Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin | RLPB 155 | Wed 18 Apr 2012
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AFGHANISTAN: CHURCH ‘A SMOULDERING WICK’ (ISAIAH 42:3 NIV)
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By Elizabeth Kendal
On Sunday 15 April the Haqqani network launched the Taliban’s ‘Spring
Offensive’ in Afghanistan. The Haqqani are an ethnic Pashtun network based
in Pakistan’s tribal border regions with ties to both the Taliban and al-
Qaeda. In Mahmud-i-Raqi, the capital of the eastern Kapisa Province, the
city’s military chief was assassinated. Then at about 1.30pm simultaneous
attacks were launched in the capital, Kabul, and three other major cities.
The US & NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), which is
finalising plans for a transition to Afghan security control, has
belittled the strikes as ‘largely ineffective’. However, the insurgents
have demonstrated their ability to stage complex operations inside Kabul’s
most secure areas. ‘This is just the beginning,’ declared Taliban
spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, who boasted that the insurgents ‘can attack
anywhere we want’.
In Kabul the insurgents executed a sophisticated, well-rehearsed
operation. They stormed and occupied an unfinished tower-block in the
central diplomatic area of Wazir Akbar Khan, making it their base. From
there they launched gun-battles and suicide attacks while firing rocket-
propelled grenades into the German, British, US and Japanese embassies.
Before long, the newly built Kabul Star Hotel was engulfed in flames. Camp
Eggers, the headquarters of the ISAF, came under rocket attack, while an
attack on the Presidential Palace was foiled. On the western side of town,
rockets were fired at the Russian Embassy and the Afghan Parliament. When
militants subsequently launched a full-scale assault on the parliament
they were fought off by some of the MPs who, being former warlords and
military men, carry their own weapons. Camp Warehouse, the ISAF base on
the Jalalabad Rd, was attacked with mortars. Governors’ offices, police
training facilities and military bases were attacked in Jalalabad to the
east, at Pul-e-Alam in Logar Province and Gardez in Paktya Province to the
south. An attack in the northern city of Kundoz was foiled.
REMEMBER THE CHURCH
Back in May 2010 a privately-run Afghan television station, Noorin TV,
broadcast video footage reportedly showing Afghani converts being baptised
and participating in Christian worship. Angry Muslims protested, demanding
the expulsion of foreign ‘missionaries’. MPs called for the Afghan
converts to be murdered or publicly executed as apostates. To appease the
Islamic fundamentalists President Karzai ordered that measures be taken to
prevent apostasy. More than 20 Afghan Christians were subsequently
arrested and tortured, triggering a retreat underground and an exodus to
India and beyond. (See RLPB 059
http://rlprayerbulletin.blogspot.com.au/2010/06/059-afghanistan-christians-menaced-as.html )
In January 2012 Open Doors CEO Carl Moeller wrote, ‘ . . . after the
nationally televised exposure of Afghan Christians on the internet, it
became widely known that Afghan Christians actually exist. Though many
were angry about this revelation, others started to ask questions and
began to seek. In recent years a number of well-educated and skilled
Afghanis have become believers and begun participating in underground
Christian activities.’ [This was confirmed by Mohabat News in a 27 March
report which added that even some MPs had embraced Christianity.]
‘Although the complete lack of religious freedom for Afghan Christians
makes gatherings of believers dangerous and difficult,’ continues Moeller,
‘family and friend groups have started to meet together. There is a
growing awareness among Afghan believers that they are not alone.’
The principal gospel witness and Bible teaching comes via Afghan Christian
radio, satellite TV and internet ministries (see
http://www.afghanhost.com/ ). The Afghan Church might be very small in
number and profoundly imperilled, but God has promised: ‘A bruised reed he
will not break, and a smouldering wick he will not snuff out. In
faithfulness he will bring forth justice. (Isaiah 42:3 NIV)’
PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY THAT GOD WILL —
* give his profoundly imperilled Church refuge, security and comfort in
the shadow of his wings until the storms of destruction pass by. (Psalm
57:1b ESV.)
* prepare the hearts of the longsuffering Afghanis and empower every word
of gospel witness from courageous local believers and from radio,
satellite and internet ministries, so that the harvest might be a
hundredfold (Matthew 13:8).
* meet the needs of all Afghan gospel ministries for funding, equipment
and workers (Psalm 24:7).
* frustrate the plots of those who would like to eradicate the Church
(Psalm 146:9) and direct the government to see that without religious
freedom Afghanistan will never recover (Proverbs 21:1).
To see this RLPB with hyperlinks go to
http://rlprayerbulletin.blogspot.com.au
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SUMMARY TO USE IN BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE
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AFGHANISTAN CHURCH ‘A SMOULDERING WICK’ (ISAIAH 42:3 NIV)
On 15 April Islamic militants attacked Kabul and three other major cities.
After occupying a building in Kabul’s most secure sector, attacks were
launched against the German, British, US, Japanese and Russian Embassies,
as well as against government facilities and military bases. Amidst all
this,the Church in Afghanistan, though very small and ‘underground’, is a
reality and is growing. A massive crackdown followed TV scenes of Afghani
converts participating in baptisms and worship in May 2010. This triggered
an exodus of some Christians as well as a growing awareness of and
interest in Christianity. It is reported some members of Kabul’s
influential elite have since become Christians. Christian radio, satellite
TV and internet ministries are the principal means of outreach and
teaching. Please pray for the Church in Afghanistan.
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We suggest that churches and fellowships using the above Summary might
also provide a copy of the listed prayer points to be used in their
worship by people who are leading in prayer.
For more information, updates and helpful links see Elizabeth Kendal’s
blog ‘Religious Liberty Monitoring’ <http://elizabethkendal.blogspot.com>.
Previous RLPBs may be viewed at <http://rlprayerbulletin.blogspot.com/>.
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