Ministry Update & Vision for Farsi-Speaking Outreach in DFW

From: Matthew & Fariba Salar U.S. Missionaries

Date: October 13, 2025

Introduction

This document serves as a ministry update and strategic plan for our work with the Farsi-speaking Muslim community in the North Texas District. My wife and I officially moved into the district in August 2024 and are excited to report on the work that has already begun and to cast a vision for the future.

A Foundation of Experience

We are blessed to bring a total of 10 years of specialized experience in reaching Farsi-speaking Muslims for Christ to this new mission field. This background includes:

• 6 years as fully appointed U.S. Missionaries in Amarillo.

• 2 years as West Texas District Missionaries in Amarillo.

• 2.5 years of church planting for Farsi-speaking Muslims in Thailand.

Our Proven Ministry Model in Amarillo

In Amarillo, God blessed us with a fruitful ministry centered on providing holistic support to the Farsi-speaking Muslim refugee community. We learned that the key to reaching them was building deep friendship and trust. We did this by helping them navigate every imaginable practical need—assisting them in finding jobs, guiding them through the process of buying a car or renting an apartment, accompanying them on hospital visits, and helping them enroll children in school or understand how to pay utility bills. Alongside this practical help, we offered ESL and Citizenship classes that featured a 10-minute devotional time in Farsi, which opened the door for the Gospel. This model proved effective, and in 2019, five Muslims gave their lives to Jesus. With those new converts, we planted the Persian Elevate Church.

The Transition to DFW & The Evolution of Persian Elevate Church

We felt a clear call to move to DFW because of the strategic mission field here: an estimated 100,000 Farsi-speaking Muslims, primarily Iranians and Afghans, who, until now, have not had an Assembly of God missionary unit appointed to them.

When it became clear we needed to move, instead of closing our Amarillo church, we moved it to Google Meet (a video conference platform similar to Zoom). The Holy Spirit transformed this into a thriving global online ministry that currently meets every Friday at 11:30 AM Central Time, with attendees from across the U.S., Canada, and even among refugees in Turkey and people in Iran.

Our Vision and Current Work in Garland

Our Work Has Already Begun

I am excited to report that as of this month, I have opened my office in Garland. While our formal programs are still being developed, our core ministry of building relationships through practical support for the Farsi-speaking Muslim community has already begun. I am actively meeting with individuals and families, helping them navigate life in DFW and providing support wherever needed, just as we did in Amarillo.

Future Plans for the Ministry Center

1. Establish a DOJ-Recognized Immigration Advocacy Center: Our primary goal is to become a Department of Justice recognized immigration advocacy center to serve the Farsi-speaking Muslim community. This will be a powerful tool for service. To achieve this, we are following a rigorous, multi-step accreditation process:

   • Step 1: Foundational Training (Completed): I have successfully completed a 40-hour course on foundational immigration law with World Relief.

   • Step 2: Advanced Training (In Progress): I am currently in the middle of a second 40-hour training, delivered via webinars, with the organization Clinic.

   • Step 3: Practical Application (Upcoming): The next step after completing the current training is to undergo a period of practical shadowing with an accredited representative.

   • Step 4: DOJ Application: Finally, we will submit our formal application to the Department of Justice. They will review our training and experience, and may either grant accreditation or request further training before final approval.

2. We anticipate receiving our partial accreditation by April 2026.

3. Launch Outreach Programs: Beginning in September 2026, we will formally launch our ESL and Citizenship classes for the Farsi-speaking Muslim community, building on the foundation of the relationships we are forming now.

The Future of Persian Elevate Church

The church will remain online to serve its global congregation and will be officially registered as a Parent Affiliated Church (PAC) of First at Firewheel Assembly of God under Pastor Josh Satterfield. A hybrid (in-person/online) model will only be considered in the future when the Holy Spirit confirms the time is right and a core group of new, local believers from a Farsi-speaking Muslim background—at least ten people—is established in DFW.