Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Rebels move from Iraq to Afghanistan

Afghanistan-The war on terror seems to be shifting from Iran to Afghanistan. The Afghan defense minister says the increased flow of insurgents from outside Afghanistan had contributed to the heightened intensity of the fighting.He appeared to be referencing neighboring countries where Islamic militants with bases in tribal areas along the border have intensified their operations in support of the insurgency in Afghanistan.Christians have felt the brunt. Tom Doyle with E3 Partners recently returned from Afghanistan where he spoke with church partners. "Everything has just been ratcheted up in Central Asia, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan. I just believe that Satan has done this. These are different groups that are persecuting the Christians, but it's all coming at one time, so it's pretty intense right now."Members of the Afghanistan Islamic Council had warned President Hamid Karzai not to allow foreign missions into the country. According to Voice of the Martyrs' Canada, the council claimed that missionaries in Kabul and in the provinces were forcibly converting Muslims, enticing them by giving them Bibles and promising to send them abroad.The Islamic scholars warned of serious consequences if the government did not stop Christians from preaching and evangelizing.Despite the risk to personal safety, Doyle says their national director continues to move forward with evangelism. "He's leading Muslims to Christ in Afghanistan right now. The numbers are quite large, and they're going into the villages and seeing people very open to the Gospel of Christ."They now need those who are mature enough to disciple. Doyle says the Christians in Iraq "never ask us to pray that persecution will stop, although we do; but they ask us to pray for more leaders. 'We need more quality leaders to help with the harvest.'"
--Ask God to thwart the attempts of those who seek to hinder His work in Afghanistan and Algeria.
--Pray that His servants in these countries will be emboldened to carry on their service to Christ wherever God leads them.
http://www.mnnonline.org/article/11782
As in the days of Noah....

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