Afghanistan's Hidden Church: Faith Amid the Taliban

Andrew Urquhart speaks with Anna Hunyadi from Barnabas Aid about the underground church surviving in Afghanistan under Taliban rule, where Christians face a brutal choice of fleeing, reconverting to Islam, or execution. Despite the danger, she reveals the church continues to grow quietly, with a local pastor reporting fifty recent baptisms, mostly among young adults, while the wider population endures a severe humanitarian crisis including acute child malnutrition and some of the world's harshest restrictions on women.

Hunyadi shares the harrowing true story of an Afghan Christian couple, now resettled in New Zealand, who survived Taliban persecution, a relative's execution for refusing to betray them, and a near-miraculous border crossing into Pakistan after being turned away once before. She points listeners to Barnabas Aid's prayer resources and upcoming "Encourage" events across six New Zealand cities, and urges practical support through dedicated funds for Afghan and other displaced Christians worldwide ([www.barnabasaid.org](https://www.barnabasaid.org)).

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