Gap Year: Persian Initiative

As a result of intense persecution, many Persian believers flee their country and relocate to other countries in Western Asia. Avant is working in one Western Asian country that has become an optimal hub for supporting Persian believers and advancing a church plant among them using Avant’s B4T (business for transformation) model. The goal of our B4T ministries is to integrate evangelism and discipleship into the day-to-day operation of a legitimate, sustainable business.

As thousands of disillusioned and disenfranchised Persians flood the country, our network of Muslim-background believers (MBBs) is growing. Many of the MBBs we meet have the desire to use their God-given talents and skills to expedite the gospel to the Persian diaspora, but persecution and economic challenges make it difficult for them to devote any time to ministry. However, with Avant’s B4T model, MBBs can use their skills to start businesses that will support their families while also engaging with their community and devoting time to evangelism and church planting.

Avant has developed a year-long partnership to help Persian believers establish their own transformative start-up businesses. This initiative has already seen three businesses, run by Persian believers, become B4T enterprises. They included a fruit dehydration business, a handcrafts shop and confectionary, and a custom-built furniture and remodeling company. We praise God that these businesses have already led to two small house churches and several new Persian believers!

Through this ongoing project, we plan to support our Persian brothers and sisters for one year with some of their business startup costs like rent, equipment, and materials. Each year, as businesses become self-sustaining, other Persians can enter this partnership and start their own businesses.