Hundreds of Houston’s Afghan immigrants served as translators for U.S. military personnel, but few Texans knew this, and none thanked them for their service.

“No one knows who we are and what we did in Afghanistan for the U.S.,” says Najeeb, one of the former translators.

A Christian worker named Bob got to know Najeeb and some of Houston’s other Afghans by “sponsoring” families that were beginning their new lives as U.S. citizens.

Shocked at the lack of respect the former translators received, Bob decided to do something about it and organized a banquet to honor the men at Tallowood Baptist Church.

During the banquet, U.S. Army veterans shared heroic stories of Afghan translators saving their comrades’ lives, and Afghans told their stories of bravely and loyally serving alongside American forces.

Church members not only gained a new appreciation for the men’s service, but they also began to appreciate that many of the Afghans they saw in local businesses, restaurants, and stores were patriots and heroes, not Muslim terrorists.

These deeper connections have led to deeper conversations. One day, Bob asked Najeeb if he’d ever had a dream featuring a holy man dressed in white.

“Yes,” said Najeeb, who excitedly shared the details. “The holy man took me by the hand to a pool of water. He then poured water over my head and said, ‘You will perform this same action on many others.’”

The dream, similar to dreams many other Muslims have experienced, led Najeeb to find faith in Jesus. And before a recent trip to visit family in Afghanistan, he asked Bob for two Bibles—one for his father, and one for his Muslim imam.

Pray that more brave Afghan Muslims will boldly embrace Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

• Ask God to raise up and send more missionaries to live among the Afghan community in Houston.
• Pray for Najeeb’s efforts to share his Christian faith, thus obeying the holy man in his dream.
• Pray for local believers to show hospitality and the love of Christ to their Afghan neighbors.