Hindered by shame caused by incorrect teaching Naghmeh Panahi now freeely serves the underground churches. Here how this came about and much more in PART TWO of our conversation on The Eden Podcast.

The Tru316 Foundation (www.Tru316.com) is the home of The Eden Podcast with Bruce C. E. Fleming where we “true” the verse of Genesis 3:16. The Tru316 Message is that “God didn’t curse Eve (or Adam) or limit woman in any way.” Once Genesis 3:16 is made clear the other passages on women and men become clear too. You are encouraged to access the episodes of Seasons 1-11 of The Eden Podcast for teaching on the seven key passages on women and men. Are you a reader? We invite you to get from Amazon the four books by Bruce C. E. Fleming in The Eden Book Series (Tru316.com/trubooks). Would you like to support the work of the Tru316 Foundation? You can become a Tru Partner here: www.Tru316.com/partner

Learn why Naghmeh Panahi says "I think we have misunderstood Genesis" and "Because we are honoring women in the house churches of Iran is one of the reasons God is blessing so much." This is Part One of our remarkable interview with underground house church leader Nagmeh Panahi.

Why did Naghmeh feel ashamed when she saw how God raised up women to lead the underground house churches during the revival in the land of her birth? Bruce and Naghmeh talk about this and the life changing insights from Eden that open doors for all to minister using God's good gifts. Born in Tehran in 1977, Naghmeh Abedini Panahi immigrated to the United States at the age of nine and soon converted from Islam to Christianity. In late 2001, after graduating from college, she returned to Iran to work as a businesswoman and missionary. There, she witnessed—and experienced—the oppression and violence women are subjected to every day in the Middle East. It was there that she also met her future husband, Saeed Abedini, with whom she led one of the largest house-church movements in Iran.

In 2005, due to persecution, she and Saeed moved to the United States, where their two children were born. When Saeed visited Iran in 2012 to work on opening an orphanage, he was arrested for his involvement in the underground church and sentenced to eight years in a notorious prison. Naghmeh unceasingly advocated for Saeed’s release, appealing to President Barack Obama, Donald Trump, the U.S. Congress, the United Nations, and nearly every major news outlet over the three and a half years that Saeed was in prison.

Yet underneath the surface of her leadership in the Iranian house church, her family life in America, and the spotlight of her advocacy, Naghmeh had been an abused wife, and Saeed’s imprisonment had further intensified his controlling and abusive behavior. It took the crisis and aftermath of Saeed’s arrest for Naghmeh to finally recognize what had been happening to her and begin to find healing. Naghmeh’s personal experience with domestic violence and the misuse of religion to reinforce abuse has given her a passion to advocate for women who are vulnerable to abuse and oppression because of religion.

She is the cofounder and executive director of Tahir Alnisa (“Setting Women Free”) Foundation, which serves women and children around the world impacted by domestic abuse and religious-motivated violence. Naghmeh’s autobiography, I Didn’t Survive: Emerging Whole After Deception, Persecution, and Hidden Abuse (Whitaker House), was released in October 2023.

Links: https://www.tahriralnisa.org/about/naghmeh-panahi/ and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SJr4PaZ8Mg

The Tru316 Foundation (www.Tru316.com) is the home of The Eden Podcast with Bruce C. E. Fleming where we “true” the verse of Genesis 3:16. The Tru316 Message is that “God didn’t curse Eve (or Adam) or limit woman in any way.” Once Genesis 3:16 is made clear the other passages on women and men become clear too. You are encouraged to access the episodes of Seasons 1-11 of The Eden Podcast for teaching on the seven key passages on women and men. Are you a reader? We invite you to get from Amazon the four books by Bruce C. E. Fleming in The Eden Book Series (Tru316.com/trubooks). Would you like to support the work of the Tru316 Foundation? You can become a Tru Partner here: www.Tru316.com/partner

We asked Dr. Göran Janzon about the TEN THOUSAND SWEDISH CHRISTIANS who attended the Summer Celebration this year at TORP. He began by recounting the ministry of Nelly Hall and the female Evangelists of the Swedish Evangelical Free Mission - how they were blessed by God in the late 1800's and their impact on the 21st Century churches in Sweden and beyond.

The Tru316 Foundation (www.Tru316.com) is the home of The Eden Podcast with Bruce C. E. Fleming where we “true” the verse of Genesis 3:16. The Tru316 Message is that “God didn’t curse Eve (or Adam) or limit woman in any way.” Once Genesis 3:16 is made clear the other passages on women and men become clear too. You are encouraged to access the episodes of Seasons 1-11 of The Eden Podcast for teaching on the seven key passages on women and men. Are you a reader? We invite you to get from Amazon the four books by Bruce C. E. Fleming in The Eden Book Series (Tru316.com/trubooks). Would you like to support the work of the Tru316 Foundation? You can become a Tru Partner here: www.Tru316.com/partner

Swedish Church Historian and Missiologist Dr. Göran Janzon recounts the development of training of women and men in ministry on two continents. He was instrumental in pioneering changes in training programs both in Sweden and in the Central African Republic.

The Tru316 Foundation (www.Tru316.com) is the home of The Eden Podcast with Bruce C. E. Fleming where we “true” the verse of Genesis 3:16. The Tru316 Message is that “God didn’t curse Eve (or Adam) or limit woman in any way.” Once Genesis 3:16 is made clear the other passages on women and men become clear too. You are encouraged to access the episodes of Seasons 1-11 of The Eden Podcast for teaching on the seven key passages on women and men. Are you a reader? We invite you to get from Amazon the four books by Bruce C. E. Fleming in The Eden Book Series (Tru316.com/trubooks). Would you like to support the work of the Tru316 Foundation? You can become a Tru Partner here: www.Tru316.com/partner

Finding Jesus in the Garden of Eden? Yes! Naming errors by those whose views have gone askew? Yes! Let's look at the Gospel in the Garden. Then, lets see where many have gone askew in their view of New Testament passages on women and men because their view of Genesis 3:16 was askew too.

