We serve Christians around the world whose brave faith in Jesus means they are, beaten, threatened, imprisoned, tortured, falsely accused, disowned and hated.

Afghanistan: Hear from a secret Christian

pattern

Afghanistan is now the hardest place in the world to be a Christian. For the first time since the Open Doors World Watch List began, Afghanistan is number one – replacing North Korea, even though persecution got worse in North Korea too.

When the Taliban took over Afghanistan in 2021, it made headlines around the world. Secret believers in the country had always known it was a possibility – and even before this takeover, Christians faced extreme persecution in Afghanistan. The country was already number two on the Open Doors World Watch List. Somehow it got even worse. For the first time ever, Afghanistan is number one on the World Watch List.

“I grew up in Afghanistan,” says Zabi (not her real name), a young woman whose name has been changed for security reasons. “My family are secret believers – well, my father and brother and me. My mother remained a Muslim.”

Christians in Afghanistan know that the Taliban are seeking them out, and will murder them without a second thought. Zabi knows first-hand how dangerous the Taliban can be. They have already had a devastating impact on her and her family.

“A few years ago, the Taliban came and they took my father away, because he was a Christian,” she shares. “They tortured and killed him. A few months later, my brother also disappeared. We never heard of him again.”

It’s hard to conceive of all that Zabi has been through. And now she has had to leave behind everything she owns. Zabi and her mother fled Afghanistan to a neighbouring country – along with the many thousands of others who left and are now refugees, including many Christians.

“Our situation is desperate,” she says. “What will happen to me? I don’t know. I’m praying I can leave this country and go somewhere safe. I may have to go into hiding. Or I’ll be deported to Afghanistan. I may be killed if that happens.”

Zabi puts it starkly: “I feel alone and hopeless.”

Zabi gets help, thanks to you!

When local Open Doors partners first made contact with Zabi, she was particularly worried about finding money for food. Thankfully, these partners are able to support Zabi and her mother with emergency food, shelter and prayer.

“God led our frontline partners to Zabi,” shares an Open Doors partner in the region. “They are now in regular contact with her. We have encouraged her, prayed with her, given her food and we pay the rent for her apartment and have given her some money, so that she is currently safe and able to survive. We’ll continue to help her, although we don’t know what her future will hold for her.”

Your gifts and prayers are already making an enormous difference to Zabi’s life: “Thank God for your food and clothes deliveries, your financial support and your prayers and encouragement,” she says. “You are a strand of hope to me. There’s a chance I may live.”

“Zabi’s grateful for the support, but it’s like being happy that someone showed up to the funeral of a loved one,” adds a local partner in the country neighbouring Afghanistan. “You’re happy this person is there, but you’re still overwhelmed with grief. It’s the same for her. She’s so thankful that we’re helping, but at the same time, she’s still in shock about what happened.

“It’s difficult for her to express what has happened and how she feels. We just have to be with her and help her where we can.”

PRAY NOW...
1

For Zabi to have a safe and fruitful future, for her mother to see the truth of the gospel, and for both women to heal from their trauma

3

For Open Doors partners supporting Christians from the top 10 countries to be Jesus’s hands and feet, equipped to share practical support and spiritual encouragement.

2

That all Afghan Christians – in or out of the country – would experience God’s unfailing love and mercy

Respond now...
  • 1
    Find out more: Get our free glow-in-the-dark World Watch List map and tattoo

    We want to help you pray to bring light into the darkness, so we've created an awesome new map with stories, actions and prayer points. It also glows in the dark and comes with a glow-in-the-dark tattoo which will help to remind you to keep praying for God's light to shine in the darkest places. We've also got a youth session outline for leaders to use alongside the map too.We want to help you pray to bring light into the darkness, so we've created an awesome new map with stories, actions and prayer points. It also glows in the dark and comes with a glow-in-the-dark tattoo which will help to remind you to keep praying for God's light to shine in the darkest places. We've also got a youth session outline for leaders to use alongside the map too. Get your free World Watch List resources here…

    Get your free
  • 2
    Choose to lose

    Get sponsored to give up something you love to raise money and prayer for Christians like Zabi who have lost out because of their choice to follow Jesus. Sign up below and get a free fundraising pack.

    Donate now…
  • 3
    Give

    Give to support Christians like Zabi who need your help.

    Donate now...
NEWS
July 14, 2025

Please join us in praying for 8 Christian young people who were arrested after they had spent a sharing their faith…

Find out more
July 7, 2025

Please pray for the safety and release of at least 120 children who have been abducted by Islamic extremist militants since January…

Find out more
June 30, 2025

Pray for 18-year old Tham from Vietnam who was kicked out of her home because of her faith in Jesus.

Find out more
June 30, 2025

Meet Daniel, a courageous Bible smuggler who takes Scripture into the Muslim world, continuing the legacy of Open Doors founder, Brother Andrew!

Find out more
June 23, 2025

Pray for two teachers who were detained after they organised a secret Christian camp for young people…

Find out more
June 23, 2025

Please pray for Christians in Syria after a brutal attack during a church service which killed nine innocent people…

Find out more
June 16, 2025

Meet Ethan, a church leader in Asia who came to faith as a teenager after stealing a Bible from his local church!

Find out more
June 9, 2025

Over 100 Christians are killed in a series of attacks after the local bishop spoke publicly to the US Congress about violence against the church in his region.

Find out more
June 9, 2025

Pastor Myint and his family have lived through death threats and displacement, but they are determined to keep serving God.

Find out more
June 2, 2025

See how your prayers and support are changing lives of people like Romi, who grew up as a ‘Christian’, but only truly started following Jesus in his 30s…

Find out more
btn-scroll