A Look at Refugee Ministry

Over the summer, Fr. Pete Forbes (Dean of Arizona/Nevada in the Diocese of Western Anglicans) introduced me to an Afghan Christian living in Tucson. Perhaps you know that Afghanistan is 99.7% Muslim, and it’s extremely rare to meet an Afghan Christian. I met with this man–known as Pastor Najib–on Zoom, and he shared his story of coming to the US, which floored me.

After first hearing about Jesus in 1999 and receiving the gift of faith, Najib and his mother, wife, and children fled Afghanistan in 2008 due to persecution. They sought refuge in India where they faithfully ministered among Muslims for 13 years. Eventually, they were identified by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees as especially in need of resettlement, beginning the years-long process of interviews and security checks required to resettle to a safe third country.

In this process, refugees virtually have no power: they can’t choose the country to which they are resettled, and they can’t choose when they’ll get to go. They must wait to be told these things.

Finally, Najib’s family was offered one option: resettlement in the United States, to an unknown place called Arizona. They said yes, accepting a travel loan from the US government for the one-way plane tickets, set to depart India on August 15, 2021.

August 15, 2021—the very same day the Taliban took control of Kabul. Over the following two weeks, the US military would scramble to evacuate over 82,000 people from Kabul’s main airport and, after intensive security screening, over 2,000 evacuated Afghans would be placed in Arizona, many just miles from Najib.

Afghans evacuated by the US military arrive at Dulles International Airport (New York Times)

 

“God said to me, you are Moses,” recounts Najib, who doesn’t know of any other Afghan Christians in Tucson. Suddenly, once again, he found himself surrounded by Muslims desperately in need of true freedom—freedom in Christ—only this time, they are in a country where sharing the gospel will not get you killed. Najib is uniquely equipped to reach these people, understanding their complex languages and cultures. The timing of these circumstances is stunning; only God could do this. Let us give him thanks!

Now two years later, Najib and his wife, Rona, regularly open their home to pray and study the Bible with a handful of Afghans. Broadcasting from his safe home (left), Najib preaches on SAT-7, a Christian media outlet reaching the Middle East and North Africa. And this weekend, he’s teaching two seminars to dozens of Afghans in Tucson and Phoenix, sharing biblical values in their own language and in a culturally appropriate way.

I hope this story builds up your faith today; I hope you are reminded that the Lord never slumbers nor sleeps (Psalm 121) … he is working day and night, in perfect ways that we may never see.

Having been in refugee ministry in Arizona for the past 20 years, I’m privileged to get a front-row seat to the Lord’s work among forcibly displaced people. Not only is he bringing unreached people here, where they’re much safer and surrounded by people who can share the Good News (that’s you and I!) … he also is bringing Christians from all over the world who have survived atrocious persecution and have much to teach us about suffering, faithfulness, hope, and joy.

I’m excited to share with you this Sunday, between services in the Parish Hall, about Phoenix Refugee Connections, our church’s Ministry Partner equipping the Church to love her refugee neighbors. Please come and listen, learn, ask questions, and be encouraged by seeing a new facet of the Lord’s work right here in our cities.

View this three-minute video to give you a taste!

Mary Kaech