Fleeing Iran, Finding Faith

0:00On March 11th, here's the latest out of Birmingham. David Nasser grew up in Iran and fled as a nine-year-old during the 1979 Islamic Revolution. His father, a high-ranking military officer loyal to the Shah, arranged their escape just as the regime took hold and hostages were seized in Tehran. Now a teaching pastor at a church in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Nasser is sharing his story widely amid rising U.S. Iran tensions. The family posed their trip as medical travel for his mother, flying to Switzerland before seeking U.S. asylum through embassies there and in Munich, Germany. They waited nine months but faced skepticism toward Iranians. Eventually, they settled in Alabama where his father started a French restaurant to rebuild their lives. Church members from Shades Mountain Baptist discovered the struggling restaurant and pitched in as volunteers. The kindness led to Bible studies at the Nasser home, drawing in the youth group week after week. At 18, David converted to Christianity, finding peace after a culturally Islamic upbringing

1:04and soon his whole family followed. Nasser launched a speaking career, traveling with evangelists like J. Strack and for the Billy Graham group, hitting up to 17 events a year. He wrote best-selling books on true faith over empty religion, served at Liberty University and built his own outreach ministry. Lately, he's preached on it at his church, joined Fox News shows and guested on podcasts, calling the moment scary yet thrilling for relatives in Iran. He hopes it's the start of real freedom for his homeland after decades of dreaming and praying for change. Special thanks to our sponsor for supporting this episode. No need to switch positions. The sound is already where your head is, S-O-L-I, solely pillow.com.