Pastor Jeremy Stephens

Our relationship with Muslims has obviously been tenuous over the last decade, and it seems to be elevated even more as we hit this season of Eid.  From the “ground zero mosque” to the burning of the Koran by the nut in Florida, we’re not doing a good job of making friends in the Middle East.

But this isn’t about friendship, its about Christ.

One of my good friends is teaching in Afghanistan and he’s lived there for some time now.  This morning I got an email from him and thought I would share it with you.  Its a look beyond the politics and into the actual story of someone who constantly lives in the tension of being someone who loves Jesus and Muslims.  His position there is obviously sensitive, so I’ll do my best to protect his identity.

Dear friends,
You know that I don’t often send out urgent requests, but I would ask you to be in prayer for the next couple of days. I’m sure most of you have heard about the plans to burn the Koran by the church in Florida, or the church in Kansas, or the church in Missouri, or on the steps of the capital building in Wyoming, or who knows how many other places.

Our team has been warned by our friends and coworkers that if something like that were to happen, our lives could be in danger. In fact, one candidate in the upcoming election has called for the killing on sight of Americans if Korans are burned. As of this afternoon, at least two @fghans have already died in a large demonstration protesting the planned Koran burnings in the capital of the neighboring province. Right now, things are very tense here with the killings of the 10 people last month, and the elections next week, and the video from a couple months ago, as well as the collapse of the country’s biggest bank, not to mention the largest holiday of the year that began today.

Please ask that cooler minds would prevail, both in America as well as here, and that Dad would get the glory for it all.

-my friend

Obviously, these decisions have consequences.  Please keep my friend and his team in prayer!