The faith passed down by Farid from Afghanistan survived persecution, danger, exile, and even the murder of his own son.
A refuge in times of fear, a light in seasons of darkness, this generational faith shaped not only the life of his children, but also the lives of his grandchildren – a legacy that endures to this day. One of Farid’s sons, Alborz, recently shared the family’s remarkable story with SAT-7 PARS.
“As I write these lines, I am 47 years old,” he said. “But the story of my faith begins with my father’s life in Afghanistan…
“My father [Farid] was a man who served the people. You could say he was like a doctor. Anyone who was in pain, he bandaged their wounds, gave them medicine. It didn’t matter to him whether that person was a friend or an enemy; my father brought them home, showed them kindness, and treated their wounds.”
Long before Alborz had his own children – years before they would grow up watching SAT-7 PARS children’s programs – his father, Farid, lived a life of quiet dignity.
And yet, at that stage, Farid’s kindness was not rooted in Christian faith. That came later, through an unexpected encounter that altered the course of the family’s future forever…
Belief Begins
One day, Farid met a Russian soldier who spoke Persian. The soldier handed him a Bible. “My father began to read it,” Alborz explains. “And from that moment, he came to faith in Jesus Christ.”
Danger followed this newfound faith, and Farid had to flee. But during his escape, armed men accosted him.
“While he was kneeling on the ground, someone pointed a gun at his head to kill him,” Alborz says. “At that moment, his little son – my brother – ran and put his finger inside the barrel of the gun. The man started crying. And my father survived.”
Understandably, Farid moved his young family to Iran.
From his earliest days, Alborz recalls his father speaking of his faith: “My father always told me, ‘Jesus Christ is the true and real way.’ But,” Alborz adds, “I never listened to him.”
Instead, the young man looked elsewhere for fulfilment: “In search of the right way, I tried everything. But I found no peace,” he said.
Eventually, when Alborz was 17, everything came to a head. “I was helping people at my house of worship, distributing food. I saw they had prepared a full plate for an important person. But for a poor person, they prepared a plate with very little.
“I couldn’t stand it. I smashed both dishes. Everyone got angry and beat me severely, to the point where I was about to die.”
Alborz fled home, straight into the arms of Farid. “He embraced me and said, ‘Jesus Christ knows your pains. He is a God who loves everyone equally.’”
In that moment, years of searching suddenly gave way to certainty. “Right there, at 17,” Alborz recalls, “I gave my heart to Jesus Christ.”
A Devastating Cost
Later, the family returned to Afghanistan, determined to serve others despite the danger: “We built roads, houses, and baths for people, dug wells, and provided places for those who had no money to marry.”
But their faith came at a devastating cost. Alborz’s brother – a 25-year-old engineer who openly shared the Gospel and gave generously to the poor – was kidnapped by the Taliban after his faith was discovered.
“They shot him in the legs, broke his bones, and burned him with cigarettes,” Alborz says. “In the end, they killed him.”
Understandably, the grief consumed Alborz. For a long time, forgiveness felt impossible.
“Feelings of hate became my constant companion,” he admits. “The anguish and bitterness that filled my being took its toll and soon I found myself with no friends. Even at home I did not speak with kindness to those around me.”
For three years, Alborz struggled to accept his brother’s death. “My father told me that I must forgive my brother’s killers or it would destroy my life,” he said.
Then, one day, while reading Matthew 5:4 – “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” – the Lord touched Alborz. “After that, I cried, knelt down, repented, and forgave my brother’s enemies.”
The compassion that Farid had shown to others was taking root in his son.
Rebuilding From Scratch
Violence and threats eventually forced the family to flee once more – this time to Tajikistan, where they built house churches, distributed Christian materials, and continued serving others quietly.
It was also there that Alborz’s three children grew up watching SAT-7 PARS. The oldest child, Armita, wrote regularly to her favorite children’s programs, developing a deep connection with the presenters. Often, SAT-7’s Viewer Support Team prayed alongside the family through uncertainty and fear.
“Our life was rebuilt from scratch,” says Alborz. “But God was always with us.”
Safe at Last
Today, after years of hardship and threat, Alborz and his family are finally safe in a western country. And the faith that began with one man being handed a Bible in Afghanistan has traveled across countries and lives: from father to son, and from Alborz to his own children.
“We will continue to serve and share the Word of God with others,” Alborz says. “In all hardships, the Lord never left us.”
The story of Farid and Alborz stands as a reminder that faith is the strongest of legacies: a refuge in fear, a light in darkness, and a hope strong enough to carry entire families through the hardest of times.
Names have been changed to protect the identity of those involved.
