November 15, 2025
On November 14, 2025, United Bible Societies (UBS) officially welcomed the Afghanistan Bible Society in Diaspora (AfBSd) as a Local Ministry Partner (LMP), signing the agreement that brings this emerging ministry into the global UBS Fellowship. This milestone marks a long-prayed-for moment in establishing an Afghan Bible Society, providing Afghan Christians worldwide with access to Scripture and supporting Bible translation for generations to come.
Afghan Scripture Ministry: A Growing Vision
For over a decade, translation teams working in Dari, Pashto, and Hazaragi longed for an all-Afghan Bible Society that could unite and steward their work. This vision gained momentum in 2023, when UBS was invited to join a strategic gathering of translation agencies. Afghan language teams asked UBS to walk alongside them in forming a Bible Society for the Afghan people.
Building Strong Foundations for AfBSd
Under the leadership of Executive Director Shoaib Ebadi, the Afghan Bible Society in Diaspora was officially registered in Canada. With the support of UBS, the ministry formed a strategic collaboration with the Canadian Bible Society to manage grants and ensure financial accountability. On August 25, 2025, the board voted to pursue LMP status within UBS, a decisive step toward becoming a full member Bible Society, a process which was completed in November 2025.
Osman Khan, Board Chair, shared: “I am pleased that the AfBSd and UBS have entered into an agreement to collaborate in the mutual promotion of Bible work across the Afghan diaspora and within Afghanistan. This partnership strengthens our efforts to translate, promote, and make the Bible available to the people of Afghanistan. We look forward to working closely with UBS in this important and much-needed ministry.”
From the beginning, AfBSd had a clear mission: to translate, publish, and distribute the Bible in the languages of the people of Afghanistan and to work with Christian entities for Scripture engagement among Afghans in the Diaspora.
Their core priorities include:
- oversee Scripture translation projects in the languages of the Afghan people;
- encourage and promote Scripture distribution in both print and digital formats;
- oversee and implement Scripture publications;
- advocate for Scripture engagement among Afghans.
AfBSd also reports increasing digital engagement with Scripture through online platforms, reflecting a growing hunger for the Word of God among Afghans globally.
Advancing Bible Work for Afghan Christians
With LMP status now approved, AfBSd is actively engaging translation groups to explore the transfer of completed and ongoing Scripture projects to the new Bible Society. Where transfer is not possible, AfBSd will establish MOUs to ensure continuity and timely completion.
Looking ahead, AfBSd is preparing for the next phase of growth, including strengthening operations, expanding team capacity, and supporting the integration of additional translation projects in the coming years.
Join the Mission
Establishing a Bible Society, especially in a context as complex and dispersed as Afghanistan, requires patient guidance, specialised services, and sustained funding. Now an official UBS member, AfBSd is poised for growth, and your support can make a significant difference.
Stand with Afghan Christians Worldwide
Your support will help equip Afghans worldwide with Scripture they can trust, leadership they can rely on, and a Bible Society that represents their voice within the global mission.
To learn how you can support the Afghanistan Bible Society in Diaspora and Afghan Christians worldwide, click here.
