August 1-30 is the month of Ramadan. Ramadan is a holy time for Muslims; their day is spent fasting from sun-up to sun-down. During this time they seek to purify their souls, practice self sacrifice and desire that God be more attentive to their prayers. We would like to encourage you to focus in prayer for Muslims during this month
We can pray with the knowledge that:
- Every Muslim is unique and wonderful in God's eyes.
- Every Muslim is someone God loves. We can pray with a heart of love and compassion. (John 14: 12-14)
- According to Islam, Allah holds himself apart from mankind. When praying for Muslims, pray that they will have a full revelation of the true God and His loving character. (Hebrews 8:8-9)
- The Muslim worldview is strongly influenced by an awareness of the supernatural and the presence of good and evil spirits known as jinn. Superstitions control many aspects of a Muslim's everyday life and often result in them living in constant fear. (1 John 4:18)
- Islam teaches that a person must do enough good deeds to outweigh the bad deeds in order to make it to paradise. Even then, there is no guarantee for a Muslim of salvation. As a result of this belief, it is difficult for many Muslims to understand forgiveness of sins, repentance and assurance of salvation. (Ephesians 2:8-9.) (1 Peter 5:6) (Matthew 6:14-15)
- Vast numbers of Muslims have come to Christ as a result of supernatural encounters. Many have dreams and visions of Jesus.
- The Christian church globally is united to pray for the Muslim World each Ramadan. Let us join that prayer movement. Let us pray and fast during Ramadan. All the details are on the Internet. And as we start to pray during Ramadan together, let us remember the very real battle for the lost. Let us pray that blind eyes will be opened and that many will experience a true and lasting salvation. (Romans 8:26) (John 16:8)
Go to http://pray4muslimpeoples.org/index.php/resources to download a prayer guide for this next 30 days. This is available in weekly sections
Please pray that the love of the Father will enter the hearts of Muslims worldwide. Pray that they will confess and accept Jesus Christ as the Son of God. Proclaim over the lives of Muslims: Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Jesus Christ. (John 14:6).
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Monday, July 25, 2011
Prayer this week for Qatar
Qatar, a former pearl-fishing center and once one of the poorest Gulf states, is now one of the richest countries in the region thanks to the exploitation of large oil and gas fields. Dominated by the Thani family for almost 150 years, the mainly barren country was a British protectorate until 1971, when it declared its independence.summer holidays. We are so encouraged to hear of many people who have heard the Gospel and taken literature. Please pray for God's Word to penetrate their hearts.
Praise
Qatar's expatriate Christian community has land on which to build churches in Qatar. There will be Catholic facility, Anglican and Protestant buildings. Pray that this will enable greater unity, effective discipling of believers and sensitive sharing of faith.
Prayer
• The affluence of Qatari families means nannies and other servants are in these homes. Many of them are Christians from Asian countries, influencing, particularly the little ones with their Christian values and worldview. These kids are raised on Bible stories and songs through the persistent witness of believing nannies. Pray for these nannies and other servants to be bold for His name.
• Due to the large expatriate community in Qatar, churches meet in homes and other buildings every week for prayer and Bible studies. Some expatriates became Christians while working in Qatar, while others found new depth in their faith while living in the Islamic world. Pray that many of these believers who are living in Qatar would grow to be bold witnesses to the Glory of God.
• The expatriate churches in the country were quick to meet the needs of the poor in the labor camps. Cheap labor from Nepal, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh are involved with the many building projects, but many of them remained poor. Compassionate Christians reached out to them in a variety of projects. "I became a believer in Jesus due to the church's outreach to me in my labor camp. My family back home knows I am a Christian now," smiled a Nepali laborer.Pray for the poor in Qatar, pray also for the Qatari people - very rich, but still in need of Jesus.
Praise
Qatar's expatriate Christian community has land on which to build churches in Qatar. There will be Catholic facility, Anglican and Protestant buildings. Pray that this will enable greater unity, effective discipling of believers and sensitive sharing of faith.
Prayer
• The affluence of Qatari families means nannies and other servants are in these homes. Many of them are Christians from Asian countries, influencing, particularly the little ones with their Christian values and worldview. These kids are raised on Bible stories and songs through the persistent witness of believing nannies. Pray for these nannies and other servants to be bold for His name.
