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Sama: A Modern Exodus
Sama Salimi grew up in Iran’s underground church, daughter of Rev. Hekmat Salimi, an Anglican priest who came to Christ shortly after the Islamic Revolution, serving for over thirty years across Iran as church planter, pastor, and Bible teacher. As a convert from Islam, Rev. Hekmat was repeatedly imprisoned for his faith. The entire Salimi family were routinely arrested, interrogated, and threatened.
In September 2016, fresh threats of imprisonment and execution left Sama and her parents fleeing Iran. Like Israel’s exodus from Egypt, they faced continued danger and dispossession as refugees before finding asylum in the U.S. They are not alone. Globally, over one hundred million Christians are persecuted because of their faith in Jesus Christ.
A Modern Exodus shares the Salimi family’s story of faith, courage, and God’s continued faithfulness in the darkest moments of persecution and long, weary wanderings of their modern exodus to a new home and promised land. It also chronicles a movement of God that has spread like wildfire across Iran, reaching hearts and lives with the unshakable truth of the gospel and love of Jesus Christ. The vision behind the book is threefold—to awaken the global Church to the reality of persecuted believers in Iran, shed light on the unique struggles of MBBs (Muslim Background Believers), and offer readers an honest, compelling testimony of redemption in Christ.
AUTHOR
Sama Salimi Sadi served beside her parents, Rev. Hekmat and Mahindokht, in Iran's underground church. An English teacher, she began translating Christian books and other materials into Farsi, Iran's principal language, for publication by Elam Ministries.Today, Sama serves with Heart4Iran under Dr. Mike Ansari, supporting underground churches in Iran through broadcasting, continued Farsi translation, and creating content for the ministry’s social media platform. She also speaks publicly and appears in the media as a voice for the persecuted church.
In September 2016, fresh threats of imprisonment and execution left Sama and her parents fleeing Iran. Like Israel’s exodus from Egypt, they faced continued danger and dispossession as refugees before finding asylum in the U.S. They are not alone. Globally, over one hundred million Christians are persecuted because of their faith in Jesus Christ.
A Modern Exodus shares the Salimi family’s story of faith, courage, and God’s continued faithfulness in the darkest moments of persecution and long, weary wanderings of their modern exodus to a new home and promised land. It also chronicles a movement of God that has spread like wildfire across Iran, reaching hearts and lives with the unshakable truth of the gospel and love of Jesus Christ. The vision behind the book is threefold—to awaken the global Church to the reality of persecuted believers in Iran, shed light on the unique struggles of MBBs (Muslim Background Believers), and offer readers an honest, compelling testimony of redemption in Christ.
AUTHOR
Sama Salimi Sadi served beside her parents, Rev. Hekmat and Mahindokht, in Iran's underground church. An English teacher, she began translating Christian books and other materials into Farsi, Iran's principal language, for publication by Elam Ministries.Today, Sama serves with Heart4Iran under Dr. Mike Ansari, supporting underground churches in Iran through broadcasting, continued Farsi translation, and creating content for the ministry’s social media platform. She also speaks publicly and appears in the media as a voice for the persecuted church.
286 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 13, 2025
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March 7, 2026
Compelling true account of the plight - and enduring faith - of Iranian Christians. The author and her family were arrested and persecuted many times before finally escaping the theocratic, evil regime in Iran.
We Americans don’t know how good we have it. This book inspired me to appreciate my freedoms.
And even to rejoice in good or bad weather, as these people suffered weeks/months in filthy solitary confinement with no windows and no opportunity to be outside - just for their faith.
Text heavy, but short chapters; can be read in chunks.
We Americans don’t know how good we have it. This book inspired me to appreciate my freedoms.
And even to rejoice in good or bad weather, as these people suffered weeks/months in filthy solitary confinement with no windows and no opportunity to be outside - just for their faith.
Text heavy, but short chapters; can be read in chunks.
Displaying 1 of 1 review