One-Way Prayer: Understanding the Muslim Relationship with Allah

Hello, and welcome back to Nations 4 Jesus. Today I want to help you understand something profound about Islam that most Christians don't realize.

Listen to these beautiful words from James 4:8: "Come near to God and He will come near to you."

As Christians, we are constantly encouraged to pray to God, seeking His face and fully expecting that we will hear from Him. Our Heavenly Father is just that—a Father who delights to hear from His children and who desires to speak to them, telling them what is important to Him and what He wants them to do.

This is the essence of our relationship with God—two-way communication. We talk to Him, and He talks to us.

[The Christian experience - even in desert times]

Now, if a Christian says he or she is in a "desert time," it usually means we're going through a period in our spiritual walk when we aren't hearing from God for some reason. This "desert time" can actually be a time of growth and greater obedience to God, but it's also a time we want to leave behind as quickly as possible. We long to hear His voice again.

But here's the question I want you to consider: What if your religion was "desert time" all the time? What if you not only never heard from God but you were not taught or expected to hear from God? What kind of relationship would you then have with God?

The answer is: none. No relationship. Just religious duty. And that "desert time" describes the world of Islam.

[What Muslim prayer actually is - ritual, not relationship]

Let me share what The 30 Days Prayer Network, which seeks to educate Christians on Islam, says about Muslim prayer:

"Muslims do not think of communion with Allah, knowing Allah, or hearing from Allah as being part of their normal prayer experience. In Islam, normal daily prayer is a focused ritual exercise which is an expression of worship and honor toward Allah. Personal requests are possible in Islam, but the formal ritual prayers are definitely the most important prayer activity for Muslims.

Prayer in Islam is generally not meant to bring one's self into direct personal contact or communion with Allah. Even when Muslims speak of prayer as communication with Allah, they are never thinking that Allah will actually speak back to them. The communication is always one way."

Did you catch that? The communication is always one way. Muslims pray to Allah, but they never expect Him to speak back. Never.

[The stark contrast - knowing God]

The small Sufi Muslim minority—representing maybe 10-15% of the world's 1.9 billion Muslims—does speak of mystical experiences of meeting God. However, Sufi beliefs place the emphasis more on being submerged in the divine than knowing God in a communication-oriented and relational sense.

Among believers in the Messiah, knowing God in a relational sense is a key aspect of faith. Jesus said in John 17:3, "Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." Eternal life is knowing God! Not just knowing about Him, but actually knowing Him personally.

[Orthodox Islamic teaching - God stopped speaking]

According to orthodox Islam, God never speaks to humans directly, and actually He has not even spoken to anyone indirectly—through angels—since the time of Mohammed. Muslims universally believe that Mohammed was the last and the greatest of the prophets. According to them, Mohammed brought the final spoken revelation from God, which eventually became the book we know as the Quran.

Think about what this means: Muslims believe that God spoke His final word 1,400 years ago and has been silent ever since. There is no ongoing communication. No personal word from God to guide them. No voice speaking comfort in their suffering. No direction for their specific situations.

[Why Muslims pray - merit, not relationship]

So why do Muslims pray five times a day if they don't expect to hear from God? Prayer is encouraged as a means of restraining Muslims from social wrongs and moral deviancy. It's seen as a meritorious activity—something that earns them merit with Allah.

According to Islamic tradition, when Mohammed was asked, "What is the best deed?" He replied, "To offer prayers at their fixed times." When asked again, "What is next in goodness?" He replied, "To be good and dutiful to your parents." When asked again, "What is next in goodness?" He replied, "To participate in Jihad in Allah's cause."

Prayer is about earning merit, demonstrating submission, and performing religious duty. It's not about relationship.

[Ramadan fasting - the same principle]

My friend Pastor Malath, a Christian pastor in Iraq who works with Muslims, echoed this same idea when I asked him about fasting during Ramadan. He said:

"What you need to know about Islam is that fasting in Islam is mandatory, and the one who fasts will get so many rewards. Like Allah will forgive his or her sin. It is like a new beginning. During this month, the people try to read the whole Quran and do some good deeds more than any other month, for it would help them to save rewards for heaven."

Do you hear the language? Rewards. Merit. Earning forgiveness. Saving up for heaven. It's a transactional religion, not a relational one.

[The tragedy - spiritually orphaned]

This breaks my heart. There are approximately 1.9 billion Muslims in the world today. That's nearly a quarter of the global population. And the vast majority of them—hundreds of millions—pray faithfully five times a day, fast during Ramadan, make pilgrimage to Mecca, give alms, and recite the Quran.

