IN THE NAME OF JESUS - ALMIGHTY

In The Name of Jesus – Almighty  Afghanistan, throughout its long history, has been the crossroads of many civilizations. Those, who have traveled its roads and mountain passes brought to this land-locked nation their beliefs and traditions. Christianity had once been a major influence in Afghan society. Unfortunately, over the years, the presence and memory of Christianity has slowly and systemically been removed from its history. Today, not a single official church building remains outside diplomatic walls and foreign military bases. The handful of Christians that does exist in Afghanistan meet secretly in private homes; and at great risk to themselves. Afghanis are considered Muslim at birth; so all Afghan Christians were former Muslims. They face discrimination from their family and community, Muslim clergy and local authorities if their faith in Jesus is discovered. Using any means possible to make them recant their new faith, they are treated in a hostile manner, including beatings, threats of death, starvation and imprisonment. Said Musa was once such “secret” believer. Charged with the crime of apostasy (leaving Islam), he languished in prison, awaiting execution. Beaten and abused, Musa prayed and wrote letters from his prison cell. In a February 2011 letter, Musa, an amputee and a father of six, said that representatives of embassies in Kabul visited him and offered him asylum. But after the representatives left, he was taken to another room, where Afghani officials tried to convince him to recant his faith. They promised to release him within 24 hours if he would do so. He refused and was sent back to his cell. “I told them I cannot follow Islam,” he wrote in his letter. “I am Jesus Christ’s servant. They pushed me much and much. I refused their demands.” After intense diplomatic pressure, Musa’s prayers were answered and he was released. In all he spent almost nine months in prison because of his faith in Jesus. Several months after his release, he was allowed to leave Afghanistan with his wife and six children. The family now lives in a small apartment in an undisclosed country. One With Them Please be One With Them, praying in the name of Jesus, the Almighty, for Afghani Christians who are alone and without fellowship, asking for courage and perseverance to endure during Ramadan. Also pray for the church to grow despite difficulties, and for more opportunities to spread the gospel message via satellite TV and other means. One With Them CHALLENGE Learn more about being a Christian in Afghanistan, ranked number 3 on the Open Doors World Watch List of Christian persecution. Download the 30-day Ramadan Prayer Guide. 2013.07.11

…’who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.’ (Revelation 1:8b)