The Taliban seized power in Kabul twelve months ago. The Afghan army surrendered Bagram Airbase and with it much equipment and the maximum-security prison. The Taliban released about 5000 prisoners, many of whom were Islamic militants affiliated with the Afghan Taliban, the Pakistani Taliban (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)), al-Qaeda, and Islamic State.
Thousands of vulnerable Afghan Christians fled and were evacuated by Christian aid groups that support the persecuted Church. At the time, the underground church was estimated to comprise around 10 000 converts from Islam (up from 0 in 1950).
Some Christians stayed because they were unable to flee; others – including hundreds of Afghan pastors – chose to remain despite the risk, to be light and salt, bearers of grace and truth, amidst a desperately needy people.
The church still grows….
Taliban spokesman Inamullah Samangani claimed, in speaking to Voice of America (VOA) that, ‘There are no Christians in Afghanistan. A Christian minority has never been known or registered here.’ He also claimed that “There are only Sikh and Hindu religious minority in Afghanistan that are completely free and safe to practice their religion”.
These statements are at odds with the documented consequences of quitting Islam. For example, in 2006, an Afghan man, Abdul Rahman, who had converted to Christianity was sentenced to death by a court in Kabul but flown to Italy after intense diplomatic pressure from the U.S. government.
The Afghan Church not only exists but remains and continues to grow! In October 2021, just two months after the Taliban take-over, an Afghan church leader told Global Catalytic Ministries: ‘Today I went to visit some families. In one home, half of them are believers and half of them are not. It has been very special, when they see me they are so happy and grateful that I have not left them. I know this is the light of Jesus they are responding to. That is what I hear the most when I go visit people, that my presence gives them hope, and I know that is from the light of God.
‘God works supernatural miracles, signs, and wonders in this part of the world often, but what I am seeing now is more of a natural kind of miracle where He is touching the hearts of people. From what I am seeing in the streets I do think things are getting worse, but it is a very special time and I think the church here will explode in growth.’
….even among persecuted ethno-religious minorities
This includes the Dari/Farsi (Persian)-speaking Shi’ite Hazara and the non-Pashtun (e.g. Tajik, Uzbek, Turkmen, etc) Muslims of the north. Of all Afghanistan’s peoples, the Hazara are known to be the most open to the Gospel. The Shia Hazara community have been the targets of many atrocities by militants including the Taliban. Ethnic Hazara are also the community that has seen the largest number of Afghans turning to Christ.
Working through a network of underground churches, Global Catalytic Ministries (GCM) delivers relief aid and has helped thousands of people to escape. More about that here. Pastors and others serving the Afghan Church report an increased openness to the Gospel.
Heart4Iran reports (MNN 14 Aug) that when the Taliban conquered Afghanistan one year ago, its call centre was flooded with calls from Afghanistan. ‘They were hopeless, traumatised, and afraid for their lives,’ explains Mike Ansari. ‘All of the callers needed trauma counselling. So we hired Afghan Christians, trained them on trauma counselling, and set up a vast call centre focusing on processing contacts from Afghanistan.
‘They talk to those inside of Afghanistan, and to Afghan refugees fleeing to other countries.’ Ansari says most callers wanted to know about Jesus. ‘We just told them that God loves them and has not forsaken them. We assured them that God had a wonderful plan for them.’
Afghans tell Heart4Iran that God has forgotten them. But Heart4Iran and Biblica are teaming up to prove it’s not true. Working together, they’re finding ways to smuggle Dari (Afghan Persian) New Testaments to Christians inside Afghanistan. They request prayer for this ministry: specifically for wisdom, creativity and protection.
Our prayers are needed
Lord God, you are Jehovah-jireh, our provider. We pray that you would provide for the underground church hiding places of safety under the shadow of your wings (see Psalm chapter 17, verses 8-9); that you would send them provisions for life – food, clean water, clothing, medicine (see Matthew chapter 6 verse 25); and supply every need of every Christian mission or ministry group that works to bring light and life, grace and truth, to Afghans – be they Sunni Pashtuns, Tajiks, Turkman or Uzbeks, or Persian-speaking Shi’ite Hazaras; urban elites, impoverished villagers, or refugees throughout the Diaspora.
Please pray for all ministries devoted to supporting our Afghani brethren in prayer, and providing carefully channelled essential aid for refugees and those who remain.
Rejoice with us that the virtual, Heart4Iranonline church is engaging a larger number of Afghani disciples than expected - eager for the love, truth and hope of the Gospel.Lord God, in your mercy, redeem all Taliban terror and use it / turn it for your good purpose: that is, for salvation! May Afghans suffering hardship and fear find Christ (Isaiah chapter 65 verse 1) and ‘take refuge’ in Him (Psalm chapter 91 verse 4).
Aira Chilcott is a retired secondary school teacher with lots of science andtheology under her belt. Aira is an editor for PSI and indulges inreading, bushwalking and volunteering at a nature reserve. Aira’s husband Bill passed away in 2022 and she is left with three wonderful adult sons and one grandson.
Aira Chilcott's previous articles may be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/aira-chilcott.html