Sharing the gospel widely

“Afghanistan is one of the most challenging places in the world to follow Jesus, as well as to discover Jesus,” Robert*, an OM ministry leader, said. “In the current situation within the country, Jesus followers and even seekers of Jesus, face pressure from all sectors of society, including their families and communities. There are no churches, and having a Bible can be a risk.”

For over 30 years from outside of the country, OM’s Pamir ministry has broadcasted the message of Jesus over radio waves into Afghanistan. Fifteen years ago, TV broadcasts were added. In more recent years, they developed a variety of social media platforms to take the good news even further. “[Social media] has been one way of broad seed sowing that has catapulted us into a new ministry level,” Adam*, a ministry leader, shared. “We get many negative responses … but we focus on the positive comments and messages — the things that lead to a connection with our team members and deeper conversations.”

One woman who follows Pamir’s Facebook page and downloaded the Bible to her phone told a team member: “I read the Bible, and when I believed, my life was changed! I am very interested to learn and understand more.” Another person downloaded and started reading the Dari Bible App and shared later that he felt light flood him. He found himself changed with a new sense of love for other people. He reads the Bible daily and is keen to start Bible study with one of the Pamir follow-up teams.

Gul*, a woman who previously heard about Jesus from one of her sons, said in a follow-up call with a team member that she had believed in Jesus for some time already, and was now ready to pray to receive Jesus. Gul expressed appreciation that someone explained Scripture to her, and how much joy and peace she felt. Prior to her decision, she regularly connected with a Pamir worker over the course of several months and discussed more about who Jesus was.

Creative media approaches

Due to low literacy rates, the Pamir radio and television shows are a great way for Afghans to learn about Jesus. “Our team members talk with Afghans on a daily basis, answer questions and/or read the Bible to them so that they can grow in their faith,” Adam shared. One such man follows the Pamir radio broadcasts regularly and also listens to the audio Bible on the Bible App developed by Pamir. In this way, he has studied the Gospels. He prays for those who have not yet heard the true Word of God. Regularly in contact with a Pamir team member, he commented that he is learning to put everything into God’s hands instead of becoming angry when others do wrong.

“One of the most effective ways to share the gospel in Afghanistan is through various forms of media, over the radio waves and satellite TV, as well as online and through apps,” Robert explained. “In a country where most people describe their situation as hopeless, it is critical that they learn of the true hope that is possible through Jesus!”

An older man talking to a Pamir worker remembered: “Several years ago, one of you prayed with me, and after that, my life was changed. I listen to the Dari, Pushto and Hazaragi programmes and I pray for all of you who share the good news with our people.” Another man said: “You are doing a good job sharing about the Light.”

The team uses a variety of ways to identify and guide interested online users through a step-by-step discovery and discipleship process: first, messaging individuals and answering big-picture questions about God and the Bible, and later, having one-on-one calls and connecting them with further Bible study opportunities. This helps the team reach thousands of people with a broad message about Christ and also discern and come alongside those seeking truth to engage in meaningful conversations.

One example of this is a man who has connected with Pamir workers through social media for a couple of years. As the workers answered the man’s questions and directed him to a Bible study, he announced that his questions were answered and that he was ready to be baptised.

Making a big impact

In 2024, thousands of users engaged for thousands of hours with the team’s media content on social media, websites and mobile apps, as well as radio and TV. In response to the message communicated on these platforms, 5,245 Afghans contacted the Pamir team through social media, and team members had conversations with 2,171 people. An additional 1,799 Afghans reached out by phone, and team members spoke with 555 people (some called the team but then decided they did not want to talk further). Of these conversations, about 23 were classified as an ongoing mentoring relationship, where discipleship and deeper Bible study occurred.

Despite the persecution of followers of Jesus in this part of the world and the difficulty of openly witnessing in Afghanistan itself, the Pamir team has found a variety of ways to share truths about Christ with Afghans. In a highly familial culture, this ministry provides a connection to the whole family.

As one person shared: “I listen to your radio programmes in the evenings with my family. I heard a lot of good things and truth, and I try to tell my neighbours and others. We want to learn more from the Bible.” A Pamir team member is in regular contact with another man and his family for fellowship and Bible study; they have followed the TV programmes for some years now.

The Pamir team continues to be committed to speaking about Jesus in a variety of ways so that Afghans have the opportunity to know they are part of God’s plan. “Our very first ministry, which continues to this day, consists of several hours of gospel messages broadcasted every day over short and medium-wave radio into Afghanistan — quite literally so that all can ‘hear’ the good news!” shared Robert. “We, along with our ministry partners, have expanded into television, film, Bible translation, apps, online and social media, so that the gospel can be widely sown where it is not known.”

*name changed