Five Ways to Pray for the Hazara People
![The Hazara people are native to Afghanistan, number ten on Open Doors' 2024 World Watch List, which ranks the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian. [Image by IMB]](/Files/Articles/Middle%20East/2024/Hazara%20Listicle%20Banner.jpg)
The Hazara people are native to Afghanistan, No. 10 on Open Doors' 2024 World Watch List, which ranks the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian. [Image by IMB]
Of the world’s 4.4 million Hazara people, fewer than 1 in 3,000 know that Jesus came to earth for them. At TWR, we want to reach this people group with the eternal hope that only Christ brings, and it all begins on our knees. Will you join us?
As the Lord brings them to mind, please pray for:
1. Softened hearts
When a Hazara person encounters the gospel for the first time, the teachings of the Bible may sound foreign or even puzzling.
Hussain Andaryas, a Hazara Afghan televangelist based in the U.S., explains, “They believe that there is only one God. But to them, it could seem like Christians believe in three gods. The Trinity is a stumbling block for them.”
Ask the Lord to provide a heart of understanding and to reveal himself in his own special way.
2. Endurance and forgiveness
Ethnic Hazaras have long been victims of religious and ethnic discrimination. And for those who have accepted Christ, the persecution is worse.
Pray for Afghan believers to stand firm in their faith, to forgive their persecutors and to cling to the promise found in James 1:2-4, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
3. Divine provision and protection
Once a relative haven for Afghan refugees, Pakistan has launched a nationwide crackdown on all undocumented foreigners. This has intensified the challenges faced by unregistered Afghan refugees, ethnic Hazaras included, who are grappling with existing issues such as a lack of proficiency in the local language and the inability to secure legal employment, resulting in no reliable or consistent source of income.
4. Creative solutions
Undoubtedly, the challenging situation in Pakistan has heightened the difficulty of conducting ministry among Hazara and Afghan settlers. To sustain the ministry, our on-the-ground teams have implemented various unconventional measures aimed at minimizing potential risks. Examples include altering meeting times and being intentional about the way they dress.
5. Lasting fruit
For many in Afghanistan, radio and the internet are the only means available to access the good news. Please pray that the seeds of the gospel sown through these media platforms will bear lasting fruit.
This article is part of a bigger series called Reach the Last. We’re calling attention to unreached people groups in the world – those who lack enough Christ followers and resources to evangelize their own people. We’re showing how God is using TWR’s media ministry as one of his tools to call the last people to himself.