But they never hear from God. They never experience His personal presence. They never know the comfort of His voice in their darkest moments. They never receive specific guidance for their lives. They're spiritually orphaned, following a religion of rules and rituals but lacking the relationship their hearts were created for.

[Why dreams and visions rock their world]

This is why, when Muslims do hear from God through visions and dreams—which I talked about in earlier podcasts—it really rocks their world!

Remember my friend from Afghanistan who dreamed that Jesus gave water and packages and said, "I am Jesus, friend of Tania"? That wasn't just a nice dream. That was the first time in this Afghan’s entire life that God had spoken personally! The first time two-way communication with the divine was experienced!

When Muslims encounter Jesus in dreams and visions, they're encountering for the first time a God who speaks, who communicates, who initiates contact with them. It's revolutionary. It's transformative. And it's one of the primary ways God is breaking through to Muslims today.

According to recent research by ministries working in the Muslim world, an estimated 25-30% of Muslim-background believers report that their journey to faith began with a dream or vision of Jesus. That's a staggering percentage!

[What we have - the privilege of relationship]

As Christians, we often take for granted what an incredible privilege we have. We can pray anytime, anywhere, and expect God to hear us. Not just hear us—respond to us! Jesus said in John 10:27, "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me."

We have a God who says, "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know" (Jeremiah 33:3). We have a God who promises, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:13).

We can open the Bible and hear God speak to us through His Word. We can pray and sense the Holy Spirit guiding us, comforting us, convicting us. We can worship and experience God's presence. We have a relationship, not just a religion!

[How this should change our prayers for Muslims]

Understanding this reality should completely change how we pray for Muslims. Here's what I want you to pray:

First, pray that Muslims will encounter the living God who speaks. 

Second, pray that Muslims will experience the emptiness of one-way communication. Pray that as they perform their ritual prayers five times a day, speaking but never being spoken to, they'll begin to feel the hollowness of it and hunger for something more.

Third, pray for Christians to understand this difference. When we witness to Muslims, we need to emphasize that Jesus offers relationship with God, not just religion. We can know God personally! We can hear His voice! This is radically different from Islam, and it's incredibly appealing to Muslims who are tired of the spiritual desert.

Fourth, pray for boldness among former Muslims. Those who have left Islam for Christ have experienced the most dramatic transformation—from a religion of one-way communication to a relationship of two-way communion with God.

[The invitation - come and hear]

Here's what's beautiful: God is already speaking to Muslims! He's giving dreams and visions. He's orchestrating circumstances. He's putting Christians in their paths. He's broadcasting the Gospel via satellite TV into closed countries. He's making the Bible available in their languages online.

The question is: Will they listen? Will they respond? Will they dare to believe that God not only hears their prayers but wants to speak back to them?

And for us: Will we pray? Will we tell them about the God who speaks? Will we show them that Christianity isn't just another religion with better rules—it's a relationship with the living God?

[Closing reflection and prayer]

Imagine praying your entire life and never expecting an answer. Never hearing God's voice. Never experiencing His comfort. Never receiving His guidance. That's the reality for hundreds of millions of Muslims.

But it doesn't have to be. Jesus came to tear down the barrier between humanity and God. He came so that we could know God, hear from God, and walk with God. And that invitation extends to Muslims too.

Let me pray: 

Thank you for joining me today. I hope this has deepened your understanding of what Muslims experience and how to pray for them more effectively.

Until next time, remember—keep your eyes on the nations, and praise God for the privilege of two-way communication with Him!

Is Allah God? Finding Common Ground to Share Christ with Muslims

Hello, and welcome back to Nations 4 Jesus. Today I want to address a question that has burdened my heart, especially as we focus on praying for Muslims during this Ramadan season. It's a question that many Christians wonder about but aren't sure how to answer: Is Allah God?

Let me begin by saying I do not claim to be an expert on Islam in any way. I've wrestled with this question, asked God for His wisdom, and talked to friends who work with Muslims for their thoughts. And the answer I've come up with is both no and yes. Let me explain.

[Comparing God and Allah - significant differences]

First, let me compare Jehovah God to Allah as defined by the Koran. The god of Islam, Allah, is seen as creator of the universe, all-powerful, and the one who determines the fate of all men—just as the Biblical God. But there are many ways in which they are not the same.

