A Letter to My Church Family
By Ara Torosian
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
In these painful and uncertain days, our Farsi-speaking community at Cornerstone Church in Los Angeles is in deep shock. After enduring weeks of immigration struggles, our hearts have now been struck again—this time by the devastating news of war in our homeland, Iran.
This past week, many of us have found ourselves glued to the news and social media, waiting—hour by hour—for updates, wondering how much more serious the danger will become. It has become our new reality. Fear. Waiting. Praying. We are constantly worried about our loved ones. There are people currently in Iran who were baptized in this very church and still listen to our sermons regularly. We are far from them, yet deeply connected.
As Iranian immigrants and refugees, we’ve always carried a prayer in our hearts: that Iran would be free. Free to hear the gospel. Free to live in truth and peace. My personal prayer has long been that Cornerstone churches would rise up in every city in my homeland rooted in what God is doing here among us.
But today… I struggle to rejoice. I struggle even to imagine a hopeful future.
We Farsi-speaking believers are living minute by minute with heavy hearts. We’re asking: Are our loved ones safe? Are they alive? What is happening to them? Internet is cut off. Phone lines don’t work. Bread and gasoline are rationed. Banks are closed. Explosions echo through neighborhoods. Fear is everywhere.
Today, I cannot take a side. I don’t know politics. But I do know pain. And like the man with leprosy in Luke 5, I say: “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” (Luke 5:12)
Lord, if You are willing, You can heal our land. You can wipe away our tears. You can change our future.
I do not place my trust in governments or armies. Today, we lean only on “the Lord of heaven and earth,” the One who sees our suffering, the One who holds our tears in a bottle. (Psalm 56:8)
To our Cornerstone family—we ask for your prayers. You are our strength and encouragement. Because of the work of Jesus Christ, who has united us as one body, we know we are not alone. We have you.
“When one part suffers, every part suffers with it.” (1 Corinthians 12:26)
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18)
Please continue to stand with us, pray for us, and weep with us. And most of all, pray for peace and freedom in Iran—so that one day, every knee in our nation will bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. (Philippians 2:10–11)
With love,
Your brother in Christ,
Ara
In these painful and uncertain days, our Farsi-speaking community at Cornerstone Church in Los Angeles is in deep shock. After enduring weeks of immigration struggles, our hearts have now been struck again—this time by the devastating news of war in our homeland, Iran.
This past week, many of us have found ourselves glued to the news and social media, waiting—hour by hour—for updates, wondering how much more serious the danger will become. It has become our new reality. Fear. Waiting. Praying. We are constantly worried about our loved ones. There are people currently in Iran who were baptized in this very church and still listen to our sermons regularly. We are far from them, yet deeply connected.
As Iranian immigrants and refugees, we’ve always carried a prayer in our hearts: that Iran would be free. Free to hear the gospel. Free to live in truth and peace. My personal prayer has long been that Cornerstone churches would rise up in every city in my homeland rooted in what God is doing here among us.
But today… I struggle to rejoice. I struggle even to imagine a hopeful future.
We Farsi-speaking believers are living minute by minute with heavy hearts. We’re asking: Are our loved ones safe? Are they alive? What is happening to them? Internet is cut off. Phone lines don’t work. Bread and gasoline are rationed. Banks are closed. Explosions echo through neighborhoods. Fear is everywhere.
Today, I cannot take a side. I don’t know politics. But I do know pain. And like the man with leprosy in Luke 5, I say: “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” (Luke 5:12)
Lord, if You are willing, You can heal our land. You can wipe away our tears. You can change our future.
I do not place my trust in governments or armies. Today, we lean only on “the Lord of heaven and earth,” the One who sees our suffering, the One who holds our tears in a bottle. (Psalm 56:8)
To our Cornerstone family—we ask for your prayers. You are our strength and encouragement. Because of the work of Jesus Christ, who has united us as one body, we know we are not alone. We have you.
“When one part suffers, every part suffers with it.” (1 Corinthians 12:26)
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18)
Please continue to stand with us, pray for us, and weep with us. And most of all, pray for peace and freedom in Iran—so that one day, every knee in our nation will bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. (Philippians 2:10–11)
With love,
Your brother in Christ,
Ara