Pray with Afghanistan, November 1, 2026
Lectionary Selection: Matthew 23:1-12
Prayers for Afghanistan
God of the poor in spirit and of those who mourn, we remember that your blessing rests first on those the world overlooks. We lift up the people of Afghanistan to you.
We pray for families who have come home to a land they barely know, millions returning from Iran and Pakistan with little more than they could carry. Grant them shelter, work, and neighbors who welcome them.
We pray for the girls who wait, year after year, for school doors to open, and for women whose learning, work, and movement are restricted. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness; let them be filled. Keep their hope alive, sustain their courage, and open new paths for learning and livelihood.
We pray for those who carry heavy burdens of mind and spirit, and for those who walk beside them with care.
Bless the farmers, tailors, and small traders rebuilding with seeds, tools, and skills. Make their gardens fruitful and their work secure.
Protect those who serve quietly among them; give them wisdom, endurance, and joy.
Until the day you wipe away every tear, make us peacemakers and faithful friends. Amen.
Mission Moment from Afghanistan
For seventeen years, Naseer and his family lived in Iran. When they returned to Afghanistan last year, they came back to a village they barely knew and a life they had to rebuild from nothing. With seven people depending on him, few jobs, and growing debts, putting food on the table became a daily struggle.
Naseer’s story is shared by millions. Since late 2023, more than 5.4 million Afghans have returned from neighbouring countries, and over 90 percent are living on less than $5 a day.
Through his village council, Naseer heard about a livelihood project run by a Global Ministries partner that supports returnees and their host communities. After an assessment of his household, he received vegetable seeds, basic tools, and hands-on guidance to start a kitchen garden at home. A volunteer who visited remembers his excitement as impossible to miss.
The garden hasn’t solved everything, but it has made a difference. “My family members are very happy when I harvest fresh vegetables from the garden before meals,” Naseer says. The family now eats fresh vegetables, spends less at the market, and Naseer feels more confident and hopeful about the future.
The same project is reaching women, too. Working through trusted female volunteers and community mental health centers, it has ensured that women make up more than 80 percent of those in vocational and small-business training, despite heavy restrictions. Seeds, skills, and patience: small signs of God’s kingdom taking root.