August 26, 2021
First, I would like to express my gratitude to the many of you who have texted, contacted, and shared on social media about the sad situation in Afghanistan.
Second, I want to let you know that in less than 12 hours, we have far exceeded the initial financial goal of $10,000. Thank you so much for trusting us to manage your Kingdom resources on the behalf of the Afghan peoples.
At the “Border City” (please read the previous update to understand the terminology) the camp and hospitals where Afghans are being housed is currently closed to visitors at this point. Only government authorized personnel is allowed. Our church planters are near the border and continue to learn more information about the situation. They are searching for other Afghans who are not in the camp.
Exciting Opportunity
As you may know, Crossover Global is a church planting organization and not a humanitarian relief organization. Our hope and prayer is to empower the network of over 150 house churches, that many of you have helped us to start over the last 15 years in the Blue Country so that the local Body of Christ will be used by God in a meaningful and powerful way.
Our team on the ground — inside of the "Blue Country" has been in contact with 20 Afghan believers who are now safe in the Blue Country. Communication with these refugees has been moving very slowly. These Afghani brothers and sisters in Christ left Afghanistan to another Muslim majority nation (the Blue Country). As you can imagine, they are cautious and afraid to be exposed.
In the last 48 hours, our team made some progress in the relationship with them. Through this contact, we have learned that there are four other families of believers from Afghanistan who are stuck at the border. They were not allowed to get into the Blue Country. The Taliban knows their names and their lives are in danger because of their faith in Jesus. We are working through legal ways to help them.
Please pray that our team will find favor and gain trust from these Afghan believers.
Our team in the Blue Country are all national citizens from this Blue Country. They are all former Muslims. They are risking their lives by exposing their faith as much as the Afghan believers are afraid to risk their own lives by sharing about their faith. These brave brothers and sisters from our team are willing to open their own homes to receive these Afghan believers.
As the relationship between these Afghanis believers develops, we are anticipating helping them with:
-
temporary housing
-
food and personal needs
If you would like to help these brothers and sisters financially, below you will find an opportunity to give. We are also anticipating some financial expenses to work through legal channels in order to get the other four families of believers to the Blue Country.
I will keep you updated on new developments.
Thank you for your prayers and support!
Ken Katayama
President & CEO