of the Apostles and as wide as the global church.

Too Many to Jail is a story of lovely pain: a story of unfailing and costly love not only about Iranian converts and house churches, but also about the manifestation of Christ in Iranian society and cultures. On the one hand it describes pain, struggles and challenges; on the other it tells of hope, growth and courage.

Too Many to Jail is not only about Iranian converts and house churches; it is about church planting. Thank you for giving me the privilege to read it.

Sara Afshari

I often remind Western Christians that Jesus is running around loose in many parts of the Middle East and especially in the Islamic Republic of Iran! The Spirit of God is on the move in Iran and Jesus is fulfilling His promise that He is going to build His Church! Mark Bradleys new book, Too Many to Jail, is the most thorough and well-documented book on what God is doing in Iran in drawing people to Himself. In the midst of much suffering and persecution, the house church movement in Iran is spreading like wildfire! If you want to know how God is at work in Iran read this book and be inspired by Gods beautiful sovereignty.