Pastor Nasser (left) and Pastor Joseph (right). (Source: Article 18)
Pastor Nasser (left) and Pastor Joseph (right). (Source: Article 18)
Apr. 17, 2025 | Iran

Pastors Rearrested, One Suffers Stroke

[133] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Iranian pastors.

Iranian pastors Nasser Navard Gol-Tapath, age 63, and Joseph Shahbazian, age 61, were rearrested in their homes on Feb. 6, 2025, and taken to Evin Prison. No reason for their arrests was given. Pastor Nasser immediately began a hunger strike in protest but suffered a debilitating stroke on March 17. While he reportedly has received some medical treatment, he remains behind bars. Pastor Nasser had previously served nearly 5 years in the same prison on a 10-year sentence on charges of “action against national security” for leading house churches. Pastor Joseph Shahbazian, an Iranian Armenian, had also been sentenced to 10 years on the same charge and had served just over a year in the prison when they were both released in October 2022. Iranian church leaders say the arrests of pastors and Christians show that the Iranian government continues to target church leaders, even those previously pardoned.

Click here to find out about Christian persecution in Iran and learn how to pray.

Write your own prayer for Iranian pastors

  • Lord I pray for these pastors and for their health. Keep them safe and in your mercy may they be released from prison! May you give them boldness to preach even in captivity.
    Mary C - USA
  • Dear Lord, I pray against the evil Iranian regime. I pray Your strength, encouragement, and guidance for all those who are coming to you in spite of the severe persecution. I ask that Your hgreatness completely overshadow that of those presently in power. May even the most violent enemies of Jesus Christ receive an undeniable vision of Jesus as God.
    Lynne W - USA
  • In Jesus Name, As it is written that "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." I declare the same for them. Amen
    vissanorita y - Indonesia
  • Father continue to strengthen these 2 pastors as they face an unknown future. Give them peace and rest. May they be a light in the darkness of the prison. In Your Holy name I pray. Amen!
    Colleen S - USA
  • Father God, please bring healing to pastor Nasser and keep his faith steadfast while in prison. Be with pastor Joseph also to give him perseverance and peace during this time of testing. I pray that their time in prison would be a powerful witness to government officials and prison guards in Jesus' name, amen.
    Matthew E - USA
  • God, I ask for healing for Nasser, complete healing, a restoration of any part of his body that suffered from the stroke. Let the healing speak of your power to guards and prisoners. I ask for both men, that Your light would shine on them, and the Spirit would work within them, encouraging them. Help their flocks while they are imprisoned, to pray.
    Kesse R - USA
  • Father, grant Pastor Nasser healing and may both these men be released. May they have a ministry to fellow prisoners and guards. Bring them Your Word that they may find comfort from Your promises and that they can share Your Word with others. Bring down the evil strongholds in Iran, so that Iranians can freely worship You in spirit and in truth.
    Beth P - USA
  • Precious brothers in Christ, please know that we are praying for God's grace to be abundant for you during this trial. We pray for your protection and health spiritually and physically. I'm sure you know better than we the amazing love and presence of our Savior in your trials. We love you and will continue to hold you up to the throne of God's grace.
    Tony S - USA
  • Our Father, be with our Iranian brothers, especially for the pastors, as they face jail and persecution for serving You. May they endure and may they reach out to those they are imprisoned with. May they spread Your love to any and everyone they encounter, where ever they are. In Jesus' name, Amen
    Elizabeth S - USA
  • Lord I pray for these pastors and pray for their release to keep preaching the message of Jesus and the good news of the coming Kingdom. I pray Lord for Your hand to be over them and for You to guide them in where to go and who to share with. I pray for You to speak to them and encourage their souls. I pray for the body to come around them and help
    Joy H - USA
  • Praise be to You my loving Father that You know intimately the struggles & fears these men face along with all of Your children in Iran. Would You bless the faith they have demonstrated & cause it to grow that those watching would be encouraged or convicted, bringing many to Your Name & Arms? Help them to stand firm & know You are God. I love You. Amen
    Jason R - USA
  • Dear Lord, I pray for Pastors Nasser and Joseph. Lord You know the reason and purpose that they are in Evin. Lord I pray that You will guide, protect, strengthen them and be near to them. I pray that Pst Nasser will recover fully from that stroke. I pray for their release Lord.
    Delicia W - New Zealand
  • Lord Jesus Christ, I marvel at the steadfast faith and courage shown by these Pastors. Despite persecution, they remain committed to You. Please be their Consolation in their hour of need. Be their Defender, be their Provider. Lead them to safety and may the faith in the prisons grow because of their bearing witness to You. I pray you protect the churc
    Denise G - Canada
  • Oh Lord Our God how excellent is Your name, mercies, grace, Your strength that is med stronger in our weakness, help and help these Pastors Father God, grant healing to the one who got the strokes, Keep them both even while in jail, for they didn't commit a crime, except to see and accepting the truth, that Jesus Christ is Lord of all thing. Halleluja
