Afghanistan's Need for Prayer

​During the five years that my friend lived in Afghanistan she heard many heart-wrenching stories about how hard it was to live in a country that followed Sharia law.  Yet she was there to share the truth of the love of Jesus and the hope that He brings for them. Currently, we are looking at what seems like a hopeless situation in Afghanistan.  The people of this country find themselves in the clutches of a terrorist organization with no respect for human dignity or freedom.  They are watching the destruction of their lives and are horrified by the possibilities for the future.  Please let this letter encourage you to pray.
 
In a recent post from "All Israel News," Joel Rosenberg wrote about the history of Afghanistan.  It was not until 1747 that Afghanistan became a nation-state.  Before that the region was ruled by kings.  The country was largely ignored by the world until 1979 when the Soviets invaded.  With the help of American aid in the early 1980s (money and weapons), the Afghans were able to chase the Soviets out of the country.  Had the United State continued to help the Afghans with humanitarian relief, perhaps the picture of this country would be different today.  Without resources to help the many refugees who live in country, The Afghan leadership fell.  Mohammed Omar, who Rosenberg calls "a ferocious and fanatical mujadeen commander," created the Taliban, an extreme jihadist organization.  The Taliban took over the Afghan government and decided to thank Allah for their victory by establishing an Islamic country governed by Sharia law.  Later Osama bin Laden would join with the Taliban forces to plot the 9/11 attacks on the United States.  In the meantime, terror was unleashed on the Afghan people.  They lived in fear! Here is Rosenberg’s description of Afghan lives just before 9/11:  "Their children were being recruited for jihad or forced to do unspeakable things in the name of Allah.  Hope was fading quickly.  Depression was rising;  drug use was rampant.  The country was becoming the world's No. 1 source of opium and heroin, and there seemed no way out."  Here is what women faced:  They were treated with total lack of respect and were expected to live in forced marriages as slaves.  With Taliban ruling, women were publicly punished for working or not wearing a burqa by stonings, whippings, and hangings.
 
After the 9/11 attack on the United States, life for the Afghan people changed again.  As the US poured troops and bombs into the country and set up a new government, the freedoms for the Afghans began to return.  It was during this time that my friend was able to go into the country to live among the people and share the Good News.  New lifestyles were established throughout Afghanistan.  The US government set up a military network to train Afghan soldiers to fight and protect the land and people.  For 20 years there was a US presence that gave the Afghans a sense of security.  As we have seen, however, all this ended abruptly a few weeks ago with the pullout of US troops.  The Afghan military collapsed as a Wall Street Journal article describes:  "In the week of President Biden's withdrawal, the US pulled its air support, intelligence, and contractors servicing Afghan's planes and helicopters.  That meant that Afghan military simply couldn't operate anymore."  With the Taliban fully in control, chaos, fear, and terror reign over the Afghans who helped the American military, those who profess to be Christian, and others who understand the ramifications of being ruled by a terrorist organization.
 
Sadly, terrorist organizations throughout the world are feeling empowered to start their own terror campaigns as they observe the destruction of America's credibility.  The Americans have opened a door for evil to enter with no fear of reprisal.  In his second letter to the Church in Thessaloniki, Paul wrote,  "And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people, for not everyone has faith.  But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one...May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance." (2 Thessalonians 3:2-5)  Let us pray this and a prayer written by Joel Rosenberg that is below.  Please pray for the Afghans in any way that The Spirit leads you.
 
"We must pray that they (Afghan Christians) will be lights in the darkness, that in both their conduct and their speech they will be witnesses of the true and glorious hope, redemption, transformation, and eternal salvation they have experienced by placing their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  And we must pray that Afghan Muslims who are terrified of being enslaved or slaughtered by the Taliban will see the hope in their Christian neighbors, and ask why their neighbors have hope amid such horror, and that the Christians will be brave enough to explain the good news of Christ's great love and mercy with clarity,  simplicity and trusting in the power of the Word of God—not their own wisdom or cleverness—to convince and persuade."  We must not be silent!  Light will prevail over darkness as we battle in the Spirit!