While the world’s attention turns toward the next major tragedy, the people of Afghanistan continue to live through unimaginable catastrophe and hopelessness.
IN AFGHANISTAN
In Kabul, Taliban forces tighten their regulations and carry out surprise inspections in homes and businesses, where they confiscate contraband and valuables. The people in Afghanistan look on helplessly as a critical shortage of jobs, physical resources, money, and infrastructure cripples any effort to move forward as a nation. It’s a true humanitarian crisis on a national level.
But our team in country continues to operate their organization on behalf of the people living there. They provide training and education for boys, girls, men, and women with the expressed permission of the Taliban authorities. They distribute hot meals daily to almost a thousand vulnerable people and have a traveling medical team that cares for the physical concerns of countless people. They also continue to offer a path to true healing in the midst of total chaos, and right now five people have put their hope in Jesus and are waiting for a safe way to be baptized!
IN THE CAMPS
In the refugee camps in a nearby nation, thousands of people are waiting and watching for their home to stabilize so they can return. The people in these camps do not have the connections or influence to resettle as refugees in the West, and they do not have permission to get jobs where they are. At the camps, there is only waiting for the foreseeable future. The refugees are restless, purposeless, and hopeless.
But in this remarkably traumatic situation, God is drawing people to Himself. After watching their nation crumble, many people wondered why their religion could bring so much devastation and oppression. But the people of Christ stood faithfully, ready to care for both the body and spirit of the Afghan people.
Our partners Abdul-Ali and Khan prayed with their team that God would raise up 10 house churches within the camps in 2022. As of right now, just 3 months into the year, already six churches have been established! And the Afghan believers themselves are spreading the Gospel within the camps, telling others about God’s good love and eternal life through Christ Jesus!
HOPE FOR AFGHANISTAN
Abdul-Ali watched in amazement as his countrymen and women stood in a house and sang worship songs to Jesus in their own language. When he became a believer many years ago, he never expected to get to worship God with his own people. Now he weeps in hope as men, women, and children find their true peace in Jesus in the middle of an unthinkable national tragedy.
The situation in Afghanistan and its diaspora around the world is heartbreaking and full of injustice. Because of the support, prayers, and involvement of the global church at an opportune moment, there is great hope for Afghanistan! The need is just beginning, and help is needed more than ever, but there is no greater reward than to watch Afghan people put their faith in the God who sees them.
Want to learn more about our efforts in Afghanistan? You can learn, pray, and give here.
