Afghanistan’s Third Round of Earthquakes Since Christians Arrested: 6.3-6.3-6.3

Survivors of both October 7‘s 6.3 magnitude earthquake series and October 11‘s 6.3 had just begun returning to their homes in Herat when yet another 6.3 quake struck in the same region this Sunday. Nearly 2,500 people have died in the combined quakes, and hundreds of people are now buried under debris.

As winter approaches, thousands of displaced Afghanis are sleeping in the open air without adequate food, blankets, medicine or shelter in Afghanistan.

“We all have left our houses and are now on the streets, and we don’t have any support from the local authorities,” a local Christian told Nehemiah of Forgotten Missionaries International. The FMI worker confirmed, “We do not see any Taliban or government official presence on the street helping people.” Lyndsey Koh of Mission Network News explains, “Afghanistan’s Taliban leadership has divided attention, publicly supporting Hamas terrorists in their attacks on Israel.”

More than 99% unreached with the gospel of Christ, Afghanistan is considered one of the most dangerous countries in the world, with Islamic extremists persecuting and terrorizing not only Christians and women, but Muslims as well.

Most Christian-based aid organizations left Afghanistan or limited their activity when the Taliban took over two years ago. But International Assistance Mission remained. Last month, the Taliban detained 18 IAM staff members in the province to the east of the earthquakes’ epicenter.

IAM-Afghanistan.org wrote a month ago, “Following the detention of three staff members – two Afghan nationals and one international team member – working at IAM’s office in Ghor province on Sunday, 3 September 2023, a further 15 Afghan national staff members were taken from the same office on Wednesday, 13 September. We understand that all 18 people have now been transferred to Kabul.”

No further information has been released regarding these 18 aid workers. They are likely enduring severe persecution now at the hands of Muslim extremists. But the Afghani people desperately need them now. An estimated 90% of households don’t have enough food to eat, with countless people dying daily of starvation and malnourishment, especially children. Floods, deathly cold winters, terrorism, and an extremely oppressive government have only increased their desperation.

In fact, since the Taliban took over in 2021, six deadly earthquakes have struck Afghanistan . These most recent three come on the tail of three others: January 2022 (5.6 near Herat), June 2022 (5.9 in eastern Afghanistan) and March 2023 (northeastern Afghanistan). More than 1,000 died in those first three, bringing the combined death toll up to nearly 3,500.

Lord, please be a Shield around these 18 who have been detained and use them for Your glory. Strengthen them with Your love, surround them with Your presence and Your angels, and speak through them as they interact with their persecutors. Block every attempt to harm them. Make their persecutors see Your angels visibly standing before them. Let them hear Jesus’ voice saying, “Why do you persecute Me?” even as Paul did on the road to Damascus. Blind them so they cannot find the believers to harm them, but only see You, standing there before them, offering them salvation. Bring them to their knees in repentance, fear of the Lord and faith in You. Keep all Christians held by the Taliban from harm or evil, and make a way for their quick and safe release. Give Christians throughout Afghanistan favor with both authorities and local Muslims. Almost none of the earthquake victims have heard the good news about Christ. Please have mercy. Rescue those who are trapped. As they wait alone, injured and afraid, speak to them in powerful ways through dreams, visions and other personal encounters with You. Show them the way to salvation. As those in need cry out for help, answer them quickly. Comfort those who mourn. Rebuild what is lost. Heal the wounded and broken. Provide for every need, and do it in such a way that all will know You are the One who did that. Perform signs and miracles and wonders to bring thousands of lost to You, O God. Use underground believers to shine Your love and bring healing to the lives of those who have been broken by so much trauma. Bless Christians so abundantly with food, water, shelter, clothing and medicine they will also bless their Muslim neighbors abundantly. As Muslims suffer greatly under such an oppressive regime, and as their hearts bear the scars of a lifetime of fear, violence and uncertainty without the knowledge of Jesus’ saving grace, open their eyes to see You. Open their ears to hear Your voice calling them to salvation. Open their minds to understand You are the only Way, Truth and Life. And open their hearts wide to receive You as Savior. Give them a hunger for You so deep they will seek You with all their hearts and find You. Don’t let even one more person die without the opportunity to hear, understand and respond to the gospel. Tear down every barrier. End the reign of terror. And awaken the peoples of Afghanistan to Your love. From out of the terrible circumstances of earthquakes, floods, oppression, violence, poverty, hunger, death and uncertainty, bring forth LIFE, Lord. Make a way for every person in every unreached people group to hear Your gospel message in a way they can easily understand and be saved. Bring whole families and villages to Christ, and plant hundreds of churches vibrant with love, joy, peace, truth and Your Spirit’s power all across the nation and beyond.

Join us for the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church on Sunday, November 5, 2023, as we pray for our brothers and sisters who are in danger, and for their persecutors to be saved.

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