Transform Iran is a Christian ministry that aims to transform Iranian society by planting underground churches, developing leaders, and spreading the gospel through media outreach and humanitarian aid. The organization focuses on long-term, structural, and spiritual change across Iran. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Transform Iran CEO Lana Silk to learn more.
Lana Silk’s Background
Could you tell me more about your background? Silk said:
“I was born and raised in Iran, right at the peak of the revolution that brought in the nation’s present day regime, known as the Islamic Republic of Iran. My family emigrated to England just before my tenth birthday. I completed my secondary and higher education in England, gaining an honors degree in Computer Engineering from Imperial College and then going on to complete postgraduate studies in Marketing Communication Strategy and Mental Health and Safeguarding in Youth. I spent the next 20 years working in communications and brand development before taking a career break to raise my three children. I kept my skills sharp in that time through consulting particularly helping startups and nonprofits. After that I worked for a few years as a college chaplain before moving to the US with my family where I took on the role of CEO for Transform Iran’s US office.”
“This journey prepared me to lead Transform Iran’s global strategy and also launch Kairos, our innovative AI platform—bringing my technology, communications and ministry experience together. “
Formation Of The Company
How did the idea for the company come together? Silk shared:
“Transform Iran was born out of necessity. In Iran, it is illegal to convert to Christianity or to produce, distribute or access Christian resources. Anyone caught with a Bible or Christian literature can face severe punishment. My parents founded the organization to meet this need by giving Iranians access to Christian teaching, worship and community in ways the government could not shut down.”
“From our earliest days we used technology as the key to unlocking access. We pioneered satellite TV broadcasting in Persian, then expanded into 24/7 radio, websites, social media channels and mobile apps. We also began translating the Bible into the many ethnic languages of Iran that had never had scripture in their mother tongue. Each initiative was a response to one question: how do we safely connect Iranians with hope and truth in a nation where censorship is the norm?”
“Iran is consistently ranked among the most oppressive and censored countries in the world. Satellite equipment is banned, and accessing non-government content can result in heavy fines or even imprisonment. Yet with 60% of the population under 30, Iranians are young, tech savvy and eager to push beyond the limits of the regime. This determination has fueled our drive to innovate. Technology has become the most effective—and often the only—path to bypass state control, empowering millions of Iranians to safely connect with the outside world. “
“That is where Kairos comes in. Kairos is our Christian AI assistant designed to give Iranians a safe, anonymous way to ask deep questions about faith and receive accurate, interactive answers. It allows someone who might be terrified to be caught reading a Bible or attending a church to still explore, learn and even find pastoral care—all in private. Alongside Kairos, we also provide a free, secure, high-speed VPN, enabling Iranians to bypass government surveillance and access global content safely. These digital resources form a critical part of our strategy to break through censorship while protecting users from government tracking.”
“While technology is central to our work, Transform Iran is not just about digital innovation. We also advocate for the release of Christian prisoners, provide trauma counseling, help believers escape when they are in danger and deliver aid to those in desperate need. Together, this is a holistic approach: practical help, spiritual care and pioneering technology.”
“As for my responsibilities, I currently lead our U.S. office, setting and monitoring global strategic objectives, guiding communications strategy and managing relationships with partners. I also oversee budgets and ensure every project aligns with our core mission. Beginning in January 2026, I will step into the role of International President. With nonprofit offices registered in six countries and teams of employees and volunteers across 19, I will be responsible for ensuring our staff thrive, our systems are lean and effective, and our resources—both human and financial—are maximized to create lasting impact.”
“In short, Transform Iran began with a calling to serve the persecuted, and today it continues with the same heart, now expressed through improved innovation. Kairos is the newest expression of that calling—a brand within Transform Iran that uses cutting-edge AI technology to make the impossible possible for Iranians.”
Favorite Memory
What has been your favorite memory working for the company so far? Silk reflected:
“Working with my parents—who founded Transform Iran—has been incredibly meaningful. Their vision laid the foundation and it has been my honor to expand it. Launching Kairos under that same vision is especially significant: it’s both a biblical continuation of their mission and a bold step into the future to meet the evolving needs and capabilities of Iranians today.”
Core Services
What are the company’s core services? Silk explained:
“Transform Iran exists to serve Iranians living under one of the most censored and oppressive regimes in the world. While we provide spiritual, emotional and practical support through broadcasting, Bible translation, advocacy, counseling and aid, technology remains one of the most powerful ways to reach Iranians safely and effectively. Therefore, our digital resources include:
· Kairos: our flagship AI assistant, available in 256 languages, designed to answer questions about faith, provide counseling and offer discipleship in a safe, anonymous and scalable way. For Iranians, anonymity is not just a convenience—it is life-saving
· TI VPN: a secure, free VPN to bypass Iran’s government restrictions and surveillance
· Broadcasting Network: 24/7 Christian satellite TV, three radio stations, websites, social media channels and mobile apps reaching millions
· Persian Community Church: an online church community connecting 20,000–25,000 Iranians monthly to teaching and fellowship
· Bible Translation: translating scripture into the ethnic languages of Iran still without access
Those who want deeper connection can call counselors who man our lines from outside the country, and eventually, when trust and safety are established, join real churches that meet in homes across Iran.
