{"id":38550,"date":"2021-09-14T14:00:24","date_gmt":"2021-09-14T05:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/?p=38550"},"modified":"2021-09-14T15:41:58","modified_gmt":"2021-09-14T06:41:58","slug":"vomk-report-171","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/2021\/09\/14\/vomk-report-171\/","title":{"rendered":"AFGHANISTAN: CHRISTIANS FACE NEW REGIME WITH FAITH AND CREATIVITY"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”38545″ img_size=”full”][vc_custom_heading text=”A farmer and his family live in the Afghan countryside. He is quietly Christian, having been discipled for several years through contact with a Christian radio station broadcasting into Afghanistan, since there is no church in his area. Recently, town elders urged him to give his 16-year-old daughter to a Taliban warrior, explaining he would be handsomely rewarded. His daughter said she would sooner kill herself. The farmer reasoned that he could join the resistance against the Taliban, flee and lose his land, or stay and lose his daughter.” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:1.2em|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” el_class=”headline”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is a very common scenario for Christians in Afghanistan,\u201d says Voice of the Martyrs Korea Representative Dr<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0Hyun Sook Foley.\u00a0<\/span>\u201cAfghan Christians who had foreign connections have now fled<\/span>\u00a0the country<\/span>. Those who remain<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>must\u00a0<\/span>learn to live out their faith under a new regime that demands they surrender\u00a0<\/span>it<\/span>.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]What did the farmer choose to do?<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>He\u00a0<\/span>quickly\u00a0<\/span>married his daughter to a relative,<\/span>\u201d says Representative Foley. \u201cHe had previously discussed this option with his relatives, since life has been difficult and dangerous for Christians in Afghanistan for\u00a0<\/span>many years<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0The 2004 Constitution recognized Islam as the official religion of Afghanistan. The recent Taliban takeover didn\u2019t shut down church<\/span>\u00a0buildings. There were no church buildings there to begin with.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”38546″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Representative Foley says that Voice of the Martyrs Korea partners with a Christian media ministry that has continued its radio broadcasts and other media outreaches\u00a0<\/span>into Afghanistan even after the Taliban takeover.<\/span>\u00a0She says they continue to receive messages\u00a0<\/span>daily\u00a0<\/span>from Christians\u00a0<\/span>who\u00a0<\/span>are seeking\u00a0<\/span>guidance in how to live\u00a0<\/span>out their faith<\/span>\u00a0in a Taliban-controlled state.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Some are resolute in their faith. Some are wavering. Some, frankly, have lost hope.\u00a0<\/span>The most common message we are\u00a0<\/span>currently hearing\u00a0<\/span>from Christians across\u00a0<\/span>Afghan<\/span>istan is: \u2018We praise God that there has been no widescale bloodshed or destruction.\u2019 But they wonder how long the peace will last. And they<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>are unclear\u00a0<\/span>how to live as Christians under\u00a0<\/span>even\u00a0<\/span>strict<\/span>er<\/span>\u00a0Islamic rule.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Representative Foley shared some of the most recent messages from listeners who contacted the VOMK-sponsored Christian media ministry:<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n