Afghanistan
AFGHANISTAN Update
October 10, 2022
Whether it’s a natural or man-made disaster, the need is great. Afghanistan has been through both of these disasters in the past 2 years from political instability and earthquakes. IDES has a long history of working with partners in and around Afghanistan, but recent events have increased our relief efforts. According to the UN, there are 3.5 million Afghans displaced within their own country and an additional 2.6 million refugees have fled to other countries. IDES and our partners have been working diligently to provide Help & Hope to the people of Afghanistan.
Over the past 2 years, IDES has provided relief to over 40,000 Afghans in Afghanistan or surrounding countries. Most IDES relief efforts have focused on providing immediate relief supplies to families in need. We have provided over 900,000 pounds of food to IDPs/refugees and given heavy blankets to 2,000 families to help them survive the bitter cold winter.
Our partners have also been making efforts to provide a more sustainable future to the Afghan people. We have been able to drill 3 wells in Afghanistan, providing clean water to over 3,000 people. Having nearby access to clean water is often life-changing to people in developing countries, as it reduces sickness and the amount of time that women and children spend obtaining water. We have also provided 50 sewing machines to Afghan refugee women, which allows them to support their families. We hope to continue working on projects like these and continue helping the Afghans sustain themselves even amid political and economic hardship in their country.
The work in Afghanistan is even more difficult for our partners due to the widespread persecution of Christians. Our partners boldly proclaim Jesus while helping the Afghan people and dealing with constant threats. They must be continually alert and cautious for their safety. We have also been able to provide 1,000 Bibles to Afghan refugees, many of whom have never heard the name of Jesus.
Join us in praying that these Bibles and our partners' work will lead people to know Jesus as their Lord.
Afghanistan Update June 24, 2022
IDES partners are beginning their response to Wednesday's earthquake in Afghanistan. They have secured permission to send relief to the affected areas and will work with local communities to assess needs and provide crucial aid to families. They are preparing food, water, first aid kits, and basic supplies.
All our partners are safe and unaffected by the earthquake. We praise God for their safety. Join us in praying for the many people suffering loss at this time.
We need your help with these emergency relief efforts. 100% of your designated gift will support earthquake survivors. Click the link below and designate your gift as 'Afghanistan'.
AFGHANISTAN EARTHQUAKE UPDATE: June 23, 2022
We have been in contact with our partners in and around Afghanistan. Thankfully, none of them were close enough to sustain any damage from the earthquake. They are working with their contacts who are in the affected areas to see how they can begin offering relief to those in need.
If you would like to give to this earthquake relief, please click the link below and include "Afghanistan Earthquake" in the designation comments.
100% of your designated gift will go directly to these relief efforts
IDES partner story: 12/25/2021
IDES is working with several different partners in and around Afghanistan. These partners are working tirelessly to provide aid to the Afghanistan refugees and IDPs. Click the link below to see how one of our partners is working to help those in need.
Winter brings many challenges all around the world. In Afghanistan, IDES partners are working tirelessly to provide Help & Hope to those who have been displaced by the recent Taliban take over. You can be a part of providing Help & Hope by giving to IDES end of year campaign to provide at least $250,000 for the needs of the upcoming winter. IDES is working through 3 dedicated partners to help people in Afghanistan and refugees in surrounding countries. If you are interested in giving to this need or finding out more information, please click the link below!
IDES is working with multiple mission partners to care for Afghans who are displaced inside their own borders, as well as refugees who have fled to other nations.
If your church is assisting with the resettlement of Afghan refugees in your community, we would love to learn more about your efforts. Please contact us at 317-773-4111 or click the button below!
IDES 2021 End of Year Appeal
“...many of our fellow Christians do not want to leave Afghanistan. It is their home. They want to be there to make a difference.” - Afghan Partner *
This was just one of many comments that struck me while debriefing with an Afghan leader shortly after the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. This year IDES saw project partners in other persecuted countries faithfully sharing the Gospel in the face of persecution. But I couldn’t help but be moved by what these brothers and sisters were committing to endure.
For many years IDES has provided aid in Afghanistan. In recent years we have provided over $750,000 of assistance. Those resources installed wells for clean water, gave food to the hungry, provided medical care, and more. IDES has worked to meet the needs in Afghanistan and help our brothers and sisters share help and hope with refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
Since the Taliban takeover on August 15th, things have been even more difficult. And this winter, the needs will be greater than ever. We want to ask you to be part of helping the Church in and around Afghanistan.
