March 16, 2026
The Tide® shares the hope of the Gospel amidst war and conflict in Iran
Ministry demonstrates the importance of providing the hope and peace of Christ despite Christian persecution
CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. — As U.S. and Israeli forces continue Operation Epic Fury — the joint military campaign launched Feb. 28 that eliminated Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and struck key ballistic missile sites — The Tide® (www.thetide.org) ministry is intensifying its broadcast outreach to bring the message of Jesus across the Middle East and central Asia.
Iran ranks 10th on the 2026 Open Doors World Watch List, where converts to Christianity face heightened religious persecution and danger. Following the recent Israel-Iran ceasefire, authorities arrested at least 54 believers in 21 cities, often accusing them of Western sympathies. In 2025, Iranian courts handed down more than 280 cumulative years of prison time to Christians for their faith, with sentences growing markedly harsher even as fewer individuals were convicted.
In major cities, the state itself drives the pressure through arrests, workplace and school exclusion, or threats that force many to flee. Similar conditions exist in neighboring Afghanistan and Pakistan, where The Tide continues Christian radio and media broadcasts in six regional languages, delivering the unchanging hope of the Gospel across political borders and ethnic boundaries.
Don Shenk, executive director of The Tide, stated, “While many Iranians are hoping for change in political leadership, we are reminded that God is not so small that He needs a specific type of regime in order to accomplish His purposes. Nonetheless, we pray for the people of Iran to experience both spiritual and physical freedom. Regardless of the geopolitical outcome, we pray that the love of Christ would overflow the nation of Iran and that the peace of Christ will permeate hearts throughout the region.”
Shenk added that Iranian believers are uniquely equipped to reach neighboring Afghanistan, where doors have narrowed since the Taliban’s return in 2021. “As a near-culture people speaking a mutually intelligible language, Iranian Christians are well-positioned to take up the burden of evangelizing the Afghan people,” he noted.
Reports from inside Iran point to a remarkable spiritual hunger: officials acknowledge that 50,000 of the country’s 75,000 mosques have closed, while more than a million former Muslims have placed their faith in Jesus since the turn of the century. Many of these new believers are praying not only for their own nation but also for Israel.
The Tide’s mission is to creatively share the good news of Jesus Christ worldwide through media and strategic partnerships, expanding Christian broadcasts in more languages and working alongside local believers to disciple new followers.
For those wishing to stand with persecuted Christians and share Christ’s love, The Tide invites participation in the “Have You Heard?” challenge: ask at least 10 people this year whether they have heard what Jesus did for them, then point them to the hope available in Christ and the urgent need of believers in Iran and beyond. Details are available at https://www.thetide.org/get-involved/have-you-heard.
From its humble origins in 1946 as a local Gospel radio broadcast in Chambersburg, PA, The Tide® ministry has grown into a global network of Christian media broadcasting partnerships committed to worldwide evangelism and discipleship. In 2008, The Tide® ministry ended all English-language programming in order to focus on developing and distributing indigenous heart-language content in areas around the world that are less touched by the Gospel. Today, The Tide® ministry works with partners in multiple countries across three continents to broadcast Gospel-centered messages via radio, satellite TV and other media. In order to make disciples and plant churches, The Tide® ministry also provides resources for literature distribution, correspondence courses, discipleship and leadership training activities, and the distribution of radios and media players.
For more information about The Tide® ministry broadcast projects, history, radio programs around the world, special year-long campaigns, the weekly Global Update radio features or other news, visit its website at www.thetide.org or its Facebook page.
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To schedule interviews with Don Shenk, director of The Tide® global radio ministry, contact Hamilton Strategies, Media@HamiltonStrategies.com, Beth Bogucki, 610.584.1096, ext. 105, or Daniel Moyer, ext. 104.
To inquire about airing any of The Tide® ministry radio broadcasts, contact Michael Hamilton, 610.584.1096, ext. 101.
