Unyielding Perseverance Into Afghanistan

“I sense a huge vacuum for the gospel in Afghanistan. I don’t believe public evangelism without being very, very careful is wise. But I am sure evangelism is possible.”
—Rustam, Our Field Minister to Central Asia

Three years after rescuing 750 Afghans as the Taliban regime took over, the Lord has given us an inroad back into Afghanistan. While many ministries have withdrawn from the country because of the extreme danger, our Field Minister Rustam is pushing forward, compelled and emboldened by the love of God to see the hope of the gospel sweep throughout Afghanistan. 

If an Afghan is found to be a practicing Christian, the Taliban may execute them…on the spot. Everyone is forced into practicing Islam. They must go to the mosque for their daily prayers.

On a recent trip to Afghanistan, Rustam met with a Christian in utmost secrecy. He asked him how he dealt with having to go to the mosque. “I go,” the man replied, “but when I pray, I pray to Jesus.”

It's people like this man that we are determined to minister to. To come alongside him and the many, many like him who practice their faith in what might be the country that is the most hostile to Christians...in the entire world.

Rustam has long-established connections in Afghanistan and is relentlessly committed to doing what it takes to bring the hope of Christ to the country. He is actively finding leads so that we can Rescue, Restore, and Rebuild the lives of persecuted Christians in Afghanistan.

Rustam on our Podcast

We recently hosted Rustam on our podcast, Prisoners of Hope, which you can listen to here.

In the podcast, he shares how the Lord is opening up doors, and creating ways for us to build an on-the-ground Field Ministry Team in Afghanistan so that we can have a constant presence in the country. That would make it possible for us to provide emergency rescue in cases where the faith of a Christian is found out, and they need to escape immediately, in addition to being able to provide wrap-around care to Christians facing extreme persecution from the Taliban, their families, and their friends because of their faith in Jesus. 

He also shared with us this photo of an Afghan against a golden wheatfield.

"Yeah, one photo I took, is an Afghan brother standing in the wheat field that is gold, ready for harvest. You know? And that's my takeaway also from this trip, my takeaway from this trip is to pray to the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers, even to this new Afghanistan. Why not? There are no closed doors if the Lord's calling is there."

We are praying for Rustam as he continues to build up a team in Afghanistan...and for all of the persecuted believers who live in the shadow of the Taliban, practicing their faith in Christ in one of the most difficult places in the entire world! 

In the meantime, I ask that you would prayerfully consider a gift as we continue to make inroads into Afghanistan. As Rustam said ... evangelism is possible! And you can be a part of it, today.