Christianity appears to be growing in Afghanistan despite the Taliban takeover.
While many Afghan Christians fled to safety, many believers remained to spread the Gospel. Christians in the war-torn country live in fear because of their faith. They face extreme persecution at the hands of the government and the Islamic State, reports Premier Christian News.
Afghan Christians were already oppressed even before the Taliban rule, but it is worse after the militants controlled the capital for a year now. Christian ministry Release International revealed that even cellphones of suspected Christians are being monitored to check for illegal communications such as seeking spiritual guidance outside the country.
We’re getting reports from a number of sources that Christianity is actually spreading both in the country, and outside the country in the Afghan diaspora. —Andrew Boyd from Release International
However, the draconian rules appear to have strengthened Afghan Christians and encouraged more people to seek Jesus. Andrew Boyd from Release International disclosed that, “Some Christians are still managing somehow, very carefully, very cautiously, to meet with other Christians on the ground.” He admitted that information was difficult to confirm, but the reports came from foreign Christian TV channels who were still in contact with their Afghan viewers.
“There’s great risk in all of that, but one of the TV channels is convinced that Christianity is now growing faster from a very low base, admittedly, in Afghanistan,” Boyd added. “We’re getting reports from a number of sources that Christianity is actually spreading both in the country, and outside the country in the Afghan diaspora.”
Global Catalytic Ministries, a discipleship ministry formed by former Muslims, affirms that there’s a slowly growing network of underground churches in Afghanistan. The group delivers relief aid and helps people escape to safer locations, according to Canada-based Christian news website CHVN Radio.
“God is moving so powerfully; we want to start underground churches who make disciples in the darkest places on the earth,” said Reza, a believer from GCM. “With your prayer support and with your generosity that really can happen.”
Reza, not his real name, regrets that there are not many people nor NGOs helping Afghans. “It’s become [increasingly] difficult and more expensive, but praise the Lord, He’s given us new avenues to bring people out.”
He claimed, “Afghanistan is still the second-fastest growing church in the world, even with the Taliban in power. Imagine if, one day, we hear 10 percent of the Afghan population has turned to Jesus.”
