In light of events of the last few days with the House of Blessing missionaries, I would like to share a quote from a devotional, dated March 11, 2003.
“Jesus has no illusions about human nature. He who came to redeem a fallen race knows that race’s capabilities. He who set His mind on the Cross knows the violence men can do. And nowhere in the Gospels does Jesus promise to shelter His disciples from the brutality of this world. Nowhere does He suggest that they can escape suffering. He offers something infinitely better than escape. He offers an overcoming peace.
All human beings will suffer sometimes. It’s part of living in a fallen world. Disciples of Jesus will have an additional aspect to their suffering: persecution and rejection. Yet Jesus promises peace. How can He do this? How can He say, on the one hand, that His disciples will grieve and know the same rejection that He experiences and, on the other hand, tell them to be encouraged?
Peace is found in seeing beyond the training ground that so often distresses us. It is found in placing all hopes in the One who overcomes the world. Chris Tiegreen
On to the House of Blessing…
Today’s Mideast Update includes two reports from Dr. Nibras. The first report was dated 3/11/2026 and the second, 3/13/2026. The earlier report provides some of the early details of what had happened with the six HOB elders, and the 60 teachers they were overseeing when they were arrested. The six elders named were: Mortada, Shahbander, Omar, Durgham, Malih and Habibalah. The second report, although overlapping with some of the details, provides additional information. As more is provided, I will pass it on.
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Peace be upon you, my brother Jack. A few moments ago, I received a call from Brother Aylout from the House of Blessing in Iran. I was reading a passage from the Bible, in the First Epistle of Peter, which says:
7But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. 8And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:7-8
11If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:11
12Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 14If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. 1 Peter 4:12-14
I received a call informing me of a troubling event in process. Brother Omar and his fellow ministers, Shahbandar, Morteda, Zargham, Mullah Habibullah, and Malih, along with 60 other missionaries from the House of Blessing from various regions, were seen preaching and spreading the Gospel of Jesus in several areas of Iran when they were abducted by a group of soldiers from the Iranian regime. They were asked directly what they were preaching, and after the missionaries confirmed that they were Christians and that the message they were spreading was about Jesus Christ, the angry soldiers insisted that there was only one prophet, named Muhammad, and that they were only allowed to preach or teach about Islam and the Shia faith.
The missionaries were given the choice between renouncing their Christian teachings and returning to Islam, or facing the consequences. None of the sixty missionaries from each region renounced their faith in Jesus. They were all bound hand and foot, severely beaten, crammed into very small cars — yet they continued to refuse to submit to their captors’ demands. Because of the harsh conditions and cruel treatment they endured, the missionaries believed that this was the moment their lives would be taken. They were ready to die and even happy if that was what was God’s will for them.
The Apostle Paul was a living example of this. Saul (later known as Paul), a zealous Pharisee, traveled the land searching for Christians to imprison, beat, and even kill, all in the name of religion. The Pharisees were determined to eradicate Christianity in the early years after Jesus’ death and resurrection, but they failed! Jesus promised that the gates of hell would not prevail against the true Church! Although the number of Christians martyred in this last century exceeds the number martyred in the previous nineteen centuries combined, millions today are encountering Jesus Christ, the true Christ. God’s power is undeniable, and the harvest of the last days has already begun!
After learning the details directly from Brother Aylout in the field of evangelism, the situation worsened. Nevertheless, the missionaries of the House of Blessing become adept at helping those around them. As a result, hundreds, even thousands, wonder why strangers show such love to those they don’t know. This is truly “to love the Lord our God with all our heart, and with all our mind, and with all our soul, and with all our strength…and to love our neighbor as ourselves,” as Jesus commanded. Please don’t forget these people in your prayers.
Hundreds are waiting to join the School of Ministry. As the situation improves and calms down, the 14-hour daily classes will resume at various locations throughout Iran. We worship a great God, and He will multiply what is given from a joyful and generous heart! We don’t know, but these may be the last months we dedicate ourselves to this work before the Lord calls the rest of the believers to Himself. Let me share with you once again one of my favorite verses from the Bible. It is found in 2 Corinthians, chapter 9, and begins with verse 6:
6But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 9As it is written: “He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.”
10Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, 11while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. 12For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, 13while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession in the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men, 14and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you. 15Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
Dr. Nibras, servant of the Lord
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As you know, my brother Jack, the brothers were captured while preaching and spreading the Gospel of Jesus in the area of Ain, before being abducted by a special forces unit. They were immediately questioned about their mission, and after the missionaries confirmed that they were Christians and that the message they were spreading was about Jesus Christ, the enraged men insisted that there was only one prophet, named Muhammad, and that they were only permitted to preach or teach about Islam.
