Iranian Underground House Churches (IUHC) is a Christian network serving communities across Iran through discipleship, leadership development, Bible study, and underground ministry.
WHO WE ARE
About Iranian Underground House Churches
A Mega Network of Underground House Churches in Iran
With an estimated 100,000+ members, IUHC is believed to be one of the largest underground house church networks in Iran. Founded in 2005, IUHC has grown from a small number of believers into a nationwide network of house churches across 23 provinces. Because underground house churches typically meet in small groups for security, the network is not one physical church building but a connected movement of many local communities.
IUHC is an evangelical network of Persian-speaking house churches committed to making disciples and strengthening the Church throughout Iran. Despite the risk of persecution, IUHC has worked to share the gospel, disciple new believers, and help organize house churches across the country. IUHC is an indigenous ministry that began within Iran and is led by Iranian believers. Its primary focus is to strengthen, equip, and expand the Church among Persian-speaking communities while encouraging believers to grow in their faith and share the hope of Jesus Christ with others.
Our Mission
“IUHC” and “Go and Do” provides a variety of ministry programs, including:
Biblical teaching and Bible studies. Leadership and ministry training. Advanced discipleship programs. Intensive discipleship courses. Online learning and digital resources. Specialized ministry training for church leaders. Translation of Christian articles and educational materials. Collaboration with believers in other persecuted countries to share knowledge, ministry resources, and practical experience.
Our Vision
Our vision is for every person in Iran to have the opportunity to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ and freely choose whether to follow Him. We pray that the Church in Iran will continue to grow in faith, maturity, and love, raising up disciples who will faithfully serve Christ and share the hope of the Gospel with others. We also envision Iran becoming a nation that sends missionaries and church leaders to serve people around the world, demonstrating the transforming power of Christ through lives marked by faith, compassion, and courage.
A Brief History about our Founder
He Started With People, Not Resources
Joshua did not begin with a large organization, a team of advisors, or a substantial financial foundation. He started with people. He invested in relationships, trusted individuals, and believed that ordinary people could accomplish extraordinary things when given purpose, responsibility, and hope.
“The great organizations do not always begin with great resources. Sometimes they begin with one person who believes in people—and chooses to trust them” -Joshua
Joshua Ehm is an author, educator, Christian leader, and one of the founders of Iranian Underground House Churches (IUHC). Born into a devout Muslim family in Iran, he memorized much of the Quran during his youth before eventually embracing Christianity. His Christian ministry began in Tehran in 2004–2005, serving people experiencing homelessness and addiction and helping establish early underground house-church communities. In 2006, he was arrested and imprisoned in Evin Prison for 15 months, an experience that became an important part of his story of faith and leadership.
As the underground Christian community expanded, Joshua eventually left Iran and became a refugee in Turkey before arriving in the United States in 2014. After learning English and completing his college education, he spent more than nine years working in college education while continuing his involvement with IUHC. Over more than 21 years of leadership, his work has included discipleship, leadership development, writing, teaching, and supporting underground Christian communities.
Joshua is also the author of several books, including Becoming Joshua: His First Two Lives, Seven Colors of Heaven, and The Power of One Life. His writing explores faith, persecution, resilience, leadership, refugees and immigration, human relationships, purpose, and hope. He continues to write and speak while supporting the work and mission of IUHC.