IDES leadership is working with dedicated partners from three separate countries to provide the most effective response and strategies coming directly from teams on the ground in Afghanistan and surrounding countries. Meeting the needs in this part of the world is dangerous and difficult for Christians but our partners continue to faithfully get the aid to where it is needed most.
Our partners report that persecution is on the rise. We are told that many believers are changing location every day or two to avoid detection by the Taliban. Believers take extra precautions but the Church does not stop helping those who are hurting and reaching those who need Christ.
One partner said, “In Afghanistan hope and fear are experienced daily, almost simultaneously.”
In spite of the danger, the Church continues to grow among Afghans, both in Afghanistan and among refugees who have fled to surrounding countries for safety. The opportunities to show God’s love and share Good News are increasing. We are blessed to be part of it. We are blessed to be the Church helping the Church!
IDES is committed to providing at least $250,000 in winter relief for those suffering in Afghanistan, and for the refugees who have fled to surrounding countries*. Additionally we are working to secure opportunities to provide help and hope to Afghan refugees here in the United States.
You will be helping provide Blankets and Fuels to provide warmth, Food, Water, and Basic Health Supplies for the harsh winter months. Many who will be blessed with this aid have had to flee their home for fear of the Taliban. Your help will give hope and warmth during these cold months.
Supplies for the harsh winter months. Many who will be blessed with this aid have had to flee their home for fear of the Taliban. Your help will give hope and warmth during these cold months.
The resources you provide will accomplish three goals:
Provide life-saving aid
Embolden, encourage, and empower the Afghan Church to spread the Gospel
Promote unity by allowing Christ’s followers in our country to join with Christ’s followers in a country over 7,000 miles away
God provides incredible opportunities to continue the task of reaching the lost. My prayer is that we will be challenged by what God has called us to do. I pray we take seriously the commission to share the Gospel with the whole world. Please pray with me that God’s people will seize the opportunity to meet serious Physical needs and open the door to meet eternal Spiritual needs.
Will you join us to help our fellow Christians who choose to remain in Afghanistan achieve their goal of making a difference?
As always, when you partner with IDES, 100% of your gift toward Afghanistan Relief will go directly to the need. IDES takes no overhead from these gifts so you know your dollars are going to go further.
*names omitted for security reasons
David Stine, IDES Executive Director
August 20, 2021
You can help provide Help and Hope in Afghanistan!
At IDES we take extra measures to ensure the safety and security of our partners in closed and persecuted countries.
The stories and images coming from Afghanistan are grim. The numbers of people fleeing the violence are staggering. In the midst of this tragedy, God is still at work.
Our partners' team members who remain in Afghanistan continue to provide food and meet the needs of hurting people. IDES was able to get funds to them just before the takeover and those funds are being used to provide relief for the many Internally Displaced Persons(IDPs) in Afghanistan. We are so grateful for their love and dedication to serving the Lord in these difficult times.
IDES has the ways and means to get funds into Afghanistan to continue meeting the needs of IDPs and others who are suffering during this crisis. Your help will ensure the flow of resources they desperately need, all while sharing the love of Christ.
As always, 100% of your designated gift will go directly to providing aid to the hurting in Afghanistan.
August 17, 2021
Recently we spoke with our Afghan partners to ensure they had evacuation plans in place. Yesterday we received news they were able to leave the country on one of thelast flights out.
We praise God for getting them safely out. But there are no words to describe thesituation in Afghanistan. Our partners’ hearts, along with ours, ache for thosewho were not able to leave. We are concerned for our partners’ contacts, associates, the many refugees who were receiving aid, and our brothers and sisters in Christ.
As youlift up Afghanistan in prayer, please pray for:
Protection for the remnant of believers from the ruthless persecution they will face
Women, children, and those who are most vulnerable
The Gospel to be proclaimed and flourish in spite of persecution
Matthew 5 calls us to pray for those who persecute- pray for the Taliban and their leaders- we have a great God who can change hearts!
IDES, and our partners, will continue to monitor the situation and look for open doors to provide relief when the opportunity arises.