"God has a plan for Iran," said the stranger.

Aaron H., staff member with Athletes in Action at Arizona State University, couldn't believe what he heard. While volunteering at a bookstore near ASU's campus in Tempe this past spring, the Iranian man told Aaron how he prayed and received Christ years ago when someone told him about Jesus.

Following that unexpected interaction on Tuesday morning with the stranger, Aaron knew he and his wife Mandy were to have a small part in whatever that plan might be.

Just weeks before, Ali K. (pronounced "ah-lee", left in photo), an Iranian friend from Aaron's church, asked him to consider organizing a ministry outreach during an upcoming soccer tournament.

"I had no idea how to go about this," says Aaron, who is used to telling others about Jesus within the college athletic community. But as he prayed, he sensed the Lord asking him to involve his staff team and student-athletes at ASU in showing God's love to the Iranian community.

Donated finances to fund the event as well as support from other AIA staff members encouraged Aaron, confirming the outreach was to happen. With only a few months before the event in September, Aaron and Mandy quickly put together a plan.

The Jamedoosti "Friendship Cup" is an Iranian celebration of soccer held annually over Labor Day weekend in Southern California, since 1988. Iranian-Americans from across the United States come to compete and bring their families to enjoy the camaraderie with others. This year 3,000 attended the event on the campus of Southwestern College in Chula Vista, Calif.

Ali, a former soccer player in his native Iran, has played in the event the last ten years. A former Muslim who left his country for freedom in the United States in 1995, Ali envisions using the Friendship Cup as an opportunity to tell fellow countrymen about Jesus' love, the same love he unexpectedly encountered upon his arrival to North America .

Hopeless in Iran, Ali knew an escape was the only option. His presumed fate in his country became even more apparent when, at age 24, he was imprisoned for five days and given 72 lashes for simply assisting two female friends on the street with a broken-down car.

"I couldn't stand it," says Ali. "I couldn't live there because of corruption."

At age 26, Ali arrived in Toronto, Canada, after a two-week journey through various countries. He had a difficult year searching for work and living in a homeless shelter. Thus, Ali headed to California but not before he'd visited church a few times in Canada, housing a new curiosity about God.

"I was looking for God and knew there was a God out there to find," says Ali.

A month after beginning to attend church in California, Ali prayed and received Christ, as did his new wife, Ellie, also an Iranian.

Now, ten years later, Ali's original vision to tell other Iranians about Jesus came true through partnership with his friends at Arizona State. Four Athletes in Action staff members and four student-athletes drove six hours to Southern California to "show God's love in a practical way" to Friendship Cup participants.

AIA members planted themselves in the middle of the action between four soccer fields, handing out water and Gatorade and free AIA t-shirts in Iran's flag colors (right), even in the sticky, humid heat.

Bibles were picked up by soccer participants as were "The Prize" DVDs, an AIA evangelistic tool featuring premiere soccer athletes. Both resources were available in Farsi, Iran's native language.

AIA staff members printed cards that stated, "Just because God loves you. No strings attached," to go along with the free beverages.

Many Iranians had never seen God's love expressed in such a simple way.

"One man followed me down a path, tapped me on the shoulder and pulled the card out of his pocket," says Hannah Messick, a freshman soccer player at ASU. "He said, 'Who is this God? I really like what you guys are doing here. Tell me about this God.'" Hannah, 18, then told him about Jesus.

Several did not understand how to receive an unmerited gift--similar to Jesus' love for them--and attempted to pay for them.

"Many told us that they had never heard this [message about God's unconditional love] before," says Aaron.

The first AIA outreach at the Friendship Cup even drew attention from top organizers of the event, also Iranian-Americans.

"One told us that he couldn't believe he was talking to us because we are Christians," says Aaron. "But he was so moved that we would come all the way from Arizona to serve them and give water."

The men officially invited the AIA group to come back next year.

It seems that God does have a plan for Iran and that includes showing His love in a practical way to Friendship Cup participants possibly for years to come.

Full names of Athletes in Action staff members have been withheld to protect those serving in religious-sensitive countries. Ali's last name has also been withheld for security reasons.

Photo above: Many spiritual conversations took place at the AIA booth in two days' time.

by T. Allen