What happens when a Muslim from Iran meets Jesus in America - then watches his homeland go to war with Israel?
Shah Afshar was born and raised in Iran, shaped by a shame-based culture, a devout Muslim family, and the pressure to uphold family honor. But everything changed when he encountered a group of joyful American college students and heard the name of Jesus - not as a prophet, but as Savior.
In this episode, Shah shares his powerful journey from Islam to Christianity, the cultural weight of honor and shame, and what he sees unfolding in the Middle East today.
With a foot in both worlds, he gives insight few can offer: why 80% of Iranians quietly cheer when Israel strikes military targets…and why Persians and Jews have a deeper shared history than most realize.
Key Takeaways- Why Shah sees honor and shame as central to understanding Iranian culture
- What it’s like to leave Islam and follow Jesus as a Persian
- The truth about Iran’s Jewish population - and how Persians and Jews once lived side by side
- Why many Iranians support Israel in secret
- How Jesus - not politics - is the only path to true peace in the Middle East
00:00 – Meet Shah Afshar: From Iran to the U.S. 03:00 – Growing up Muslim in a shame-based culture 05:45 – Depression, academic pressure, and thoughts of suicide 08:00 – The hippies who introduced him to Jesus 10:30 – Calling on Jesus without theology - and finding peace 13:15 – Starting the first Iranian Christian church in America 15:00 – What changed after the revolution in Iran 18:30 – Why many Iranians secretly support Israel 21:00 – The cost - and hope - of a Persian uprising 24:00 – Jesus as the only answer to generational hate 26:00 – Persians are not Arabs: cultural and ethnic clarity 29:00 – Are the Jews still God’s chosen people? 32:00 – One new man: Jew and Gentile united in Messiah
To learn more about Shah’s work and story, visit shahzamfactor.com.
For more episodes, teaching, and insights into the Jewish roots of your faith, head to thejewishroad.com.
Be a light. Be a voice. Be a blessing.
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