1/28/2021 (Voice of the Persecuted) AFGHANISTAN – Population: 38 million, Christians: a small number.
What does persecution look like in Afghanistan? What is life like for Christians?
It is impossible to live openly as a Christian in Afghanistan. Leaving Islam is considered shameful, and Christian converts face dire consequences if their new faith is discovered. Either they have to flee the country or they will be killed.
If a Christian’s family discovers they have converted, their family, clan or tribe has to save its “honor” by disowning the believer, or even killing them. Christians from a Muslim background can also be sectioned in a psychiatric hospital, because leaving Islam is considered a sign of insanity.
Meet a secret Afghan believer. – “How we survive daily only God knows. He knows because He has been kind to dwell with us. But we are tired of all the death around us.”
What has changed in Afghanistan?
Afghanistan remains the second highest country on the World Watch List, and persecution is only very slightly less oppressive than in North Korea. The Islamic State group and the Taliban continue to have a strong, violent presence in Afghanistan, with the Taliban controlling large regions.
Who is most vulnerable to persecution?
All Christians in Afghanistan are extremely vulnerable to persecution. Areas controlled by the Taliban are particularly oppressive, but there is no safe way to express any form of Christian faith in the country.
What does Open Doors, Voice of the Martyrs and many other NGOs do to help Christians in Afghanistan?
It is predominantly spiritual support for persecuted believers in Afghanistan.
· Pray for a government that is going to be tolerant to Christianity.
· Pray for the abolishment of the blasphemy laws which are a tool for persecution.
· Pray for protection for the small percentage of Afghani believers. Pray that God would make “seeing eyes blind” and that anyone who might be looking for secret Afghan Christians would not discover them.
· Pray that despite their isolation, Afghan believers would be strengthened and encouraged in their faith.
· Pray they would find safe ways to access the Word of God and communicate with other believers.
· Pray that God would be at work in the hearts of Islamic extremists—such as members of the Taliban and the Islamic State group—that they would come to know the love of Jesus and that He would turn their lives around.
· Pray that the Lord open doors for NGOs that The extremist can’t shut and keep His hand of protection on the field workers.
· Pray for easy access to the internet and that both believers and Muslims will see messages that encourage and or convict them.
· Pray the Lord will enable Christians to forgive their persecutors.
· Pray against the forces of darkness and that your church Lord Jesus will cease to be an underground church and will be recognized and seen throughout all Afghanistan.
Again, we want to lift up persecuted witnesses to the Lord:
- Leah Sharibu and Alice, prisoners of Boko Haram, pray that they will be set free.
- Pray pastor Wang Yi to be released from prison.
- Pray for Anita, a Christian convert persecuted for her faith in Iran.
You are invited to join us on Thursday, January 28 in a prayer call for the persecuted church.
Andy, Persecution Watch Prayer Call Moderator
Prayer Conference Call Details
Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday
From any location on your phone
Time: (U.S. Time zones)
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6:00 PM Pacific
Call in number: 712 775-7035
Access Code: 281207#
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What is Persecution Watch?
Persecution Watch is a U.S. national prayer conference call ministry that prays specifically for the global Persecuted Church. For over a decade, Blaine Scogin led this national network of believers who faithfully pray for the persecuted and the global harvest for the Kingdom of God.
The group meets via a free call-in service every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday night at 9pm Eastern (please check your time zone). Blaine also served as Prayer Director for Voice of the Persecuted and our missions became one. The prayer mission of Persecution Watch is an important part of our own.
With the passing of Blaine into glory on December 26, 2019, Voice of the Persecuted is committed to continue the prayer conference call for the persecuted along with our dedicated prayer warrior team.
On occasion, persecuted brothers and sisters have been invited on the call to share the trials they’re facing. The team serves to encourage them by washing their feet in Spirit led prayer.
Time is often reserved for those on the call to ask questions. We believe this helps to gain a better understanding of the situation that persecuted Christians endure in their specific nations. Q&A also helps us to focus our prayers based on their current needs.
Persecution Watch also hosts callers who want to pray united from other nations. If your heart is perplexed by the sufferings of our persecuted brothers and sisters, you no longer need to pray alone. We welcome all who desire to pray for the persecuted church and consider it a joy to pray together with you.
If you’re new to the call and can’t find your voice, listen in and pray silently or on mute. We are grateful and thank the Lord for bringing us all together to pray in agreement for our persecuted family in Christ. We can all be prayer warriors on this call!
NOTE: Persecution Watch has a new email address for the prayer team and those who would like to receive urgent prayer requests, weekly call prayer points and notification of special prayer events and special guest speakers.
Please fill out the form below to be included in our new distribution list to receive this important information. We are grateful for your prayers and to the Lord for guiding us as we continue the Persecution Watch prayer call mission.
Note to Voice of the Persecuted (VOP) readers: The Persecution Watch prayer team is also the prayer team of Voice of the Persecuted. SIGN UP today.
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