COURTESY PHOTO.
With the Taliban in control of Afghanistan, reports show that hundreds of thousands are racing to leave the country each day. However, this is not the case for the underground Church that has been spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the nation where approximately 99.7% of the population is Muslim.
Global Catalytic Ministries (GCM), an organisation that exists to transform Muslims worldwide through Jesus Christ, revealed that although multitudes are racing to evacuate the country, Christian leaders serving underground Churches “want to stay in the country and continue to advance the Gospel.”
“Our brothers and sisters in Afghanistan continue to inspire us with their boldness and resolve in their darkest hour,” the organisation said. “They are fully reliant on God, who is the only One who can and will protect them.”
The Taliban, regarded by multiple governments and organisations as terrorists, have returned to power in Afghanistan 20 years after a US-led intervention ousted them in 2001. The Islamist group was able to seize control after most foreign troops pulled out April this year.
“I don’t know what the future for this country will be. We are not able to control our emotions, because we have worked so hard for 20 years. All our work over the past twenty years has been lost overnight. Only God understands how much pain we have and how broken our hearts are,” one Afghan Christian serving the underground Church, explained in a video
“We are crying not out of fear, but because our hearts ache for our beautiful country,” the Christian continued. “Every precious thing of value in our nation is now destroyed. The whole world has abandoned us. Those who said they support us, have now abandoned us to the worst situation imaginable. I don’t know what is going to happen to us. Are we supposed to live alongside the Taliban’s rule?”
“We want to be remembered by our friends and loved ones that today we have been left in the field by ourselves. We are not leaving the field, we will fight harder and will continue in God’s work. If we are no longer with you, remember this word from our broken hearts. Please remember the great difficulties we now face,” the Christian said.
In a statement, GCM asserted the Taliban has a hit list of known Christians they are targeting to pursue and kill. The organisation added that the US Embassy is defunct and there is no longer a safe place for believers to take refuge.
Over 200 missionaries in Afghanistan: Christian MP
Also during a recall of the U.K. Parliament on Wednesday, Ian Paisley, a member of the Democratic Unionist Party in Northern Ireland, called on the Prime Minister Boris Johnson to evacuate hundreds of missionaries on the ground in Afghanistan.
“He will be aware that there are 228 missionaries in Afghanistan currently under sentence of death, those missionaries need to be taken out of Afghanistan,” said Mr Paisley. “Will the Prime Minister assure the house every effort will be made to bring back to safe haven, people whose lives are under threat as a result of the catastrophe and foreign policy episode that has gone on in that country?”
Responding to the question, Mr Boris said the Government is doing “everything we can” to help evacuate people from Afghanistan.
It should be noted that Afghanistan ranks at No. 2 on its list of the worst countries for Christians to live. This is according to a report by Open Doors USA, a Christian persecution watchdog group.
“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,” revealed Open Doors earlier this year.
