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To the average Westerner, the shroud covering a Muslim woman symbolizes repression, intimidation, even menace. News reports of suicide bombers and Taliban attacks only reinforce these fears.
But would Westerners feel differently if they were able to see the faces behind the burkhas? Would we see the people of Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran as God sees them – His lost children?
In the midst of the tension and violence of this world, there is a bright hope: the Word of God, explained in Luther’s Small Catechism, recently translated into the language of the Afghan people (Dari).
Though Afghanistan is 99 percent Sunni or Shia Muslim, there is a small but growing Christian population. Most Christians fearfully keep their faith a secret.
“There are normally very forceful ways to persuade a person to return to Islam,” explains LHF project coordinator John Andrews*, who lived in Afghanistan for many years. “Most of those who have come to know Christ as the Good Shepherd will have a death threat on their lives.”
After living among Afghan Muslims for decades and interacting with Taliban leaders, Andrews saw a possible opening to bringing them the Good News of Jesus Christ: prayer.
“Afghans’ view of Christianity and the West is shaped largely by television,” Andrews said. “They think that the West has nothing to do with God. When they see a Christian in genuine prayer, they’re often surprised in a positive way.”
Because of Muslims’ high regard for prayer, Andrews set about writing a Lutheran prayer book that would effectively teach about the one true God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
The result was Morning Song and Evening Worship, a prayer book that includes Luther’s Small Catechism and many Bible references. The books were printed in Europe and will be hand carried into Afghanistan.
“This prayer book will be used as an important book next to the Dari Bible, which is also recently available for the believers inside the country,” said Wahid Khan*, who translated the prayer book.
Morning Song and Evening Worship is intended for common people, particularly for heads of families to use in teaching their own families. Andrews anticipates that it also will be used by leaders of small fellowships and as a personal “carry-with-you” book for any believer. The book’s size was purposely kept small so that it could be easily concealed and carried in a pocket.
“This book will be very useful for believers who are not in the position to join fellowship meetings,” Wahid explained.
When writing the prayer book, Andrews was careful to weave Scripture references throughout the text – more than 650 in all.
“The catechism in itself is a teaching tool of Scripture, but the prayers can become a teacher, too,” he said.
Wahid agreed, saying, “The references to the Bible will motivate a person to read the Word of God. This book guides people directly to the Bible.”
Andrews believes that there are many people in Afghanistan who are searching for religious truth.
“There are families who are utterly tired with Islam after what they have seen in the past 30 years being done in the name of Islam,” Andrews said. “God is also raising critical thinkers in Afghanistan, who question the assumptions held by the dominant religion. People want to know the truth and are less and less willing to accept something ‘just because someone told me so.’”
“The life of a Christian in Afghanistan is not an easy life or without danger,” concluded Wahid. “It is not always possible to share about your faith with other people, but we know of several [accounts] where the Lord led people to each other [so they could share their faith]. In that light, we believe that everything is possible.”
* Names have been changed for the safety of those involved.
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Contrary to conventional wisdom, many people DO judge a book by its cover. So when designing the cover of the Dari prayer book, Morning Song and Evening Worship, the artists tried to make the cover speak to the average Afghan citizen.
“The Afghan design gives more ownership to the Afghans,” said John Andrews*, author. “For me, the drops of water describe the work of the Holy Spirit, coming down as the dew from heaven and causing the wheat fields to grow and bear fruit. The cover design points to the dawning light of the Afghan Church.”
The design also reflects a well-known Afghan proverb, “Drop by drop, a sea is created.”
“Our desire was that a nice cover would attract our people to the hidden treasures written inside the book,” said Wahid Khan, translator. “We pray that a sea of believers may appear in the near future inside Afghanistan, and also among Afghans living outside the country.”
* Names have been changed for the safety of those involved
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