Baptism of Iranian Christian Convert Refugees in Darmstadt
Most Iranian refugees cite “religious coercion in Iran” as the reason for their conversion to Christianity. The Protestant “Matthaeus” Church in the city of Darmstadt is one of the churches where newly converted Iranian believers are baptized.
The process of Iranian refugees converting to Christianity in Germany continues. According to a report by Frankfurter Allgemeine, the number of newly converted Iranian Christians in recent months is growing daily.
Based on a report published on Tuesday (May 24) in this media outlet, the Protestant “Matthaeus” Church in Darmstadt is one of the “sacred places” where newly converted Iranians are baptized.
Ason Engel, the pastor of this church, noting that “the missionary duties of converting Muslims to Christianity” have not been assigned to him, speaks about groups of volunteer Christian converts in his church: “In 2016, 5 of the refugees we support converted to Christianity. Another group of the same size is waiting in line.”
According to this pastor, those who wish to adopt the Christian faith “must be truly faithful and patient.”
Teaching the Bible in English with Farsi Translation
One of those who will soon be baptized by Ason Engel is an Iranian refugee named Amir. He tells the Frankfurter Allgemeine reporter that he already believed in Christian principles in Iran, because “Martin Luther’s religion is better for me.”
Ason Engel explained the principles of this faith to Iranian refugees who converted to Christianity in 6 sessions. The pastor of the “Matthaeus” Church says: “I spoke in English and Amir translated the material for other Iranians.” Two other Iranians also participated in the “Bible teaching” classes.
The Frankfurter Allgemeine reporter writes that these two Iranians were unwilling to disclose their names to him for security reasons and due to possible danger to their families.
These three refugees, aged 25, 28, and 30, cite “religious coercion in Iran” as the reason for their conversion to Christianity.
One of them says: “I used to drink alcohol in Iran and for that reason they could have imprisoned me.”
Another newly converted refugee says: “Everything in our previous religion was based on lies.”
These refugees also emphasize that there is no way back for them: leaving Islam is considered apostasy and could result in execution for them due to “fighting against God and corruption on earth.”
State Institutions’ Doubt
It is said that although many newly converted Iranian Christians, including Amir, had changed their faith intellectually before entering Germany and maintain contact with Christians in this country, nevertheless some state institutions doubt the sincerity of their beliefs and suggest that their motivation for converting to Christianity is to obtain refugee status.
However, Ason Engel says that the conversion to Christianity of Iranian refugees under church protection does not affect their asylum application process.
The German Protestant Church has for years supported and provided shelter to refugees facing the danger of deportation in opposition to government policies.
Source: Deutsche Welle
