He was born in Iran and grew up in a middle class Muslim family. Unfortunately his father started drinking and gambling and life became tough for him as a teenager. At the age of 13 he lost his father and sister in an automobile accident. This incident had a very
bad impact on the family emotionally and financially. There were nights when they only had plain bread for dinner. They lost the house they owned and had to rent a place to live, and This worsened our situation. He had to work and help the family. He got a job in photo lab and it was there he got exposed to all kinds of immorality.

At this time Elnathan heard that there was a new movie on by the name of “Jesus, Son of Mary”. The film had a great impact on him and a spiritual thirst was created within him. He started searching for the truth and he came across a new religion called “The Family”. The leader of this cult, a Korean named Moon is being worshiped by his followers. This did not satisfy him and his mental and spiritual condition was getting worse. Elnathan began consuming alcohol and drugs but they only comforted him temporarily. He was full of anger and hated himself. He committed suicide, but he did not die disappointment overcame him.

One day he and his friend went for a walk and lingered around in the park. When returning they passed a church. His friend suggested that they go in and have some fun. It seemed so strange to him that they could go to church and they speak their language, Farsi. When they went in it was the end of the sermon and after few minutes there was the alter call. The preacher said whoever wants to accept this Godly love should come forward. He did not dare to go because of his friend. But somebody announced that the same preacher would be speaking the following evening. He could not sleep that night. He was thinking about the preacher’s words. The next day after the sermon, he went forward sobbing, even before the alter call. He wept and wept for almost an hour and repented of all his sins. When he got up he felt so light that he knew all his burdens have fallen off. He was a new person. From that night and he still feel so light and fresh in his Lord Jesus. There have been many ups and downs but every time the Lord is faithful to love him, teach him and bring him out to a joy that is his strength.

The biography of Nazanin Baghestani

Nazanin Baghestani was born into a Zoroastrian family. Zoroastrian is an old religion worshiping nature originated in Iran. Her father and mother were always at war with each other. They separated after seven years of marriage when Nazanin was 6 years old. Her mother was a nurse. She had to work day and night to support the family. Each night a friend or relative would come and spend the night with Nazanin and her sister, Nancy, who was a year younger than her. It was very difficult for Nazanin’s mother to take care of the children alone, as well as work. Therefore, in 1978, she sends them to India to live with their aunt. They were admitted to a Christian school. They lived in a boarding school. They also attended Bible classes every Friday night. One night, the Bible study leader, Mrs. Mary George, lead the group in the sinner’s prayer of repentance. It was at that time that Nazanin and her sister gave their life to our savior Jesus Christ. She continued to attend these classes and to learn more about God’s Word. In 1984, after graduating from high school, Nazanin retuned to Iran. During her absence, while she was in India, her parents reconciled. She resented the attention that her parents gave her younger siblings and began to rebel. Nazanin lived a life of rebellion for the next five years. Although she did not attend church after returning to Iran, she longed for fellowship with believers and kept contact with her teacher and friends in India. She’ll repent of her sin, and then would rebel again. One day, she became tired of her sinful life, and planned to run away from home. As she was packing her suitcase, God reminded her of His love. At that very moment, she knelt down, crying, and prayed. That was the beginning of a new thirst for God. She did not know of any churches or Christians in Iran, so she wrote to her sister, Nancy, who had stayed in India and got married to a minister. In her letter, she asked for church address in Iran and Nancy gave her the address of a church in Tehran. However, she could not find the church. Hence, she started to pray and read the Bible again on a regular basis. One Sunday in December 1988, after finishing work for the day, Nazanin decided to try to find the church. On that day she found the church so easily that she was sure it was a miracle. She went inside, it was a beautiful church with a big wooden cross and very plain that surprised her. All the churches she had seen in Iran were full of pictures and statues. Nazanin was so excited to finally find a Persian speaking church in Iran that she was a changed person when she went home and her family saw the joy in her. Later on she started to attend the discipleships classes. She was baptized in May 1991, at the same church. Mrs. Nazanin and Mr. Elnathan met at the church and married on July 1991