Dr. David Reagan explains it this way: "Allah is presented in the Koran as an autocratic ruler who is aloof and arbitrary. Allah is unknowable, whereas the God of the Bible is knowable.  2 Timothy 1:12 says But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day” 

Allah is impersonal, unlike the personal God the Scriptures reveal.  1 Peter 5:6-7 reminds us to “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may  exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because He cares for you. 

Allah is unitarian, whereas the God of the Bible is trinitarian. Paul points this out as he closes his letter in 2 Corinthians 13:14, with the words: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Listen to what the Koran says about the God of the Bible: "Believe in Allah and say not 'Trinity.' Cease! It is better for you! Allah is only One God. Far is it removed from his transcendent majesty that he should have a son."

Allah is capricious—unpredictable and arbitrary—whereas the true God is trustworthy and faithful. And Allah is never anywhere presented as a god of love, which is the very essence of the nature of the true God. 1 John 4:7-8 clearly states this - “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love”.

[What about Jesus?]

The differences become even more stark when we look at Jesus. The Koran denies point-blank that Jesus was the Son of God. It also denies His atoning sacrifice by claiming that He never died on the cross—that a substitute died for Him instead.

According to Islamic teaching, Jesus was translated to Heaven, like Enoch, where He will remain until He returns to kill all pigs, destroy all crosses, and convert the world to Islam. Then Jesus will marry, reign for 40 years, die, and be buried next to Muhammad in Medina.

Jesus is characterized in the Koran as nothing more than "an apostle of Allah"—just a prophet, not the Son of God, not the Savior.

[The conclusion - they are not the same]

So let me sum this up: Overall, the character and nature of Allah as declared by the Koran and his followers has some similarities but many fundamental differences from the character and nature of God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ.

I do not believe that they are the same God at all. I do not believe that when Muslims pray to Allah and we pray to God our Father, we are praying to the same God.

However, I do not want to stop here—which is where I believe so many Christians stop, which is where I stopped until recently.

[The culture key - Allah as a bridge term]

As I spoke about in my recent podcast on redemptive analogy, for Christians to reach out to an entirely foreign people group, it is so important to find a culture key—something in that people group's culture that will help them relate to Jesus, that will open the door to the Gospel, that will show them that God has left a witness for Himself within their culture.

I believe, as do many other Christians, that one of the main culture keys for Muslims is the word "Allah."

Now before you react to that statement, let me share with you the words from my friend Malath, who is a pastor in Iraq. He has worked with Muslims his whole life and knows much about sharing Christ with them. Here's what he told me:

[Malath's perspective - an Iraqi pastor's wisdom]

"Allah is the name of God in Arabic. In our Arabic Bible, it is written Allah, so we are using the same term to express our faith in God. That is good because we consider that as a common ground between us.

However, the attributes of our God are totally different than Allah in Islam. Allah in Islam has 99 names and it is missing the one we have, which is 'God is Love.' So we use this name, 'God is Love,' to reach them and tell them that our God loves us and them as well. At our church in Iraq, we supply some food and children's gifts to show them the love of our God.

Also, Allah in Islam is very hard to reach or talk to, so we tell them it is not hard or impossible at all in Christianity. We as His people can be in fellowship with God—known to them as Allah. Also, as you know, there is no assurance of salvation in Islam, not like us, so you can use this also. All these things show to Muslims, in indirect ways, that our God is different than Allah in Islam."

[The key insight - same word, different meaning]

Did you catch that? While Allah and God are not the same God, the term "Allah"—as referring to a creator and all-powerful God—can be used as a common bond, a culture key, a redemptive analogy in order to introduce the God of the Bible to Muslims.

This has been done by numerous Christians throughout the centuries. In fact, as Malath stated, the Arabic translation of the Bible uses Allah as the word for God. Arab Christians have been using this term for nearly 2,000 years!

Missions professor, Dr. Goodwin, himself a missionary for many years, confirmed this: "My understanding, from talking with Egyptian Christians, is that the word Allah is simply the Arabic word for God. The word was around a long time before Islam started."

[Indonesia - effectiveness of this approach]

And this approach has proven remarkably effective. Don Richardson writes in his book on redemptive analogy:

"Millions of Christians in Indonesia—which has the highest number of Muslims of any country but also has a sizable number of Christians—use Allah for God and Tuhan Allah for Lord God. Perhaps because of this, Indonesian Christians have been much more effective in winning Muslims to Christ than any other Christians."

