Via video, I talk to the Danish European Mission's contact person for Afghanistan, who gives an insight into the situation in the underground church right now.
What is the situation right now?
Many Christians and church leaders have left the country. Some fear persecution. Others have fled without being in danger. The church has been partially emptied, which is sad. However, there are still a number of Christians in the country who are trying to adapt to the new situation.
Some houses have been ransacked by the Taliban, some have had to move within the country. Most have moved from the province to Kabul if it has been known in their hometowns in the province that they were Christians. The reason is that in Afghanistan, many inhabitants choose to support the strong - in this case the Taliban, and to gain favor with the Taliban, some choose to inform the Taliban about who are Christians in the local community.
However, living in Kabul is far more expensive than in the provinces, which is challenging. Christians are facing financial challenges and there is uncertainty about how the church should proceed. Some Christians are going around trying to encourage the underground churches during this time.
But why Kabul, now that the Taliban have taken the city?
It's easier to hide in a big city, which is more anonymous than smaller cities. If you haven't lived in Kabul before, no one knows you, and Christians need to be in an environment where no one knows them.
Have church leaders fled?
It's hard to know the exact number, but a fair number of key leaders have left the country. It's too early to say whether new leaders can take their place on the front line. There are new leaders taking responsibility and I can see that they have the potential to take more leadership responsibility. But it doesn't happen overnight, so we need to keep encouraging them. The leaders who have left are trying to stay in touch with the churches inside the country. Some say they will return when the situation changes, but there is no way to know for sure if that will happen. It's important to pray for those who remain, that God will raise up the next generation of leaders.
As it stands, Christians live with a perpetual uncertainty of when there will be a knock on the door or they will say something that gives them away
A Taliban had a dream from God
I heard a story, and I don't know if it's true, that God gave a Taliban a dream two nights in a row. In the dream he was told to go to a certain person who was poor. The Taliban felt that God was telling him to help, so he gave the poor person some rice and flour. The Taliban was confused himself. The poor man was a Christian. As I said, I don't know if the story is true, nor do I know what happened next, but it tells me that God is working in the Taliban in different ways.
How can we pray for the Taliban?
I encourage people to pray for the Taliban to have dreams and visions that touch their hearts so that they repent and understand that Jesus is Lord. We can pray for something to happen within the Taliban.
We must also pray that the Taliban put people above ideology so that they help the population.
Are Christians afraid?
Humanly speaking, they are afraid, which is understandable in this situation. I think they hold on to the Lord and they believe that He is with them, which you can do even though the fear is there.
As it is now, Christians live with a perpetual uncertainty about when there will be a knock on the door or they will say something that exposes them. I don't know if anyone will actually return to Islam. In such situations, people who are weak in faith can make such decisions. Fortunately, I have not heard that anyone has done that, but instead I have heard that Christians are holding on to the faith.
What happens if the Taliban discovers Christians?
We hear that the Taliban execute people who have cooperated with the US. The Taliban will not hesitate to kill Christians if they find them, but we have not heard confirmed stories of Christians being martyred. There are dramatic stories circulating, but I have not been able to confirm them. But in general, you can say that the regime does not hesitate to execute people.
What exactly is happening?
The Taliban won't necessarily kill Christians if they are discovered, but even if they survive, it becomes public knowledge that they are Christians. The news spreads and this can lead to resistance from neighbors and communities that are hostile to Christians. According to Islam, the punishment for apostasy is death, but it is not always implemented.
Facts and figures
- Before the Taliban took power, there were an estimated 3000 Christians in Afghanistan. Now that number has dropped.
- Christians hide things in their homes and delete emails and texts on their phones that indicate they are Christians.
