Pastor Maqbool has learned to lead with courage when fear would be the easier choice.
Maqbool’s life inside Afghanistan has been shaped by loss, displacement, and constant danger, yet these hardships have refined him to be a shepherd who does not abandon his people when the cost becomes high.
This winter, he led a team of five believers across difficult terrain, distributing Dari-language audio Bibles to Afghan families hungry for hope. Extreme weather, shortages of basic necessities, and growing insecurity makes every journey uncertain. In recent weeks, dozens of people have lost their lives simply because medical care, food, and shelter were unavailable. Still, Maqbool and his team pressed forward, convinced that the hope found in Word of God must reach the people now, especially in times like these.
When team member Lala Zeeshan was brutally attacked by Muslim extremists who stabbed him multiple times in the abdomen, Maqbool did not waver. He immediately placed himself at risk, rushing Zeeshan to the nearest hospital to ensure he received emergency care. (Hospitals in Afghanistan can be a dangerous place for Christians who have been persecuted.) This was not the first time Maqbool had walked beside someone suffering for Christ and, once again, he chose presence over safety and leadership over fear.
Lala Zeeshan’s own faith journey has been marked by pain from the beginning. At his baptism two years ago, he stood with a broken arm and fractured rib from earlier persecution for his newfound faith in Jesus Christ. Maqbool has discipled him through those wounds to healing and now stood with him again in this moment of crisis.
After ensuring his brother’s saftey, Maqbool returned to his team. Despite the attack, despite the risks, they continued their mission. And after Lala Zacheen recovered at an FMI-sponsored safe house, he eagerly rejoined the team. During their last venture, more than 4,000 audio Bibles were distributed in one of the darkest and most difficult places on earth. Please pray for Lala Zeeshan’s continued healing, for Maqbool’s strength and protection, and for his team who continue to serve with unwavering faith.
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