A recorded interview (YouTube) in which Holly Furtick speaks with Ishmael, a representative of the nonprofit No One Left Behind, about the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan and efforts to evacuate and support Afghans who aided U.S. forces. The conversation covers Ishmael’s background (he worked as a translator for U.S. Special Forces), the dangers facing his family in Afghanistan, No One Left Behind’s role as a bridge to U.S. policymakers and in resettlement support, and Elevation Church’s financial and prayer support for the effort.
Questions this video answers
$25,000
12%
Seven years
About 8 years old
Chapters
This week, as I've been watching the events all over the world unfold, what's happening in Afghanistan, what's happening in Haiti, I've just been heartbroken, and I felt helpless as I have seen so many people facing truly the unimaginable. And I can't help but think about how many of those people might call Elevation Church their home. You know, Elevation started in Charlotte, but we're a global ministry now. And I know that so, so many people who would. Would call this ministry their home have been personally affected by these events. And I want you to know that Elevation Church and Elevation Outreach has been partnering this week with multiple organizations who are on the ground meeting the needs of people in real life time. I want to share this interview that I got to do with my friend from the organization no one Left Behind. You'll notice that he's actually walking through the airport as we were talking because he had said a tearful goodbye to his family, and he was headed to Afghanistan to bring relief and support and to help get some of these people out who are scared and who are afraid for their lives. I think that you will. That you will be touched by this interview. And I just want to say thank you to those of you who call Elevation your home and who continue to give to Elevation Church. It's because of your support that when things like this happen, that we are ready to go, ready to support organizations who are already there bringing relief, bringing aid, bringing support to these situations. So thank you.
Hi, Ishmael.
How are you?
I'm good. It's so nice to meet you. I'm Holly. And I just. I want to start off by saying I'm so sorry for what is going on in your homeland. And also, I just can't imagine what this week has been like for you. So thank you for hopping on this call and thank you for. For taking the time to talk with me.
Thank you so much. Thank you for having me. It means a lot.
Can you tell me really briefly what it was like growing up in Afghanistan?
If I explain, people will never understand that. I grew up in a refugee camp. And then when I was in a young age, there was the move to Afghanistan and the Taliban government. It was a nightmare. And 2001 came in Americans, and it kind of changed everything dramatically. We thought that we will have a country of peace. We thought that we will have development and everything will be good. We never thought it will come down to this and it will be worse than 90s.
So what brought you to the United States?
I worked with US Special Forces for about seven years as a translator. That was a really tough time, but we dealt with it. We fought hard. And when I got the opportunity to move here for my family to make sure that my kids are safe and my wife's safe, then I moved to the United States.
What made you decide to risk your life and the life of your family in order to work with the US Special Forces?
It was motivation of my cousin and my brother and a lot of friends and listening Americans that come in here from 8,000 miles away to help us out. Let's work with them, protect them, and make sure they're successful. And that's what we did.
Were there times where your family was in danger because of the work that you were doing?
All the time. All the time. And they are still in a huge danger. So my immediate family, my parents, my siblings, that's what we call immediate family. They are in danger and huge danger. They're in hideout. And I'll do everything to make sure that I keep them alive and bring them to safety.
So you were a Translator for the U.S. special Forces. You basically were so active that you had to come to the United States and bring your family for safety reasons. And when you got to the United States, you came across this organization. Can you tell me a little bit about the organization that you're working with?
So no one left behind. That's what we come into play and we push and we educate the public about the situation on the ground. So what no one left behind does. It's a bridge between the AFGHANS and the U.S. government that we talk to the local people in Afghanistan on daily basis with thousands of them. And we hear them. We get their. We hear their problems. We present the problems to the US Government with the solution that we think that they should take. And then it's their decision what they do. On the other hand, we spread awareness. We let the American public. This is what's going on. This is what the public should do. Talk to your senators, members of Congress, and push, talk to anyone that you can to push these policymakers to make sure they protect those who protected our troops at the time of when they needed them the most.
As I've watched the news and I've seen all of these disturbing videos and photos of people trying to get out of. What do you wish that people like me could know about the situation that's going on right now?
You said you saw the chaos and Pavel Airport. You saw the people falling from the sky, hanging on the wings of the C17 like, think about this. Everyone knows that I cannot survive if I hang up the plane wings. But they do it. They don't want to get killed by Taliban. They think. They believe that it's a better option to die than to die at the hands of Taliban. This is how people think and this is how fearful people are in Afghanistan right now.
So your organization, no One Left behind, you help people who are Afghanistan to the United States, but then do you also help them while they're here, when they get here in the United States?
We do. And that's what we have been pushing this message. Like, hey, we will be here once all the recreation is done. Once we bring everyone home, we will be here. We will be standing with those people. We will make sure that they stand on their feet. We get them in houses, we get them house supply. We get them whatever they need. We wanted to make sure that they are settled, they feel comfortable. They feel that they are in their own home and go from there.
Wow.
This morning when I was leaving, my son was crying and he didn't want me to go. He is about 8 years old, but he understands the situation on the ground and he was frustrated that I don't know what's going to happen to you when you go there, but there are thousands of kids out there. They need someone to save them.
Wow.
So, Ishmael, I'm not going to take up much more of your time. I know that you have to catch a flight. I don't know if you know this about our church, but our church designates 12% of every dollar that's given, and we turn it around and we put it back into organizations that we believe in. Last night, I gathered together a lot of the people from church and we had a prayer meeting and we prayed for the people of Afghanistan and we prayed for the American troops that are there, and we prayed for the women and the children and. And it was a moment that I had where I felt helpless. I felt like I'm seeing these horrible events unfold and feeling like I don't know what to do. But I do get to be a part of an amazing community of people who generously give their money. And so because of that, because I feel like this is such an answer to prayer. So we were praying last night, and then we find out about your organization, and because we believe in what you are doing, we have a check for your organization for $25,000.
Thank you so much. It means a lot. We are working on charter flights to bring people here. That is huge. And I really appreciate that. Thank you.
That's great. I want you to know that you have our resources, but you also have our prayers and our hearts are with you as you go on this journey. And we're just praying for safety over you and over your family and success on this journey as you go and you try to help people get out. We're really appreciative of people like you who you're risking your life, but you're doing it because you believe in this and you want to help people and so we believe in you.
Thank you. Keep me in your prayers and we will be in touch. Okay.
Safe travels.
All right. Thank you so much. A good day. Bye. Bye.
Hey, thanks for watching. I hope that that encouraged you today. Make sure that you subscribe so that you don't miss out on other videos like this and I'll see you back here next time.
