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A former Muslim and founder of Iran Alive Ministries, Dr. Hormoz Shariat has spent more than 25 years sharing the Gospel with the people of Iran. ​Known for his deep understanding of Iranian culture, Islam, and the spiritual movement unfolding across Iran, he brings a firsthand perspective on what God is doing in one of the most challenging places to follow Jesus.

With a heart to see Muslims encounter Christ, Dr. Shariat helps audiences understand the Middle East through a biblical lens and inspires believers to see what is possible when the Gospel reaches even the hardest places.

Topics: Christianity in Iran, reaching Muslims with the Gospel, Islam & the Middle East, the spiritual awakening in Iran, the persecuted church

Once a Muslim seeking truth, Dr. Hormoz Shariat encountered Jesus. That was when everything changed.

Today, he leads Iran Alive Ministries with a bold vision: to see Iran transformed into a Christian nation, one life at a time. He holds a Ph.D. in Artificial Intelligence from the University of Southern California and a BA in Bible and Theology from Jessup University. Through decades of ministry, he has become a trusted voice to millions of Iranians, sharing the Gospel through media, discipleship, and leadership training. His passion for the Iranian people is evident in all he does.

His message is simple: no one is beyond the reach of Jesus.

Dr. Hormoz Shariat is a remarkable individual whose journey is nothing short of awe-inspiring. He is known as “the Billy Graham of Iran,” and when you learn about his life, you’ll understand why. Joel C. Rosenberg, a renowned author, has even hailed him as “the most influential Iranian American.” But there’s so much more to Dr. Shariat than just titles and accolades. His story is one of deep personal conviction, heartbreak, and unwavering faith.

Imagine growing up in Iran, surrounded by the rich traditions and beliefs of a Muslim household. That was Dr. Shariat’s reality. But everything changed in 1980 when he made a life-altering decision. Engaging in a profound comparative study of the Bible and the Quran, he discovered a truth that resonated deep within his soul. He became a follower of Jesus, embarking on a path that would define the rest of his life.

However, his journey was not without its share of hardships. Dr. Shariat experienced unimaginable loss when his beloved brother, Hamraz, fell victim to a tragic fate. Arrested at the tender age of 16 on a minor political charge, Hamraz endured two agonizing years in jail before meeting his untimely demise at the hands of a firing squad. 

The grief and pain Dr. Shariat felt were indescribable. Yet, amidst the darkness, he found a glimmer of hope a calling to love and reach out to Muslims, sharing the transformative power of the Gospel with as many as he could.

Armed with a Ph.D. in Artificial Intelligence from the prestigious University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Bible and Theology from Jessup University, Dr. Shariat began his ministry journey. In 1987, he took a leap of faith and planted a church in San Jose, California. Little did he know that this church would grow to become one of the largest of its kind in the United States, with hundreds of Muslim converts finding solace, community, and a profound connection to their newfound faith.

But the story doesn’t end there. In the year 2000, guided by divine purpose, Dr. Shariat founded Iran Alive Ministries. This organization harnessed the power of Satellite TV to reach millions of lost and broken souls not only in Iran but throughout the Middle East. From their studio in Dallas, Texas, they broadcast the Gospel 24/7, driven by an unyielding belief that God will use their efforts to bring about a transformation in an Islamic nation like never before.

Dr. Shariat’s dedication to his mission is palpable. It’s fueled by a burning desire to prevent others from experiencing the heartache and tragedy that befell his own family. His passion is driven by a conviction that the people of Iran, a nation poised for change on spiritual, social, financial, and political fronts, will be the first Islamic nation to embrace Christ wholeheartedly. He sees a future where Iran becomes a Christian nation, a prophecy that resonates deeply within his being and is promised in Jeremiah 49:38.

But Dr. Shariat’s impact extends beyond the borders of Iran. He is equally committed to serving the American people by providing them with a unique perspective on Iran and its implications for the United States. Drawing on his personal experiences as a former Muslim and his expertise in the field, he unravels the complexities of current events in the Middle East through a Christian lens. With authenticity and empathy, he helps viewers comprehend Islam and sheds light on the motivations driving the actions of Muslims in Iran. Through captivating stories and testimonials from Persians currently living in Iran, Dr. Shariat both enlightens and surprises listeners, revealing a side of Iran they may never have known.

Born and raised in Iran, Neda Keyvanfar has experienced firsthand what it means to follow Christ under persecution. ​For more than 17 years, she served in the heart of the underground church, where every act of faith demanded courage, sacrifice, and unwavering trust in God. Today, she equips believers to live boldly, lead faithfully, and follow Christ no matter the cost.

Her story stands as a living witness of God’s transforming power – turning suffering into strength, captivity into calling, and persecution into the glory of Christ.

Topics: Discipleship and leadership under persecution, finding strength in pain and pressure, leaving your comfort zone, disciple-making in Muslim contexts, identity and authority in Christ

In a culture that sought to silence and control women, Neda learned how to remain both a faithful disciple and a courageous leader. Alongside a dedicated team of believers, she helped establish house churches in more than 100 cities across Iran, personally traveling to over 21 major cities to equip, encourage, and train leaders.