In short, Kairos leads the way as the newest and most innovative expression of Transform Iran’s mission, combining cutting-edge technology with the timeless message of hope.”
Challenges Faced
Have you faced any challenges in your sector of work recently? Silk acknowledged:
“The Iranian government continually tries to infiltrate our networks, hack our platforms and block our presence online. But innovation is in our DNA. Just as we pioneered satellite broadcasting, today we are leveraging tools like Kairos, digital support systems and secure VPNs to stay ahead of threats and ensure safe access for Iranians.”
Evolution Of The Company’s Technology
How has the company’s technology evolved since launching? Silk noted:
“Transform Iran has always been on the cutting edge of technology. We were the first to broadcast Farsi Christian TV more than 20 years ago when no one else was doing it. We were among the first to use Zoom for large-scale digital church gatherings—long before the pandemic—so much so that our team was in direct contact with Zoom engineers to troubleshoot bugs because their system couldn’t yet handle hundreds of simultaneous users. We also pioneered interactive online church in Farsi, launched multiple 24/7 radio stations, and developed one of the first secure online Q&A platforms for Iranians to explore questions of faith.”
“Now we are once again breaking new ground with Kairos’ launch—to provide pastoral support, theological teaching and discipleship under Iran’s censorship. Kairos allows Iranians to ask questions and explore faith in a way that is safe, scalable and anonymous, something unimaginable even a few years ago.”
“Every step has reflected the same principle: embrace technology to serve people where governments and censors try to silence them, and build tools that ensure Iranians can connect with truth and hope despite the risks.”
Significant Milestones
What have been some of the company’s most significant milestones? Silk cited:
· 2000: pioneering Farsi Christian TV broadcasting (first programs broadcast under ‘Sama TV’ in 2001)
· 2005: begin trauma counseling and education project: ‘Pearl of Persia’, working amongst Iran’s prostitutes and drug addicts
· 2007: launched Farsi Christian News Network (fcnn.
· 2015: launched ‘Porpasokh’ an interactive Q&A site answering questions on faith and spirituality from a Christian lens (normally illegal in Iran)
· 2018: launched Farsi digital church: Persian Community Church (first Farsi interactive online church community)
· 2020: Sama TV begins live Friday night broadcasts; now viewers from Iran can call in and interact with hosts
· 2021: launched Farsi Christian radio (Persian World Radio)
· 2021: begin translating the Christian Bible into Iran’s ethnic languages
· 2025: launched Kairos (free Christian AI in 256 languages) + free VPN for Iranians
Total Addressable Market (TAM)
What total addressable market (TAM) size is the company pursuing? Silk assessed:
“The immediate focus are the 90 million Iranians in Iran, followed by the 5-6 million Iranians in the Iranian diaspora. Then our Afghan and Tajik neighbors who speak a very similar language and are culturally closely linked to Iran.”
Differentiation From The Competition
What differentiates the company from its competition? Silk affirmed:
“Transform Iran is the largest Christian network in Iran, with hundreds of churches across 53 cities and a reach that serves millions. Through this network we provide both spiritual counsel and practical aid—food, medical care and emergency relief—at a scale no other organization can match. As an OFAC-certified nonprofit, we are also uniquely able to channel resources securely from outside Iran into the country and ensure they are safely distributed to those in need.”
“Beyond Iran, we are the most connected community of Iranian Christians in the Diaspora, with nonprofit offices in six countries and teams spread across 19. This global reach allows us to launch strategic projects that support Iranians both inside and outside the country.”
“What also sets us apart is our ability to integrate practical aid, spiritual support and cutting-edge technology, now through Kairos, by combining decades of trusted ministry with the scalability and anonymity of AI, giving Iranians safe access to pastoral care and answers to their deepest questions in ways no other organization can.”
Future Company Goals
What are some of the company’s future goals? Silk emphasized:
“We want to see a free and transformed Iran where every person has the right and freedom to choose their faith and express it freely. We want to see social justice restored in Iran, tackling the desperate effects of poverty, addiction, abuse and prostitution in Iran. We also want to help bring healing to the land through a new regime that will not only tackle the welfare and mental health crisis, but also the infrastructure of Iran with water, gas, electricity shortages addressed and accessible housing, education and career paths for all.”
“Technology will continue to play a critical role in this effort, including by expanding Kairos, enhancing digital communities and preparing systems that can sustain long-term positive change when the political climate shifts.”
Additional Thoughts
Any other topics you would like to discuss? Silk concluded:
“Iran is at the brink of significant long-term change. It is no longer an ‘if’ but a ‘how’ and ‘when’. Now is the time to prepare and put systems, processes, products and networks in place that will be able to sustain a healthy stable long-term change in Iran.”
“And a change in Iran is not just good for the Iranian people. It is good for the rest of the world too. Think what it would mean if the force behind Iran’s proxies and the many other evildoers in the world that Iran funds was uprooted and ceased to operate?”
“Help us get the message of hope and courage and strength to the people of Iran, help us amplify their voices, and help us prepare well so that when change happens, we will not have another case of a fallen government leading to chaos in the land.”
