- [Todd] Rashin Soodmand grew up in Iran where her dad was a pastor. He was, also, in the eyes of
Iran's Islamic government, an apostate. Life was pretty normal for Rashin, until one day when she was 13 years old. She was outside their house, playing. - [Rashin] A car came and
parked front of our house and we didn't know who they are, but after a few, ten minutes, I remember they invited my father to sit in their car and even I didn't hear the conversation, but I felt, "It's
something wrong with this," and then sense of fear. (dramatic music) - [Announcer] Jesus never promised His followers an easy path. In fact, He told His disciples that the world would hate them. He sent them out as sheep among wolves. Jesus' words came true in
the life of the apostles and they're still coming true today in the lives of His
followers around the world. Join host Todd Nettleton as we
hear their inspiring stories and learn how we can help, right now, on The Voice of
the Martyrs Radio network. - [Todd] Welcome again to The
Voice of the Martyrs Radio. My name is Todd Nettleton. If you have listened to VOM Radio, for any length of time at all, you know that we love to tell you the stories of our brothers and sisters in the growing churches inside
the Islamic Republic of Iran. It's a place where God
is doing amazing things, calling people to faith in Christ. It is also a place where
persecution can be very intense so we like to let you know what it's like for believers there, so that you can pray effectively for them. This week we're going to hear
a story from inside Iran. Pastor Hossein Soodmand was
born into a Muslim family. He came to faith in Christ, he was ultimately put on trial and found guilty of apostasy by an Iranian court. They literally told him, "You
can continue to follow Jesus and you will be executed, or you can return to Islam. Just become a Muslim again and you can go back home to your family." Pastor Soodmand boldly said, "I am a follower of Jesus," and for that crime he was executed. Today we are going to explore that story with his daughter, Rashin. I recorded this interview on
the road in England in 2018, back before anyone had
ever heard of COVID-19, back when getting on an airplane was a lot easier than it is today. But I wanted to revisit
this story for you now because it's such a powerful example of how persecution
affects entire families, and especially as we approach the International Day of Prayer for Persecuted Christians,
which is coming up on November the 7th, I hope this will equip
you to pray more fervently for our persecuted brothers and sisters, including the sons and daughters of those who may be facing
direct intense persecution. Rashin was 13 years old when
her father was executed, and I asked her what
memories she had of him before that day. - [Rashin] The church was in
the basement of our house, so I could see the way he was
ministering to other people, especially people who
would come to our house and ask their questions about Christian faith. So my father patiently would answer all of their questions as well, and it was not just asking their question, he was care about them. So he had caring heart and loving heart, and I remember he had
a bicycle in our house. My father had pain in his leg, and he would cycle miles
and hours to see one person. - [Todd] Are there things
you remember in your family, like, you know him reading you stories or him giving you hugs, or
tucking you in at night? Are there things like that
you remember about him? - [Rashin] He would
spend time individually with each one of us. He would take me to
coffee shop or restaurant, and had quality time with me, as well. Although he had quality
time with whole family, but it was important for
him to have the quality time with each one of us as his children. So that is what is important for me when I remember him as my father. - [Todd] Do you think
he knew or had a sense that he might not be able to be there when you were 20 or 25, or when you got married? Do you think he had any kind of a sense that maybe his life was going to be short? - [Rashin] I think he knew, because he was very keen and for us to be very independent. And always, he would tell us, or the way he was treated us, or he tried to raise us as children to be independent. And sometimes he would send us, my sister and myself, three children together, to a distant place with a taxi. He was not with us. He made sure that the taxi driver is safe, but he would send us by ourselves with just taxi driver, for instance. And I think now, when I thinking about those moment, and grow in being more mature, yeah, in our lives. - [Todd] What do you remember
