Afghanistan is no stranger to struggle. The Soviet invasion in 1978 brought disaster, but their pull-out a decade later did not bring peace. When the Communists lost power, Muslims took their place and engaged in a civil war - an Islamic jihad, or holy war - which degenerated into a cruel contest for religious and political supremacy between Islamic factions. The Afghani people were left to pick up the shattered pieces of their lives, leading to rule by the Taliban, and their extreme form of militant Islam. Under their rule, there were extremely stringent rules - women were no longer allowed to attend school or hold jobs, and men must adhere to a strict Islamic code in which they all have beards. Non-Muslims were denied freedom of assembly, and open profession of faith in Christ among refugees often led to death. Converts to Christianity were often killed by their own families.

Under the U.S.-led "war on terrorism," the Taliban government was overthrown, leading to a new interim government. With this change, there are new hopes, but also continued concerns about religious freedom during this transition and into the future.

The year 2004 saw a shift in policies and governing authorities in Afghanistan. A new constitution was adopted in January, and in October of that year, Hamid Karzai became the first democratically elected president. While some human rights watchdogs see improvements in the country, there continue to be concerns. The constitution is somewhat vague in policies relating to religion, which could lead to abuses of minorities in the future. As well, the Taliban maintains a strong influence in areas that are not under the strict control of government rule.

The iron fist of the Taliban was seen in July 2004 when Taliban guerrillas claimed responsibility for cutting the throat of a Muslim cleric after they discovered he was propagating Christianity. Taliban spokesman Abdul Latif Hakimi told Reuters in a telephone conversation that a number of foreign aid agencies were likewise involved in spreading Christianity and would face a similar fate. "We warn them that they face the same destiny as Assadullah if they continue to seduce people," he said.

Muslims make up the vast majority of the population. Christians make up only 1/100 of 1 percent of the population and there are still 88 unreached people groups in this nation.

• Pray that the constitution will truly ensure religious freedom for all people.
• Pray that Christians in Afghanistan will be able to stand for their faith, despite the small numbers, and that they will reach out to those around them with the Gospel of Christ.