My wife, Meredith, and I are excited to announce a new season in our life. Last week, I accepted the position of Lead Pastor at Providence Church in Frisco, TX. I will begin serving in that role on Sunday October 31st. You can find out more here: www.insideprovidence.com

We have been so honored to spend the past 10+ years in an itinerate speaking ministry (www.afshinziafat.com). In this time, I have been blessed to proclaim the gospel through the Word of God at churches, conferences, camps, retreats, etc. However, the Lord began working in our hearts that it was time to come off the road to a degree and serve in a local ministry capacity. The genesis of this movement was actually a few years back. About 5 years ago, I began leading a ministry called Truth Bible Study in Huntsville, Texas, reaching college students at Sam Houston State University. After a great 5-year run there, we stepped aside and allowed a new speaker to take that ministry on. Almost exactly one year ago, we were approached by students at Baylor University to start a new ministry called Vertical Ministries reaching college students in the Waco, TX area – primarily Baylor students. For the foreseeable future, I will continue as the speaker of this weekly Monday night Bible Study. Our hearts still feel called to this ministry and we are blessed that the elders of Providence Church have requested that I continue speaking at this weekly event. Along with Vertical, I will continue speaking at some key outside speaking engagements. The elders of Providence and I agree that it is good and beneficial that I continue speaking at some events the Lord brings our way. Therefore we will keep Afshin Ziafat Ministries active on a limited basis.

I am also committed to continuing my partnership with Elam Ministries- www.elam.com. Elam’s mission is to strengthen and expand the church in the Iran region and beyond. I will continue to promote the work of Elam Ministries in my future speaking engagements and will continue traveling overseas periodically to train future leaders of the church in Iran.

Meredith and I are very excited to plant our lives and be a part of the Providence family. Please pray for us as we transition into this new stage. Serving as lead pastor of a church was not even on our radar a few months ago. It has been an amazing story to see how God moved our hearts into this new role. If you are in the Dallas area, I invite you to join us on Sunday October 31 when I preach my first sermon as pastor. We are thrilled and humbled that the Lord has called us to lead His people at Providence. Again, we covet your prayers in the coming days and weeks.

For the glory of Jesus Christ,

Afshin and Meredith Ziafat

As Meredith and I read through the book, we were blown away to discover that BJ came to Christ when he heard me preach at a youth rally in Indiana.  There are many times I preach, leave, and never see the results.  Meredith and I got on our knees and thanked the Lord for this young man’s life and witness and that we got to play even a small part in it.  Furthermore, after doing some research, we found out that this youth rally was my first outside speaking engagement when I was an intern at my first church.  So to be sure, my message was probably horrible!  God can use anyone!  I was the speaker and an upstart band that would later be known as Mercy Me led the worship through music.  Mercy Me would eventually write a song based on BJ’s life story also called I Would Die For You.

Our blessing continued when Brent Higgins contacted me through Facebook.  It turns out that the Higgins are now a part of the same mission organization that sent BJ to Peru- Awe Star Ministries in Tulsa, OK.  I was speaking this summer at Super Summer Oklahoma in Shawnee, OK.  So, we quickly made plans to have dinner for four- Brent, Deanna, Meredith, and me- on one of our evenings there.  I know we went to Red Lobster but I have no idea what we ate.  Meredith and I cried, smiled, and rejoiced in our hearts as we heard Brent and Deanna share story after story about BJ and his unquenchable passion to see people come to know Christ.

Brent and Deanna accompanied us to the Super Summer Worship Service where I shared the story of BJ with 1200 students and then recognized the Higgins.  The students were moved and gave a standing ovation to the Higgins.  It was a night to remember!  We have since had the privilege of sharing a couple more meals together in Dallas.

So, you may be thinking why would God allow a 15 year old who is so passionately sharing his faith to pass away.  Well, let me first say that BJ is in the place he always wanted to be- with Jesus.  But let me add that his life is not wasted!  In fact, the Lord is continuing to use his life to impact many around the world with the love of Christ!  In my next post, I will share a couple of stories that will astound you - God is so good!  Please check back.

Until then, I encourage you to pick up a copy of the book, I Would Die For You by Brent and Deanna Higgins.  You will be amazed and inspired to read what a young man was writing in his journal.  You can get this book from www.amazon.com.  Also, check out www.prayforbj.blogspot.com.

- Afshin

AZ