about the faith lessons that he taught you, or how he taught you, what it means to follow Jesus, and how you live out that
faith on a daily basis? - [Rashin] So we had our
family praying meeting every night, so that was
really important for him. And no one could cancel,
even if we had a guest! (both laughing) - [Rashin] Yeah, even if we
had a guest, as I mentioned, so we had a church in our house. Sometimes we had other
members, or other people. They were welcome to join
us, but he never cancel. (both laughing) - [Rashin] So and then, (laughs) Yeah, he always teach us about God, and encourage us to read our Bibles, and told us stories about Jesus Christ, and what was incredible about Him. He told us about Jesus with the stories. - [Todd] So he didn't just
pastor his congregation, he pastored his family as well. - [Rashin] Exactly, yeah. He pastors. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. Yeah. - [Todd] We're talking today
on Voice of the Martyrs Radio with Rashin Soodmand. Her father was martyred in Iran in 1990. Did you understand, even as a girl, that what he was doing was dangerous in Iran? Did you know that "Well, my dad's a pastor,
this could be dangerous for our family"? - [Rashin] Actually, not till I was eleven, because everything was okay, and even the church had this freedom to... Actually, I didn't sense
in fear (laughs softly) (Todd laughs) - [Rashin] Or I don't know
if there was something, but I think everything happened from when I turned to 11. Because one day I was playing in our yard, and with other friends, and I remember a car came and parked front of our house. And we didn't know who they are. We were thinking maybe they
are some of those people came to (laughs softly) in order for him to minister to them, but after a few ten minutes, I remember they invited my father to sit in their car. And even I didn't hear the conversation, but I felt it's something wrong, it is. And then sense of fear. That was the first time he was arrested. So he was arrested for a month. And then, after that, after one month, they released him. They warned him, and they
gave him two weeks' time to think about his life. And they told him, "Either
you are going to stop your ministry, and deny your faith. Or we will kill you." And that's the serious warning. And, because they
couldn't stop my father... (both laugh) - [Todd] So do you
remember when he came home after being arrested that month? Do you remember what happened when he came through the door? Or what you thought when you saw that, "Oh! Dad's home"? - [Rashin] Yes, we were waiting for him because we heard that they
are going to release him. It was around 2 o'clock, and we were actually preparing house for him, and cleaning. And yeah, when he came to the house, we were all crying, and yeah (laughs) (Todd laughs) - [Rashin] We ran towards him. So I remember the first person, actually ran to my father, was my oldest brother. He was actually cleaning the yard, and then saw, because my brother was very clean man, and he wanted everything be tidy, and so we were preparing house for him. So I... yeah, I clearly remember the moment he came to the house. And we were very happy. And we were thinking, telling to myself, "I hope this is the last time that we are not having him, for this such a long time." - [Todd] Unfortunately,
it wasn't the last time. - [Rashin] No, unfortunately. - [Todd] One of the things,
as I've been reading and preparing to come and talk to you, the church leaders, above your father in the Assembly of God Church, said, "Maybe it's time for
you guys to leave Iran. You've been arrested,
you're having trouble. There's more persecution coming. Maybe you guys should go outside of Iran." Your dad said, "No, I'm
not going to leave." Tell us a little bit about that. And he made some really
powerful statements about why he was staying. - [Rashin] As I mention, after the first time he was arrested, everything was changed. And we didn't have that freedom anymore. And then he went to
other brothers in Tehran and share all the inform... all his experiences with Brother Haik and other brothers. - [Todd] And I want to,
just for our listeners, give them some context. Brother Haik was the leader of the Assembly of God Church in Iran. And he also, later, would be martyred for his faith. So your dad went to Tehran, and sat down with Brother Haik and said, "Here's what's happened."
- [Rashin] Yeah. - [Todd] Then what happened? - [Rashin] Brother Haik, they realized that this is a serious ultimatum, so that they offered him a help. And they told him, "We can help you to escape the country with your family." But that's my father's response; do you want me to read it? - [Todd] Yeah, please.
