We are Matthew and Fariba Salar, a husband-and-wife missionary team serving under the Assemblies of God U.S. Missions (AGUSM) Intercultural Department. Our life’s calling is simple but profound: to reach the Farsi-speaking community—primarily Iranians and Afghans—with the transformative Gospel of Jesus Christ.
As immigrants ourselves, we intimately understand the challenges of moving to a new country, navigating a new culture, and learning a new language. We bridge the gap between practical everyday needs and spiritual hope, creating safe spaces where Muslims and seekers can experience the love, grace, and salvation found only in Jesus.
Our ministry journey began in Amarillo, Texas, where we spent 10 years building a deeply rooted outreach center. We started small, simply opening our office doors to the local Farsi-speaking community. By offering Level 1 and Level 2 English (ESL) classes, followed by Citizenship preparation courses, we began to meet the immediate, practical needs of the people.
Slowly but surely, walls came down. As we helped families navigate their everyday lives, we built genuine trust. We eventually became the recognized leaders of the Farsi-speaking community in Amarillo. Because of the relationships built through our ESL and citizenship classes, many Muslims began asking questions about Jesus.
In 2019, out of that beautiful harvest, we planted a church specifically for Muslim converts.
What started as a local church plant in Amarillo has now multiplied beyond physical borders. Today, Persian Elevate Church operates as a thriving, global online campus meeting via Google Meet. Every week, Farsi-speaking believers and seekers from all over the world log on to worship, receive Bible teaching in their native language, and grow together in a secure, welcoming community.
In August 2024, the Lord called us to relocate to the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) area to reach the massive Farsi-speaking population here.
We are currently launching our new base of operations at Firewheel Assembly of God in Garland, Texas, where Pastor Josh Satterfield has graciously provided an office and a dedicated room for our outreach. Our goal is to replicate the exact model that was so successful in Amarillo—starting with small ESL classes and growing organically.
As we prepared to launch in Garland, we recognized a massive, unmet need within the immigrant community: legal and administrative immigration assistance.
Currently, our physical launch in Garland is paused while I undergo rigorous, specialized training to become an officially recognized Immigration Advocate. Once this intensive training and organizational setup are complete, our Garland Ministry Center will expand into a comprehensive hub operating four days a week:
Two days a week: Serving as an official Immigration Advocacy Center, guiding families through the complex U.S. immigration system.
Two days a week: Hosting our core Level 1 and Level 2 ESL classes, alongside Citizenship preparation courses.
Because we were not born in the United States, we do not have the lifelong, built-in networks of friends and family that many native-born missionaries rely on. We rely 100% on the partnership of local churches and passionate individuals.
We are currently in a heavy season of itineration, raising the monthly budget required by AGUSM to fully launch this Garland center and keep our global online church thriving. When you partner with us, you are directly investing in reaching Muslims with the Gospel, equipping immigrants to thrive in America, and planting the church where it has never been before.
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