Persian Leadership Development
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Meet Dr. Kambiz Saghaey, Director
Persian church leader, Dr. Kambiz Saghaey is leading the program as Director for Persian Leadership Development. Originally from the Persia, Saghaey and his wife served in several churches and faced persecution for their faith. Now in the United States, the couple desires to continue to help the Persian church grow stronger and deeper. Saghaey’s role is to develop the initiative to train Farsi speakers who can then use the theological knowledge they gain to enrich Persian churches. With his firsthand experience and knowledge of the Persian culture, Saghaey can provide Persian believers with programs that answer their needs. Saghaey began taking online SEBTS classes while in the Middle East and continued later in Central Asia after fleeing persecution in his country. He dreamed of a program that would help more Persian church leaders receive sound, readily accessible theological training. “For many years when I was pastoring I was praying for God to please bring someone to SEBTS to make a program in Farsi. The English was very difficult for me,” Saghaey recounted. “Many pastors came to my mind, but I didn’t know that God was going to answer my prayer with me.”
About Persian Leadership Development
We believe the remarkable movement of God among Persian peoples comes with a responsibility. They must, in turn, organize their efforts to fulfill the demands of the Great Commission, especially in the unreached Muslim world. Healthy churches are the key to advancing the gospel throughout the Farsi-speaking world. Growing healthy churches begins with proper leadership development and that is where a theological training program is critical.
As part of our Global Theological Initiatives, the Persian Leadership Development seeks to provide theological education to Persian church leaders in Farsi, the Persian mother tongue. This initiative is being led by Director Kambiz Saghaey. Dr. Saghaey and his wife are from Persia. They have served in several churches in different areas of the world.
Why is the Persian Leadership Initiative necessary? This initiative provides theological education to Farsi-speaking church leaders. Southeastern’s Global Theological Initiatives is partnering with a ministry organization that is offering free online training in Farsi, which began in 2017. Additionally, the first-ever accredited theological Bachelor’s degree in Farsi was launched in 2019 and the first-ever accredited theological Master’s degree in Farsi was launched in 2022.