    Jacqueline B - USA
  • Father, you see these two pastors; you see their hearts, their needs. I pray you touch them spiritually and physically. Lord, we know that the world will hate those that follow you. Give your children wisdom in sharing your love with them. I pray you move on the behalf of these pastors. I pray your will be done. Strengthen them and their families. IJN
    Polly C - USA
  • In the blessing name of Jesus, our heavenly Father, El Shaddai, God of Blessing, as brothers and sisters in Christ, we praise You for faithfulness of Iranian pastors. We ask for blessing, a hedge of protection, heavenly angels to encamp around and minister to them. Amen
    Gary F - USA
  • Dear Lord, we see that the actions of the government & those working for it are in contrary to what is being taught in the gospel. Please help these non-believers not just go through the motions of arresting Pastors, but to also to find out why they are so intent in their beliefs & through the witness of these Pastors help them accept Jesus & be saved!
    Donna H - USA
  • Father God Yahweh, this is so crazy and my heart goes out to these Pastors; have mercy on the Iranian government and touch the body of Pastor Nasser to recover fully and be healed mentally as well as financially for those unjust years served in prison. Protect all the Pastor in Iran, kept them and protect in Yeshua's name, Amen
    Samuel W - USA
  • Lord the injustice of these men's imprisonment is well within Your purview. I ask that You strengthen the hearts and minds of those in prison and speak very personally to them Your promises and encouragement. Lord use their unwavering faith as a testimony of Your faithfulness to sustain them. Lord please reveal the life changing power of the gospel
    Teresa S - USA
  • Dear Heavenly Father I amen these previous prayers. With no further input from You, I pray for a miraculous escape. A miracle of a tremor like Paul & Silas who sang praises to You behind bars. There is no reason for this arrest; it is the work of the enemy. I pray You would shatter it. While in prison, may You shine in them. In Jesus' Mighty Name amen.
    Johnathan K - USA
  • Heavenly Father, I pray that you protect these Iranian pastors from the government and prison officials. May they continue preaching the word of God whether inside or outside of prison so that all who hear them will be saved. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen!
    Chaplain Dale I - USA
  • Father God, I lift up Pastor Nasser and Pastor Joseph to you in Iran. Please heal their bodies and comfort their minds and souls as they are in prison. Please move to allow for their immediate release and please use them to lead many souls to Jesus while in the prison. Please especially heal Pastor Nasser's body from the stroke in Jesus name Amen!
    Sarah H - USA
  • Father please deliver these brave pastors through this unjust persecution. May your justice be done and righteousness prevail. Grant Pastor Nasser healing from the stroke he suffered, and put an end to the enemy's schemes. May your gospel continue to spread through Iran, and may it's enemies be powerless to stop it. All glory to you Jesus!
    Aidan B - Canada
  • Heavenly Father in the Bible you say "fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God;
    I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Pastor Nasser & Pastor Joseph need to believe that sustaining promise. Show Yourself strong on their behalf. Care for their families & church. In Jesus'name amen
    BETTY F - Canada
  • I'm praying Acts 14:23 for these two pastors. "Paul and Barnabas also appointed elders in every church. With prayer and fasting, they turned these men over to God's care, in whom they had put their trust ". ABBA Yeshua, we know and trust your love and care for these servants of Yours. Please provide whatever is necessary for their wellbeing.
    Eunice T - USA
  • Avi Ad! I thank You that You are with our brethren in Iran. You are beside them, in front of them, behind them, over them, under them and in them. May we support them with prayer, petition and thanksgiving, presenting our requests for their safety, health and the advance of the Kingdom of Jesus. In Yeshua's name
    Randal A - USA
  • Please get this pastor medical care and rehabilitation instead of languishing in prison. Do not allow him to suffer unnecessarily. Miraculously work in both pastors lives so that Your Name may be glorified. Give their families support, patience and reassurance.
    Pam M - USA
  • Thank You for the faith of these men and the sacrifice they have made to follow You despite heavy persecution. Please help them to minister to the other prisoners despite the risks and health issues they face. Help Pastor Nasser to continue to get the care that he needs and for both men to be released. Help the authorities to come to faith in You. Amen
    Cynthia H - USA
  • Heavenly Father I pray for these pastors that are harassed inocently and ask your intervention. Rescue and bring urgent help, touch the heart of the persecutors with empathy to deliver them espically the one afflicted with stroke . They are doing God will and fulfilling our Lords command Matthew28 v 1920 I n Jesus name. Amen
    Joyce D - United Kingdom
  • Father, it is distressing and sad to hear of the plight of these pastors. But You are the God of good. May these men experience Your goodness in spite of their circumstances. May You bring physical care to Pastor Nassar. May You bring hope to both in the midst of their imprisonment. May they lay their difficulties on You and find rest. Amen.
    Bruce B - USA
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