Jesse and Joy, together with their kids Emmanuelle (11) and Simeon (8)*, have spent the last four years serving the Lord in Germany in partnership with First Church. While Germany is full of people who need Jesus, their hearts beat especially for Afghans, and that is the focus of their ministry. Why? Because years ago, as a newly married couple, God called them to Afghanistan. They lived there for over a decade, started their family there, and fell in love with the Afghan people and culture.

That deep connection opened the door for Jesse in 2022 to become the director of Pamir Ministries, a media-driven ministry reaching Afghans with the gospel and discipling those who respond. Today, Pamir’s team is 50 strong, mostly Afghan Christians who themselves have been called out of Islam and now boldly share Christ with their own people.

Afghanistan is one of the hardest places on earth for the gospel to penetrate. The Taliban claim there are no Christians, and most Afghans believe being Afghan is synonymous with being Muslim, no exceptions. Pressure from family and community to follow Islam is crushing. Yet, God is making a way.

Through satellite TV and shortwave radio broadcasts, social media, apps, and printed materials, Pamir Ministries reaches tens of thousands of Afghans every year. https://hope4afghans.com/ Each program and platform offers a phone number, answered by Pamir’s two discipleship teams. Curious seekers step into discipleship, and many come to faith! Over 100,000 Afghans are exposed to the gospel annually through this ministry.

Meanwhile, life in Germany has brought new blessings. Emmanuelle and Simeon have thrived in German school and made friends with Muslims, Atheists and others, all who are regularly in their home and even sometimes come to their church. Even in a secular society, their kids are living out their young faith among friends. Joy has led a women’s Bible study in her village for over a year and has also had the opportunity to connect with Afghans there (there are an estimated 500K Afghans in Germany!), and the family has found a vibrant German church community where Joy teaches kids’ Sunday School and Jesse occasionally preaches. 

For more information on what God is doing worldwide among the Afghan people, sign up for Jesse and Joy’s weekly email update – email office@first.church to be added!

*Because of their years working in an environment that is hostile to Christianity, Jesse, Joy, Emmanuelle and Simeon are pseudonyms to protect our missionaries and their friends who are associated with them.