The missionaries were given the choice between renouncing their Christian teachings and returning to Islam, or facing the consequences. None of the sixty missionaries renounced their faith in Jesus, so they were all bound hand and foot and placed in a very small room. They were given neither food nor water. During the two days they were imprisoned in the room, they were severely beaten, but they continued to refuse to submit to their captors’ demands. Because of the harsh conditions and cruel treatment they were enduring, the missionaries believed this was the moment their lives would be taken. They were ready to die, even happy, if that was God’s will for them.
Two days later, their captors brought ten officers to decide their fate. As the officers interrogated the missionaries, the missionaries appeared visibly moved. The officers told them they would interrogate them and then execute them if they did not renounce their faith in Jesus.
I also received a call from Pastor Aylout informing me of the escalating war. In many areas where HOB missionaries are present, there is great suffering — not only from the regime and other jihadist groups, but also from the fierce fighting between the armies and air forces of the various countries involved. Bombs and missiles are killing innocent civilians, as well as combatants. Death and destruction are everywhere. Families are being torn apart, children are being killed, and women in Iraq are being raped and sold into sexual slavery. Christian remain a prime target for Islamist jihadists. All official figures for war casualties are far lower than the reality. This also applies to the number of Christians being martyred. There is a constant flow of martyrs to the area under the altar mentioned in Revelation 6:9-11:
9When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. 10And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.
In the past few hours, several missionaries have been killed, some in Iran, also in Erbil, Mosul, and Dohuk, Iraq, where there are attacks and fierce fighting. The fighting has become so intense that it is impossible to reach the bodies for burial. Often, the killers of the missionaries lie in wait for their friends or families when they approach them.
Alongside the tragedies that always accompany these developments, there is always good news. This good news is that the underground church in the Middle east is growing rapidly. Neither the media nor international religious organizations realize how many thousands are becoming followers of Jesus Christ. The true numbers are truly astonishing, and they continue to be. The worse the conditions become, the more people are drawn to this calling.
I believe these are historic days. Looking at the prophecies of the Bible, we see that we are facing the end times. Soon, the great and terrible day of the Lord will arrive. God’s Word tells us there will be a great harvest of souls at the end of the Age of Grace. We, the true Church, also see a great harvest of souls entering the Kingdom of God after the removal of the true Church from the earth. I believe many who doubt the Gospel of Jesus Christ today will later realize they have missed their chance to escape all that will befall the earth, but they will then decide to place their faith and trust in Jesus Christ, even if it costs them their lives. Revelation 7:7-9 may refer to this group of people. Many passages in the Bible warn us of the importance of being aware of the time of grace available to us, including Romans 13:11-14:
11And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13Let us walk properly as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, nor in strife and envy. 14But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
For the people of the Middle East, life is fraught with danger. Death is ever-present, and fateful decisions are made daily. For those in the West, distractions surround us on all sides. We bear the responsibility of self-control and managing the countless things that demand our attention each day. If we fail to do so, we will miss the opportunities God gives us, not only to grow in our relationship with Him, but also in the role He may have planned for us in the lives of others. Eternity is near. Is our journey with God impacting the lives of those around us? What are we doing to reach a world that seems lost? The opportunities we have today to make a difference in people’s lives will not last much longer. The Age of Grace is drawing to a close! Let us do what we can while we still have the chance!
Your brother, servant of the Lord,
Dr. Nibras
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Although there are still details lacking, I sadly need to inform you all that 60 teachers that had been arrested were executed for their testimony and their refusal to deny their faith. I also just received the news that the six elders are still imprisoned. They are located in Ain, Iran (northwestern part of Iran, near the Caspian Sea). Just now as I was finishing this report, I received word from Sister Rolla that they are still alive but still have not been allowed either food or water. They are suspended by ropes like animals, enduring severe torture in the open air, without clothes except for underwear. The main soldier who tortures them pours cold water on them, then very hot water — while suspended like sheep with their hands tied. Please pray for these men for strength, and comfort. Pray for God’s will in their whole situation. Some of these men have been faithful, courageous warriors of the faith for many years. This is not the first time they have been in severe circumstances. These saints will not bend! As servants of the Lord, their entire trust and faith is in the Lord — regardless of what happens or doesn’t happen. As more news is made available, I will pass it on.
Thank you all for your prayers and support. It is needed now more than ever. The times have never been more dangerous and the need for finances to cover the costs of the thousands of Bibles and tens of thousands of teaching booklets already printed, and the orders still needing to be filled. Thank You!
Please feel free to contact HOB by either of the email addresses below with comments or questions. Thank You.
Forever in His service,
Jake (aka Jack)