"...unless a grain of wheat falls into the
ground
and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much
fruit" John 12:24
The life of Haik Hovsepian as the Superintendent of the Protestant
churches in Iran has set a spiritual example for all of us to follow.
Haik was a
caring father to four children and a faithful husband to Takoosh.
He
was an outspoken Christian apologist, evangelist, and a gifted musician.After almost Fourteen years of Haik's martyrdom, the church of Iran still
remembers him as a faithful leader who never left the flock at any cost. His martyrdom has raised many fearless
servants to continue the work he had started.
Since the start of Haik's ministry as a pastor in Gorgan, Iran
in 1964,
the Hovsepian
family has gone through many crises.
While Haik and
Takoosh were traveling with a missionary family, a tragic accident killed
their first born son. Though this was the first of many tragedies, they
trusted in the Lord and continued their faithful ministry. Takoosh says
"Christian life is like a university, which you never graduate from. After
each tragedy we faced, we thought we learnt it all...all the spiritual
lessons, but later you realize it's indeed a long process to become like
Christ."
Despite all the threats, challenges, and financial struggles, Haik and Takoosh
never gave up. In 1982, Haik became the Superintendent of Assemblies of God
churches in Iran, and several years later the representative of all
Protestant churches in Iran.
He did not
believe in succumbing to government pressure and chose instead to “tell the
world” about the plight of Iranian Christians. He said, “If we go to jail or
die for our faith, we want the whole Christian world to know what is
happening to their brothers and sisters.” His efforts reached it's climax in
1991 when Iran's church received the news of Pastor Hosein
Soodmand's martyrdom in city of Mashhad, and soon after in 1993, with the
news of execution order of Pastor Mehdi Dibaj, a convert from Islam, who was
put in prison for almost ten years.
Haik worked
very hard to bring the attention of human rights as well as other violations
of religious freedom of Christians in Iran with the world. Due to the
world’s reaction, Reverend Mehdi Dibadj was released on January 16, 1994,
only few days before his official execution date.
On
January 19, 1994 Haik disappeared from the streets of Tehran. The
authorities reported his death to his family on January 30;
he was stabbed 26 times in his chest.
Indeed, Haik gave his
heart to Christ twice.
Once when he invited Christ to his life as his Savior,
and second, when his heart was torn apart for his faith in Christ.
After the
martyrdom of Haik, several other Iranian believers, including Pastor Mehdi Dibadj,
Pastor Tateos Mikaelian, and Pastor Mohammad Bagher Yusefi, also known as
Pastor “Ravanbaksh” (soul giver) disappeared.
After twelve years, the Hovsepian family still feels Haik's absence everyday, but at the same time
they know where he is and will meet him soon. For them, forgiveness, is a
daily process.
Haik's family moved to the US in 2000. Today, each
family member is a part of different ministries, encouraging and mobilizing
Iranians in their Christian growth.
For more information about the Hovsepian Ministries, please
click here.