- [Rashin] Yeah. My father replied,
actually, "I am a follower of the Great Shepherd of the sheep, Our Lord Jesus Christ. And I am ready to sacrifice
my soul for my sheep. For me to escape from this persecution would cause the hearts of my flock to become cold and weak. I never want to be a bad example for them, so I am ready to go to prison again, and if necessary, to give my life." Yeah, he said that and he left Tehran and he went to Mashhad. And while my father was in Tehran, they called to my mom and asked for him, and they told him, "Tell
him to come to us this day." And my father immediately left Tehran, and he came to Mashhad. He went house, and left her suitcases, and I was the only one with my mom in the house. And he told me, "Rashin,
please make a tea. I'll come back in two hours." And then, so I was preparing tea for him in order for him to come, and I can... help him and welcome him, but he didn't come back that day. After two weeks we heard that chilling news. That he was executed for
his faith in Mashhad prison. - [Todd] We're talking today
on Voice of the Martyrs Radio with Rashin Soodmand. Her father was martyred in Iran. So, Rashin, you heard after the fact. You didn't... there was never a time where they said, "The court has ruled your
father is going to be executed." Or, you know, "Come and visit," or a court hearing, or anything like that? Was that unusual, or is that just how things work in Iran? - [Rashin] Yeah, that's
how things work in Iran. Yeah, we had chance to
see my father twice. When he was in prison for one month, and then when he was two weeks before his execution. We had chance to see him, once. And then, so I remember
the last time we saw him in the prison. - [Todd] What do you remember about that? Or what did he say during that visit? - [Rashin] Yeah, so it was
joyful and painful time (laughs softly)
because as 13 years old, I was thinking what I should, I need to have my father with me. And why should I ask permission for other people to let
me to see my father? So it was very joyful
as well, and painful. And so we just share our experiences, and we told him the stories
we have about our school, and my father was just encouraging us to continue our study, and, yeah, encourage us to study, and look after my mom as well. So it was just very normal
and daily conversation. So he didn't want, actually, go to the details what
is happening to him, because we were small children, and, yeah, he didn't want
to upset my mom, as well. - [Todd] So what was that visit like as far as the setup? Was he on one side of glass, or one side of bars, or were you all in a room? Did you get a chance to give him a hug? - [Rashin] Yes, yes. Yeah, we were in the same room. So no, it was not a glass separated us. - [Todd] Okay. - [Rashin] It was, yeah,
we went to a room, yeah. - [Todd] So do you think, at that time, that he knew, "I'm going to be executed" or "I'm going to be killed"? Or do you think he thought, "This is like last time, they're going to hold me for a while and then I'll go home"? - [Rashin] No, he knew that. He knew that, and while we were leaving the prison, the room that we met him, well, my younger sister, she, I think she asked me to look back. And yeah, my father was... he was in tears, and he didn't want us to see. And he was trying to
remove it with his hand. (laughs softly) And I think my sister, she saw it clearly. And I think because he knew, "That's the last visit." And also, after his martyrdom, we heard from some police guard, a religion police, that because another time, police... one man from prison came to our house and ask us to go to that place, because my father wanted to visit us. And we went to that place, and we stay, we were waiting for two hours in order to see him, but didn't happen, and after that they told us, "He can't see you today, and we will let you
know for another time." And we were wondering, "So what was the reason, the purpose for that visit?" And after his martyrdom,
we heard that on that day, he was in another room and they were showing him his family. It was kind of warn him that, "So you have a option.
