Transcript
A (0:00)
From the voice of the Martyrs Extreme devotion, extreme boldness Afghanistan christ followers day 289 you know how badly we had been treated. Yet our God gave us the courage to declare his good news to you boldly, in spite of great opposition. 1 Thessalonians chapter 2, verse 2 Some Afghans welcomed the Taliban to power, thinking it would bring order to the chaos that reigned following the 1989 Soviet withdrawal. While their objectives of fighting crime and corruption sounded good, even noble, the path that the Taliban chose to accomplish these objectives was strict Sharia law, no television or music, no education for girls, no women in the workplace, and women must be covered head to toe in a dehumanizing burqa while in public places. The Taliban's war on women has earned them the reputation of being one of the top oppressors of women in the world. The Taliban was supported by the Pakistani government, including its intelligence service, which trained and armed fighters to protect a major trade route in Central Asia. The Taliban took Kabul, the capital, in 1996, and by 2001 the group controlled 90% of Afghanistan. As the Taliban conquered new territory, its fighters fiercely persecuted Christians, abducting many and invading their homes. Converts from Islam were ordered to return to Islam or be executed immediately. Many were killed. Christians in Afghanistan must meet secretly to avoid unwanted attention from the Taliban or other radical Muslims. Rather than ceasing fellowship, however, these bold believers have developed creative ways to gather for encouragement and Bible study. There is a special unity among Christians laboring for the gospel in Afghanistan, indigenous near culture, and expatriate believers are boldly taking risks and using every possible opportunity to help believers grow in faith and connect with local house churches. While church growth has been slow among the more than 40 unique people groups, significant Christian growth has occurred among one people group and some among other people groups are also coming to know Christ. Christ's followers are finding ways to boldly yet carefully share the gospel in this restricted nation that fiercely persecutes such a witness. May their boldness amid such hostility inspire you to reach out to someone with the gospel today.