In 1996, Sam Nasser felt that God was leading him to begin a Persian focused ministry. The ministry began in Montreal, Quebec with a small group of believers gathered together in a home. For 6 years the ministry had no financial support but continued with the Holy Spirit’s guidance and the Lord’s blessing and help. In 2001, a Baptist church in the east of Toronto allowed the Persian ministry to use their facilities. Within two years, a large number of Iranians came to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and the ministry started to grow. In 2003, after much prayer and desire to serve and help nurture the growing number of Persian speaking believers, the Persian ministry accepted the offer to join the Christian Missionary and Alliance church of Bayview Glen in Thornhill.
Since joining Bayview Glen in 2003, the Persian ministry has attracted and witnessed to a large population of Iranians in the Toronto community and around the world. In 2010, the Persian ministry at Bayview Glen became known as Mohabat Church (meaning love). By remaining in touch with the Persian culture, the church has been able to successfully reach and witness to a large number of Iranians through events such as their annual Persian New Year. Mohabat has also been successful in reaching the international Iranian community. In 2004, a number of Iranians in Tehran came to faith in Christ by listening to the Farsi sermon and worship songs through a mobile phone held open during a service at Mohabat. The Mohabat website has also been an essential witnessing tool in reaching Iranians around the world as Pastor Sam’s sermons can be heard on the website and accessed in Iran.
As the church continues to grow, Mohabat plans to train and develop new leaders, pastors, teachers, evangelists and missionaries to do the Great Commission. We continue to need spiritual support as we seek to reach the Muslim community locally, national and around the globe.