Afghanistan (MNN) — During a recent hearing, US Congressman Bill Huizenga said Afghanistan has once again become a sanctuary for terrorists. Yet the Taliban denies it, claiming no foreign terror groups are operating in the country, or that certain groups operated with government approval.
“It’s all political. They claim not to be terrorists, and yet they’re terrorists,” Keys for Kids’ Greg Yoder says.
“When you come down heavy on villages because they don’t agree with you religiously, that’s terrorism, and that’s happening throughout Afghanistan.”
The Taliban government continues to suppress anything that doesn’t align with its ideology. Recently, officials raided a production facility run by Keys for Kids partners.
Gospel worker reviews material before recording in the studio.
(Photo courtesy of Keys for Kids)
“The good news was everybody who was supposed to be recording was out for dinner, and everything they were working on had been backed up,” Yoder says.
“The people there, security, etc., warned the Christians not to return. But the issue is now, where do we go to resume the production?”
Around 43 percent of Afghanistan’s 41.5 million people are children under the age of 14. Keys for Kids and FMI are introducing them to the hope only Christ can offer.
Believers are about 25 percent done translating Keys for Kids resources into Dari, one of Afghanistan’s two primary dialects. They’re also working on a Pashto translation, and these materials are being loaded onto Keys for Kids Storytellers.
“Through these solar-powered MP3 players, we have a Bible in audio, but then also these Keys for Kids stories that introduce biblical truth and how to apply that biblical truth to everyday life,” Yoder says.
“It brings in Bible verses to help them understand who Jesus is. In the Islamic faith, Jesus is known as the only perfect Prophet, even though we know he was the Son of God. Teaching that concept is very, very critical,” he continues.
“There’s no hope in Islam. They believe they have to do certain things to earn their salvation, and there are no guarantees. But we talk about the free gift of salvation to all who believe.”
Despite growing pressure, hope remains strong. Kids — and adults — are finding comfort in the Gospel.
“Even the simplistic form of our theology of who Jesus is resonates with adults,” Yoder says. “We just got word that 12 churches have been planted in Afghanistan since the Keys for Kids Storytellers have been distributed by our partners, FMI.”
There’s still much work to do. Consider partnering with Keys for Kids to help bring God’s Word to Afghanistan. “There are 15,000 Keys for Kids Storytellers in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and it’s just a drop in the bucket of what’s needed,” Yoder says.
Header and story images courtesy of Keys for Kids.