Think about that! Indonesian Christians have been more effective at reaching Muslims than Christians anywhere else in the world—and one of their strategies is using the familiar term "Allah" while filling it with the true content of who God really is as revealed in Jesus Christ.

[Muslim opposition - they know it works]

In fact, Muslims in some Muslim nations, knowing the access the name Allah gives to the Muslim heart, are passing laws to forbid Christians from using it in reference to the Gospel of Christ. Malaysian Christians have been banned from using "Allah" in their Bibles and worship. There have even been attacks on churches over Christian references to Allah.

Why would Muslims be so threatened by Christians using this word? Because they know it works! It creates a bridge. It allows Christians to say, "We're talking about the same category—the creator, the all-powerful one—but let me tell you who He really is."

[How this works practically]

Here's how this plays out in practical evangelism. When witnessing to a Muslim, a Christian can say:

"You believe Allah is the creator—so do we! But let me tell you what we've discovered about Him that the Koran doesn't reveal. Allah is not distant and unknowable—He wants to be known! He's not impersonal—He's deeply personal and cares about every detail of your life! And most importantly, Allah is love—1 John 4:8 says 'God is love.' That's His very nature."

Or a Christian can say: "You're praying to Allah five times a day, trying to reach Him, hoping your good works will be enough. But what if I told you that Allah has reached down to you? What if He's not distant and hard to reach, but has come near to you in the person of Jesus Christ?"

This approach doesn't compromise the Gospel—it communicates it in a way Muslims can understand and relate to.

[Defending truth while finding bridges]

Now, we must be clear: We are not saying that the Islamic understanding of Allah is correct. We're not affirming everything Muslims believe about God. We must defend the tenets of our faith—the Trinity, the deity of Christ, the atoning sacrifice on the cross, salvation by grace through faith.

But we must also diligently seek ways to share Christ with those who have a hard time understanding that Jesus came to die for them. Using familiar terminology as a starting point—and then correcting and filling in the true content—is a time-tested missionary strategy.

[The balance - no and yes]

So is Allah God? In the sense of "Is the Islamic understanding of Allah the same as the Biblical revelation of God?"—no, they are not the same. The differences are significant and fundamental.

But in the sense of "Can we use the Arabic word 'Allah' as a bridge term to communicate the true God to Muslims?"—yes, absolutely. Arab Christians have been doing this for 2,000 years, and Indonesian Christians are doing it effectively today.

[Closing application and prayer]

So here's what I want you to take away: Don't be afraid to find common ground with Muslims. When they talk about Allah as creator, agree with them—and then show them more. When they talk about trying to reach Allah through good works, empathize with their seeking—and then show them that God has reached down to them in Jesus.

Use the term they're familiar with, but fill it with the true content of who God really is. This isn't compromise—it's communication. It's finding the redemptive analogy that opens hearts to the Gospel.

Let me pray: 

Thank you for joining me today. I hope this helps you think more clearly about how to communicate with Muslims without compromising the truth.

Until next time, remember—keep your eyes on the nations, and find the bridges that lead them to Jesus!

Afghanistan's Faithful Witnesses: Stories of Sacrifice and Fruit That Remains

Hello, and welcome back to Nations 4 Jesus. Today I need to share some stories that are both heartbreaking and inspiring—stories of modern martyrs in Afghanistan, one of the most dangerous places on earth to follow Jesus. These are stories of people who gave everything to bring the Gospel to a nation that desperately needs it. And I'm going to share something deeply personal with you—how I know that their sacrifice was not in vain.

Afghanistan. Just saying the name conjures images of war, Taliban rule, oppression, and danger. It's ranked as the most dangerous country in the world for Christians according to Open Doors' 2025 World Watch List. There are no open churches. Owning a Bible is illegal. Converting from Islam to Christianity is punishable by death. Afghan Christians must practice their faith in absolute secrecy.

Yet even there—especially there—God is at work. And faithful believers have given their lives to see Afghans come to know Jesus.

[Christianity in Afghanistan - ancient and hidden]

First, let me give you some context about Christianity in Afghanistan. Christianity actually has ancient roots there. Afghanistan was once part of the Persian Empire, and Christianity spread along the Silk Road in the early centuries after Christ. There were Christian communities in what is now Afghanistan as early as the 4th and 5th centuries.

But with the rise of Islam in the 7th century, Christianity was gradually pushed out. By the time of the Mongol invasions and subsequent Islamic rule, Christianity had nearly disappeared from Afghanistan. For centuries, there was virtually no Christian presence.

