Pray for Afghans. Pray for Congress.

Dear friend,

Next month will mark two years since the fall of Kabul to the Taliban, spurring the evacuation of tens of thousands of Afghans to the United States. World Relief, where I serve as Senior Vice President of U.S. Programs, has partnered with hundreds of local churches to serve more than 6,000 of these Afghans, and our peer organizations have welcomed many others. We thank God that they made it to safety – but we know that the journey to full security and belonging is not yet over. And we’re mindful of the many other Afghans, including those threatened by the Taliban because of their service to the U.S. military, ethnic and religious minorities and prominent female leaders, who remain at risk or languishing in a neighboring country.

As we approach this anniversary, I’d invite you to join me and other Christians in prayer and advocacy for Afghanistan and its people. Please pray specifically for:

• The ongoing integration of Afghans into communities throughout the U.S., including those learning a new language, adapting to an entirely new culture, working new jobs and, in some cases, struggling to afford rent in a very tight housing market
• The church in the U.S., that our welcome of Afghans and others who have been displaced from their homelands would reflect the love of Jesus, would assist our new Afghan neighbors to flourish in their new home and would lead to lasting friendships across cultural and religious differences
• Afghans still at risk in Afghanistan, that God would protect them from harm, make ways for those who need to flee the country to preserve their lives, and ultimately bring about peace and security in Afghanistan so that people would not feel they have no choice but to leave home
• Those who have escaped Afghanistan but remain in situations of vulnerability in neighboring countries, sometimes fearing the risk of deportation back to danger – that God would open up opportunities for them to find lasting security
• President Biden and his administration, who have the authority to consider requests for family reunification, refugee status and humanitarian parole, that they would act with urgency, compassion and care
• The U.S. Congress, where last week a bill called the Afghan Adjustment Act was re-introduced in both the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives. Pray that Members of Congress would carefully consider this important bill, which would allow Afghans currently in the U.S. with a temporary parole to undergo additional vetting to be able to apply for permanent legal status

World Relief and many of the organizations that lead the Evangelical Immigration Table sent a letter to Members of Congress late last week praising the re-introduction of this bipartisan bill and urging them to act quickly to ensure that Afghans are allowed the peace and certainty that would come with knowing that they belong here in the U.S. and need never fear being returned to persecution. I encourage you to reach out to your Members of Congress to ask them to support this vital bill as well.

Lastly, for those who would like to join with others in corporate prayer for Afghans and for Congress, you’re invited to join this Zoom prayer call next Monday, July 24 at 4 PM ET/3 PM CT/2 PM MT/1 PM PT – you can click here to add the call to your calendar.

In Christ,

Aerlande Wontamo,
SVP of US Programs, World Relief