Her ministry expanded beyond Iran’s borders as she traveled to Afghanistan to train church leaders in Disciple-Making Movements (DMM), empowering them to make disciples and plant churches in some of the most challenging and restricted areas of the world.

Neda’s life and family together bear witness to the cost and beauty of true discipleship. Her husband, once a well-known professional soccer player, chose to lay down his career and financial security to follow Christ and serve in ministry – a living testimony of faith over fame, and obedience over comfort.

Today, Neda serves in Texas as one of the senior leaders at Iran Alive Ministries, overseeing 17 key departments that support the expansion of the underground church and the training of new generations of leaders.

Lily stands as a living testimony of God’s redemptive power. ​Growing up in Iran, she intimately understands what it means for women to be silenced, dismissed, and stripped of identity. For years, she endured the darkness of an abusive marriage. Yet through the radical grace of God and the truth of Scripture, Lily found freedom and healing.

Today, her life’s mission is to help women rise beyond limitation, fear, and the labels placed on them – and to step boldly into the calling God designed for them.

Topics: Overcoming victim mentality, identity in Christ, spiritual authority, turning pain into purpose, women’s issues, women in Iran

Before entering full-time ministry, Lily spent nearly two decades in the banking sector, working alongside Fortune 500 companies. She ultimately answered a higher calling and now serves as the Director of Development at Iran Alive Ministries, a global ministry reaching millions across the Iranian world with the message of Christ. Her story is not just one of survival. It is one of complete transformation, where suffering became strength and pain became a platform for purpose.

Today, Lily is deeply passionate about equipping and empowering women – especially those who come from cultures of oppression – to walk confidently in their spiritual authority and fulfill the assignment God has placed on their lives.

Lily also teaches with conviction on the subtle distractions and spiritual battles designed to pull believers away from their assignment, and she calls audiences back to an eternal perspective, one that cuts through the noise of life and brings clarity to purpose.

A former Muslim turned pastor and international speaker, Rev. Shah Ahmadi equips churches around the world to share the Gospel with clarity, compassion, and courage. ​Having ministered in over 25 countries and led many to Christ, he brings a powerful message on reaching Muslim communities and understanding today’s global spiritual landscape.

He carries a firsthand perspective that equips believers to engage the world around them with truth, wisdom, and bold faith.

Topics: Growth of the underground church, engaging cross-cultural communities with the Gospel, lessons from the persecuted church, cultural & global trends, church planting & outreach, the next generation

Rev. Shah Ahmadi is an evangelist, pastor, and former Muslim who came to faith in Jesus Christ through a life-changing encounter while living in the United Kingdom. In response to God’s call, he left his engineering career to pursue full-time ministry, with a passion to see Muslims encounter Christ and to equip churches to share the Gospel with compassion and truth.

By God’s grace, Rev. Ahmadi has personally led more than 1,000 Muslims to faith in Christ. He is an international speaker who has ministered in over 25 countries and has spoken at major gatherings, including NRB (National Religious Broadcasters) and Voice of the Martyrs conferences. He also works closely with persecuted church leaders and human rights advocates worldwide.

Rev. Ahmadi serves as Director of Strategic Alliances at Iran Alive Ministries and is one of the main speakers and teachers in Iran Alive’s webinars, studio teachings, and broadcasts, preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ and equipping leaders for ministry among unreached and persecuted communities.

He is also a frequent guest on Christian television, radio programs, and media platforms across the United States, where he shares his testimony and vision for reaching the unreached with the Gospel.

From devoted Muslim to atheist to passionate follower of Jesus, Samira Nazari’s journey is one of unexpected transformation. ​What began as a search to disprove Christianity led her to discover the truth of Jesus Christ. Today, she serves with Iran Alive Ministries, equipping believers to share the Gospel and witnessing lives transformed.

Her story is a powerful reminder that no heart is beyond the reach of Jesus.

Topics: How to share the Gospel with Muslims, Jesus of the Quran vs. Jesus of the Bible, standing with Iran in this critical season, revival in Iran, healing and deliverance as evangelism

Born and raised in Iran, Samira Nazari grew up as a devoted Muslim. Later in life, disillusioned by religion, she embraced atheism. In 2019, her journey took a radical turn when she traveled to China to teach English. There, a colleague challenged her with a statement that changed everything: “Muslims and Christians do not worship the same God.”

What began as a quest to prove her colleague wrong turned into a personal encounter with the truth. Through reading early church history and the writings of first-century historians, Samira came face to face with the person of Jesus Christ. Her life was forever transformed.

Like the woman at the well, Samira ran to tell others about the One who changed her heart. She joined Iran Alive Ministries, where she now serves as an evangelist and trainer— equipping believers across Iran to boldly share the gospel. Over the years, she has witnessed thousands of Iranians come to Christ, and has discipled many new believers to become evangelists themselves.

God also shifted her from polemical debate to power evangelism—praying for the sick and witnessing miraculous healings, including the healing of her own sister from stage 4 breast cancer. Today, Samira travels and speaks with passion about revival, healing, and the power of the gospel to transform lives.