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, some Western missionaries tried to enter Afghanistan, but with little success. The country has been hostile to Christian missions for hundreds of years. During the Soviet occupation (1979-1989) and the subsequent civil war and Taliban rule, Afghanistan became one of the world's most closed nations.

Today, estimates suggest there are between 10,000 and 30,000 Afghan Christians—all of them secret believers, almost all converts from Islam. They cannot attend church openly. They cannot own Bibles openly. They cannot tell their families they follow Jesus without risking death. Yet they believe. And their faith has been watered by the blood of martyrs.

[Werner Groenewald - educator and witness]

Let me tell you about Werner Groenewald. Werner was a South African, 46 years old, who had been working in Afghanistan and Pakistan for about 12 years. He worked with Partnership in Academics and Development, a U.S.-based education charity, focusing on education, training for Afghans, English as a second language, and life skills.

Werner wasn't operating as a traditional missionary in the sense of openly preaching and planting churches—that would have been impossible in Afghanistan. He was an educator and aid worker. But make no mistake—he was there because of his love for Jesus and his desire to serve the Afghan people in Christ's name. His work was an expression of his faith, even if it had to be quiet.

Werner lived in Kabul with his wife, Dr. Hannelie Groenewald, who worked at a hospital, and their children. For over a decade, they sacrificed the comforts and safety of South Africa to serve some of the world's most vulnerable people.

[The attack - November 29, 2014]

On November 29, 2014, everything changed. Gunmen attacked the compound in Kabul belonging to Partnership in Academics and Development. The attackers claimed it was a "secret Christian missionary center." One of the gunmen had a suicide vest. In the attack, Werner Groenewald and his two teenage children were killed.

Their two sons were Jean-Pierre, age 17. Rode, age 15. Teenagers with their whole lives ahead of them. Children who had grown up in Afghanistan, who had learned to love the Afghan people, who were serving alongside their parents.

They were murdered because the Taliban viewed their father's educational work as Christian mission. And they were right—it was. Not in a covert way, but in the sense that Werner's love for Afghans flowed from his love for Christ.

Dr. Hannelie Groenewald was away at the hospital when the attack happened. She survived, but lost her husband and two children in one horrific day.

[The fruit that remains - a personal testimony]

Now let me tell you why I'm sharing this story. I know a family—an Afghan family—who came to Christ through Werner Groenewald's ministry. I have seen their baptism certificate, signed by Werner himself. When I learned about Werner's death, I reached out to his wife, Hannelie, and I let her know: The family Werner led to Christ is still following Jesus in Afghanistan almost ten years later. Despite the danger. Despite the persecution. Despite everything. They are faithfully following Jesus.

Werner's death was not in vain. His children's deaths were not in vain. The seeds they planted are still bearing fruit. Jesus said in John 12:24, "Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds."

Werner and Jean-Pierre and Rode were grains of wheat that fell to the ground and died. And they're producing fruit—fruit that remains.

[Dayna Curry and Heather Mercer - imprisoned for the Gospel]

Let me tell you about two other women whose story with Afghanistan is different but equally powerful: Dayna Curry and Heather Mercer. These two American women were aid workers with Shelter Now International in Kabul in 2001.

On August 3, 2001, they were arrested by the Taliban on charges of proselytizing—sharing the Gospel with Afghans. This was during the height of Taliban rule, before the U.S. invasion following 9/11. Being accused of proselytizing in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan was essentially a death sentence.

Dayna and Heather were imprisoned for 105 days. Think about that—three and a half months in a Taliban prison as accused Christian missionaries. Can you imagine the fear? The uncertainty? The very real possibility of execution?

But God had other plans. On November 15, 2001, just weeks after the U.S. invasion began in response to 9/11, they were rescued. The Taliban fled Kabul, and Dayna and Heather were freed.

[Prisoners of Hope - their testimony]

After their release, Dayna and Heather co-authored a memoir titled "Prisoners of Hope: The Story of Our Captivity and Freedom in Afghanistan." That title is so powerful—"Prisoners of Hope." Even in a Taliban prison, facing possible execution, they had hope. Hope in Christ. Hope that God was sovereign. Hope that their suffering had purpose.

Their story brought international attention to the plight of Afghan Christians and the brutality of Taliban rule. It also demonstrated the courage of young Christian women willing to serve in one of the world's most dangerous places for the sake of the Gospel.

