November 11, 2015
Katheryn Haddad reports that a second generation of Christians is arising in Afghanistan.
Four years ago, one of Katheryn’s Internet students in Afghanistan (she named him “John Mark”) and his wife baptized each other in their bathtub. Immediately, John Mark started sharing his faith with his friends and enrolling them in WEI.
The following year, the Muslim authorities learned that John Mark had converted to Christianity, and they threatened to send him to prison unless he paid $50,000. John Mark’s wife immediately took their four children to another province, and they changed locations every night. The Taliban is known for kidnapping children and demanding a high ransom to save them from slavery or death.
After several weeks of moving around, John Mark made arrangements for them to fly to India. They stayed in India for a month, ran low on funds, and decided to return to their home country. They avoided their house, and John Mark went back and forth to work in disguise until he felt confident that he and his family were safe again.
Upon their return to Afghanistan, John Mark’s older brother (whom Katheryn named “Ananias”) took the WEI course and was baptized by his father. Recently, at age nineteen, Ananias, said he would like to preach even if he is killed.
When Ananias’ younger brother (named “Samson”) turned sixteen, he enrolled in the WEI lessons. He told Katheryn, ‘I learned the Kingdom of Jesus is the righteous kingdom in the universe, and his resurrection is an important message for human beings. Christianity is the righteous religion in the world; it is God’s kingdom. All human beings should accept Christianity.”
By the time Samson completed the basic course, a survey of the Bible, he knew enough that he could make an informed decision, and he asked his father to baptize him. This was in mid-October. He wrote, “Dear teacher, I have been baptized by my father this last week, in our bathroom, in the name of Jesus. Now I feel very happy that I am one of the family of God.”
Let us praise God for Christians in Muslim countries who risk their lives to share their faith with others. The Prince of Peace is God’s answer to radical Islam.