This is your family, and your small children, and your blind wife. And this is your fate. Now you have to choose." - [Todd] So it was one
final test for your father? - [Rashin] Exactly. - [Todd] "Okay, here's your family. They need you. Or you can go on with this crazy Christian stuff, or you can go home and take care of your family." - [Rashin] Family. Yeah. - [Todd] And so your father made a choice. - [Rashin] Exactly. Yeah. (laughs softly) He made the choice. - [Todd] So when you think about that now, what do you think about
your father's choice? He chose Christ. What do you think about that? - [Rashin] Yeah, I'm very proud of him. And I'm very proud to be
his daughter, actually. He chose Christ, although
I don't want to deny or ignore the painful
side we went through, and all the difficulties, and vulnerabilities so we face during that time. Especially, so we were small children, and with my blind mom because my father was not only father, he was a great help for my mom as well. Even on that time, although it was difficult for us, but we were very proud of him. And now I am proud of
him that he choose Christ because, yeah, Christ is life, and, yeah, he knew that He's going to, yeah, God is going to
look after his family. - [Todd] We're talking today
on Voice of the Martyrs Radio with Rashin Soodmand. She is the daughter of
Pastor Hossein Soodmand, who was martyred in Iran. How did you find out, Rashin, that your father had been executed? - [Rashin] I was in school, and I came home, and no one was at home. And then after one hour, that was not normal. It was weird, so usually
my mom had to be at home when we were coming from school, but it was... so it was
strange that no one is at home. After one hour they came because they went to the graveyard. On that day they informed my family and Brother Haik, and other pastors, he was executed, so they
immediately went to the graveyard. So when they came, I... When they entered the house, even, because they were wearing black... clothes. And then I just, immediately, I realized that "Yeah, something happened to my dad." And then, yeah, everybody
came to our house and told us that. - [Todd] So did Pastor Haik
talk to you about that? About, you know, "Your dad's a hero; your dad has done this amazing thing"? What did he say about it? - [Rashin] Yeah, Brother, the first person he inform us and told us was one of our
neighbor, who was Christian, and we were very close together, so she told us. And then everybody came, and Brother Haik. It was strange atmosphere, because it was between sadness and happiness. So sadness because no one expect that, even churches, expect that to happen. And I remember all the people were crying. And Brother Haik was sad because he loves his friend, his colleague. And also, as a family, we lost our father, but I clearly remember he would say, "I'm jealous of him." (both laugh) - [Rashin] "I'm jealous of him. I had to be the first one, to live... to give my life to Jesus." And it was... I could see the regret in his face, yeah. And then he was preaching very boldly, and powerful. I think that his preaching is still exist in the first day that we heard
about my father martyrdom. (interlude music) - [Todd] That's Rashin Soodmand telling us what it was like when she was just 13 years old and found out that her father had been martyred for his faith. I know all of us who are parents, just naturally, we care
about our kids' safety. We care about their future. Rashin's life reminds us that, ultimately, God is in control, and He loves our children
even more than we do. He has promised that He will take care of the fatherless. He will take care of the widow. We can trust Him with our families and follow His calling, even if it means danger
for us, personally. If you missed any of Rashin's story, I hope you'll listen to the
entire conversation again at VOMRadio.net. Maybe you know somebody else who would be touched by her story. Why not send them a link to VOMRadio.net, or share the podcast link wherever you listen to podcasts? I want to also encourage
you to take advantage of the resources available for this year's International Day of Prayer
for Persecuted Christians. That's coming up on November the 7th. This is a very significant
day for the church; remember, prayer is the first request of our persecuted family members. When we go and visit them and say, "Hey, how can we help you?" The first thing they ask
us to do is pray for them. That's why the International Day of Prayer for Persecuted Christians is so significant and so important. You can find all of the
resources that we've got at VOMRadio.net/IDOP for International Day of Prayer. We have got a short film that
you can show in your church or Bible study group. We've got downloadable resources,
church bulletin inserts, guided prayer slides to help
people know how to pray. There's even a sermon outline if you are a pastor or a teacher looking to tie this into your
presentation that weekend. All of that again, the website, VOMRadio.net/IDOP for International Day of Prayer. We'll also give you a link in the show notes for this episode. That's not the end of Rashin's story. We're going to pick this
conversation back up next week. Rashin experienced the death of other Christian leaders in Iran, people that she knew
personally and was close to. And yet, she continues to serve Jesus and to use her story of
loss to point others to Him. I know you're going to be blessed by the rest of our
conversation with Rashin, so please be back with us next week right here on The Voice
of the Martyrs Radio.
