As Kouroush walks around the building, he’s clearly proud of how he and his church turned the empty floor into a welcoming place of rest. The facility has a training room that doubles as a church on Sundays, a cafe with a cozy reading nook and a fully stacked kitchen. “We gather here for training, Bible study and to meet each other over tea,” Kouroush explains. This center is much more than a gathering place: It’s a refuge.

The center is intended to be a first stop for Iranian believers after they have fled Iran, a country in which Christianity is largely underground. When Christian converts are caught in Iran, they are often given a choice: Flee, or be sent to prison for an indefinite time period. And so, many cross the border to Turkey. But while Turkey is a safe place to live, life as a refugee is hard and Iranians often feel disoriented and alone.

This was Kouroush’s story, too. So he decided to do something about it. And hence, this center was born, thanks to your gifts and prayers. It’s already changing lives. “We don’t only offer a safe place for believers,” Kouroush says. “We also give them opportunities to satisfy their hunger for the gospel and break chains [in] doing so.”

And Kouroush is so thankful for your support. “We don’t know each other,” he says, “but, because we all follow Christ, we are connected.”