What strikes me about Dayna and Heather is this: They knew the risks. They knew Afghanistan was dangerous for Christians. They went anyway. And when they were arrested, they didn't renounce their faith to save themselves. They held onto Christ and trusted Him through the terror.

[The state of Afghan Christianity today]

So what's the state of Christianity in Afghanistan today? It's worse than ever in some ways. When the U.S. and coalition forces withdrew in August 2021 and the Taliban retook control, Afghan Christians faced renewed persecution. Many fled the country. Some who couldn't escape went even deeper underground.

According to Open Doors, Afghanistan has been the #1 most dangerous country for Christians every year since 2022. If a convert to Christianity is discovered, they face honor killing by their own family, execution by the Taliban, or both. There are no church buildings. All worship must be completely secret. Possessing a Bible or Christian materials can lead to death.

Yet there are believers! Estimates range from 10,000 to 30,000 secret Afghan Christians. They meet in tiny house churches of two or three people. They can't tell their own families. They risk everything just to pray in Jesus's name. And many of them came to faith through the witness of people like Werner Groenewald, Dayna Curry, Heather Mercer, and countless other faithful workers who served in Afghanistan over the years.

[Why they go - love compels them]

So why do Christians go to Afghanistan? Why risk everything for a nation so hostile to the Gospel? Why would Werner Groenewald raise his children there? Why would Dayna and Heather serve there knowing they could be arrested or killed?

Because they love Jesus. And because Jesus loves Afghans. Second Corinthians 5:14 says, "For Christ's love compels us." They couldn't stay comfortable in South Africa or America when Afghans were perishing without the Gospel. They had to go.

And because they believed Romans 10:14-15: "How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!'"

Afghans deserve to hear about Jesus. God loves them just as much as He loves Americans or South Africans or anyone else. And if no one goes and tells them, how will they hear?

[The cost and the fruit - was it worth it?]

Was it worth it? Did Werner's death and his children's deaths accomplish anything? Did Dayna and Heather's imprisonment matter?

Here's how I know it was worth it: That Afghan family with the baptism certificate signed by Werner Groenewald. They're still following Jesus almost ten years later. They're risking their lives every day to worship the King. They're raising their children to know Christ in a nation where that could get them all killed.

That's fruit that remains. That's eternal impact. That's what Jesus meant when He said, "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last" (John 15:16).

And there are others—we don't know how many because they must stay hidden. But secret believers scattered across Afghanistan, meeting in twos and threes, reading their hidden Bibles, praying in whispers, and trusting that one day Jesus will return and make all things right.

[Our response - what should we do?]

So what should be our response to these stories? Let me give you four things.

First, pray for Afghan Christians. Pray every day for those 10,000 to 30,000 secret believers. Pray for their protection. Pray for their courage. Pray that they won't deny Christ under pressure. Pray for their families who don't know they're Christians. Pray that more Afghans would come to faith.

Second, support ministries reaching Afghans. There are radio broadcasts in Dari and Pashto. There are online resources. There are ministries working with Afghan refugees who have fled to other countries. Support these efforts financially and with prayer.

Third, reach Afghan refugees in your own community. Many Afghans who fled when the Taliban returned are now living in Western countries as refugees. They're more open to the Gospel outside Afghanistan. Befriend them. Serve them. Share Christ with them. They need to know that Jesus loves them.

Fourth, be willing to go if God calls you. I'm not saying everyone should move to Afghanistan—that's impossible for most people and currently extremely dangerous. But some of you listening might be called to work with Afghan refugees, or to serve in nearby countries where Afghans can be reached, or to join ministries focused on the Muslim world. If God calls, will you go?

[The promise - persecution doesn't stop the Gospel]

Here's what we need to understand: Persecution doesn't stop the Gospel. In fact, it often spreads it! Tertullian was right: "The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church." Werner Groenewald's blood, along with his children's, was seed that produced fruit in Afghan soil. Dayna and Heather's imprisonment became a testimony that reached millions.

Jesus promised in Matthew 16:18: "I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Not even Taliban gates. Not even in Afghanistan—the hardest place on earth for Christians. Jesus is building His church there, one secret believer at a time.

[Closing prayer]

Let me pray:

Thank you for joining me today. The story of Afghan Christians challenges us all. Will we pray for them? Will we support efforts to reach them? Will we go if God calls us?

Until next time, remember—keep your eyes on the nations, and never forget that even in the darkest places, Jesus is building His church!