Captive In Iran by M. Rostampour and M. Amirizadeh, Book review

Publisher: Tyndale Momentum (April 2, 2013)

ISBN-13: 978-1414371207

Synopsis:

Embark on a chilling journey inside one of the world’s darkest and most dangerous places: Evin, the notorious Tehran prison. Here, prisoners are routinely tortured, abused, and violated. Executions are frequent and sudden. But for two women imprisoned for their Christian faith—Maryam Rostampour and Marziyeh Amirizadeh—this hell on earth was a place of unlikely grace as they reflected God’s love and compassion to their fellow prisoners and guards. Against all odds, Evin would become the only church many of them had ever known.

In Captive in Iran, Maryam and Marziyeh recount their 259 days in Evin. It’s an amazing story of unyielding faith—when denying God would have meant freedom. Of incredible support from strangers around the world who fought for the women’s release. And of bringing God’s light into one of the world’s darkest places—giving hope to those who had lost everything, and showing love to those in despair.

My thoughts:

This account of Maryam Rostampour and Marziyeh Amirizadeh's 259 days of captivity in Evin's notorious prison in Iran will open your eyes to the real threats and persecutions Christians still experience today for their faith.
These amazing two young women send a strong message to the rest of the world the Christian faith is alive and strong in Iran, growing still despite the horrific conditions, bringing hope and love to believers and non believers alike.

"Witness" said Christ...
Locked away but not silenced...
 
In reading this book you will follow the amazing, often frightening journey of these two Christian friends who found themselves imprisoned in one of the most notorious detention center in Iran. Witnessing and praying for the other inmates trapped inside Evin, they gather those too often invisible almost forgotten faces, lost souls to reveal Christ's true love for his brethren.

To this day, there are hundreds of men and women still held captive in Evin, living in unbelievable conditions, persecuted for their faith and for demanding their rights as citizens of the world. 
It is ironic that in being jailed, both friends realized they were "in the best place they had ever been for bearing witness to people hungry for Jesus' gospel". God's will? One for God, zero to the jailers!

In three years time, Maryam and her friend Marziyeh placed New Testaments  into the hands of twenty thousands of their countrymen, started two secret places of worship before being detained in Evin in 2009.

'Captive in Iran 'is the triumphing story of Christian love in a deep pit of hell, one I hope you will read to honour those who have lost their life for the faith, for those who are still jailed, persecuted because of their beliefs and for the handful who escaped and are trying to raise awareness to the ply of their brethren left behind!

Complete with pictures, this is a chilling yet hopeful book not to be missed! Due to thematic contents however, for mature readers only.

5 Stars!


About the Authors:

Meet two of Christ's followers:  In 'Captive in Iran', Maryam and Marziyeh recount how God used their 259 days in Evin Prison to bring about a miraculous reversal: shining light into one of the world’s darkest places, giving hope to those who had lost everything, and showing love to those in despair. 

Both friends acknowledge their book is a miracle as they are still learning English and believe the hand of God is behind it. They believe only He could bring them safely to America, giving them the chance to share with others their story and the ply of other Iranians.

Maryam and Marziyeh were born in Muslim families in Iran and met while studying Christian theology in Turkey in 2005, both having converting to Christianism 6 years before and returning together to Iran to begin a mission outreach!

I received this book free from TYNDALE as part of their blogger review program. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC 16 CFR, Part 255 'Guides concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising. I was not asked to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.