Go Deeper? We invite you to get a copy (audiobook on Audible, hard copy or eBook at Amazon) of The Book of Eden, Genesis 2-3 by Bruce C. E. Fleming. You can also sign up for our Tru School Workshops on the four key passages on women and men here: Tru316.com/workshop

The Tru316 Foundation (www.Tru316.com) is the home of The Eden Podcast with Bruce C. E. Fleming where we “true” the verse of Genesis 3:16. The Tru316 Message is that “God didn’t curse Eve (or Adam) or limit woman in any way.” Once Genesis 3:16 is made clear the other passages on women and men become clear too. You are encouraged to access the episodes of Seasons 1-11 of The Eden Podcast for teaching on the seven key passages on women and men. Are you a reader? We invite you to get from Amazon the four books by Bruce C. E. Fleming in The Eden Book Series (Tru316.com/trubooks). Would you like to support the work of the Tru316 Foundation? You can become a Tru Partner here: www.Tru316.com/partner

In Part 2 Patrick Doyle goes deeper into the topics of spiritual abuse and emotional abuse plus "trust and healing" which deals with forgiveness and reconciliation. These topics are covered in his videos and his book "Death of a Thousand Cuts - the impact of emotional abuse. A guide to clarity and healing."

The Tru316 Foundation (www.Tru316.com) is the home of The Eden Podcast with Bruce C. E. Fleming where we “true” the verse of Genesis 3:16. The Tru316 Message is that “God didn’t curse Eve (or Adam) or limit woman in any way.” Once Genesis 3:16 is made clear the other passages on women and men become clear too. You are encouraged to access the episodes of Seasons 1-11 of The Eden Podcast for teaching on the seven key passages on women and men. Are you a reader? We invite you to get from Amazon the four books by Bruce C. E. Fleming in The Eden Book Series (Tru316.com/trubooks). Would you like to support the work of the Tru316 Foundation? You can become a Tru Partner here: www.Tru316.com/partner

Patrick says "One of the ways I learned about trauma was by being in it." From a traumatic childhood Patrick now is a #1 best-selling author, speaker, and counselor with more than 30 years of experience guiding individuals through healing from emotional abuse, addiction, and trauma. He tells us his Faith Story, his Ministry Story and his Tru316 Story on The Eden Podcast, Part One.

Patrick has been a pastor, directed non-profits, spoken at conferences, and appeared on radio, TV, and on YouTube. He is the founder of Pathway to Hope, an online community dedicated to helping women rebuild trust in themselves, set healthy boundaries, and find freedom from toxic cycles.

The Tru316 Foundation (www.Tru316.com) is the home of The Eden Podcast with Bruce C. E. Fleming where we “true” the verse of Genesis 3:16. The Tru316 Message is that “God didn’t curse Eve (or Adam) or limit woman in any way.” Once Genesis 3:16 is made clear the other passages on women and men become clear too. You are encouraged to access the episodes of Seasons 1-11 of The Eden Podcast for teaching on the seven key passages on women and men. Are you a reader? We invite you to get from Amazon the four books by Bruce C. E. Fleming in The Eden Book Series (Tru316.com/trubooks). Would you like to support the work of the Tru316 Foundation? You can become a Tru Partner here: www.Tru316.com/partner

PART TWO (S17Ep11) Author Marissa Burt focuses on how distorted theology has affected the raising of children over the past decades. Her book is titled, "The Myth of 'Good Christian Parenting' - How false promises betrayed a generation of Evangelical families." She and her co-author did extensive surveys and researched more than 100 publications as they thought again about parenting advice from Bill Gothard to Douglas Wilson and more. Their book comes out October 14, 2025.

Here are relevant links:

The Book of Eden, Genesis 2-3 by Bruce C. E.Fleming https://a.co/d/e5QBJvH

The Myth of "Good Christian Parenting" by Marissa Burt and Kelsey McGinnis https://a.co/d/eTx9Ygo

Other links:

Instagram: @mburtwrites | @kelseykmcginnis

Facebook: @mburtwrites | @kelsey.kramermcginnis

TikTok: @mburtwrites | @kelseykmcg

YouTube: @mburtwrites

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Marissa Franks Burt (MA in Theological Studies, Columbia International University) is a novelist, editor, teacher, and cohost of the At Home with the Lectionary and In the Church Library podcasts. She lives in a small town in Washington's Snoqualmie Valley with her husband, six children, and heaps of books.

Kelsey Kramer McGinnis (PhD, University of Iowa) is a musicologist, educator, and correspondent for Christianity Today, writing on worship practices and Christian subculture. She is an adjunct professor at Grand View University in Des Moines and previously worked at the University of Iowa Center for Human Rights.

The Tru316 Foundation (www.Tru316.com) is the home of The Eden Podcast with Bruce C. E. Fleming where we “true” the verse of Genesis 3:16. The Tru316 Message is that “God didn’t curse Eve (or Adam) or limit woman in any way.” Once Genesis 3:16 is made clear the other passages on women and men become clear too. You are encouraged to access the episodes of Seasons 1-11 of The Eden Podcast for teaching on the seven key passages on women and men. Are you a reader? We invite you to get from Amazon the four books by Bruce C. E. Fleming in The Eden Book Series (Tru316.com/trubooks). Would you like to support the work of the Tru316 Foundation? You can become a Tru Partner here: www.Tru316.com/partner