• Due to the large expatriate community in Qatar, churches meet in homes and other buildings every week for prayer and Bible studies. Some expatriates became Christians while working in Qatar, while others found new depth in their faith while living in the Islamic world. Pray that many of these believers who are living in Qatar would grow to be bold witnesses to the Glory of God.
• The expatriate churches in the country were quick to meet the needs of the poor in the labor camps. Cheap labor from Nepal, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh are involved with the many building projects, but many of them remained poor. Compassionate Christians reached out to them in a variety of projects. "I became a believer in Jesus due to the church's outreach to me in my labor camp. My family back home knows I am a Christian now," smiled a Nepali laborer.Pray for the poor in Qatar, pray also for the Qatari people - very rich, but still in need of Jesus.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Prayer for Egypt This Week
Elections for the government and President are due in September and coming
months. If Egypt is to progress economically the country needs a forward looking
government. This will help many businesses; especially tourism as 70 / 80% of all work is tourism related. If either the Muslim Brotherhood or any strong Islamic government is elected this could make life very hard for many people. Issues such as "can women work?" and the case of whether or not a person's religion can appear on their ID is also critical!
Someone has said that Muslims will vote however the Imam tells them! Pray that they
won't. Pray that Muslims will not vote for or support a government that is led by the
Brotherhood!If a strongly Islamic government was elected and the people rose up against it there could be great tension across the country which would have a significant effect on tourism and other areas of life here too.
months. If Egypt is to progress economically the country needs a forward looking
government. This will help many businesses; especially tourism as 70 / 80% of all work is tourism related. If either the Muslim Brotherhood or any strong Islamic government is elected this could make life very hard for many people. Issues such as "can women work?" and the case of whether or not a person's religion can appear on their ID is also critical!
Someone has said that Muslims will vote however the Imam tells them! Pray that they
won't. Pray that Muslims will not vote for or support a government that is led by the
Brotherhood!If a strongly Islamic government was elected and the people rose up against it there could be great tension across the country which would have a significant effect on tourism and other areas of life here too.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Prayer for Egypt This Week
“In that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the heart of Egypt, and a
monument to the LORD at its border. It will be a sign and witness to the
LORD Almighty in the land of Egypt. When they cry out to the LORD
because of their oppressors, he will send them a savior and defender, and he will
rescue them. So the LORD will make himself known to the Egyptians, and in
that day they will acknowledge the LORD.” Isaiah 19:19-21
monument to the LORD at its border. It will be a sign and witness to the
LORD Almighty in the land of Egypt. When they cry out to the LORD
because of their oppressors, he will send them a savior and defender, and he will
rescue them. So the LORD will make himself known to the Egyptians, and in
that day they will acknowledge the LORD.” Isaiah 19:19-21
Friday, July 8, 2011
South Sudan and Independance
"Once again we are facing the nightmare of genocide of our people in a final attempt to erase our culture and society from the face of the earth. It is not a war between armies that is being fought in our land, but the utter destruction of our way of life and our history, as demonstrated by the genocide of our neighbors and relatives in Darfur. This is a war of domination and eradication; at its core it is a war of terror by the government of Sudan against their people.
As we approach the July 9 day of independence for the New South Sudan, President Bashir has declared for all the world to hear that Sharia will be the law of the land for the North, refusing to recognize the legitimate presence of the Christian minority. It is a declaration of their determination to also end the remembrance of our Christian heritage that dates back two thousand years to the story of the Ethiopian eunuch (who was from modern day Sudan)...There is a meeting in Ethiopia with the different parties of Sudan, the African Union and other international parties seeking to find a true path of peace that recognizes our right to survive and thrive as a people, both Muslim and Christian alike, with equality and justice for all. Please pray and fast with us as you are able for a solution to this crisis."
Rt. Rev / Andudu Adam Elnail, Bishop of Episcopal Diocese of Kadugli, Sudan
According to reports we are receiving on the email from concerned brothers and sisters who are close to the scene, the "escalating violence against civilians in Sudan's South Kordofan state is a major humanitarian catastrophe in the making, with an estimated 300,000 people besieged, cut off from relief aid, and unable to escape fighting." Estimates are that up to 40,000 people have fled fighting between Sudanese government troops, Sudan Armed Forces (SAF), and members of the former southern rebel group, the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), in Kadugli, the capital of Sudan's oil-producing border state of South Kordofan. Shelling and aerial bombardment has been going on in civilian areas. People have locked themselves in their homes without food or water, for fear of being killed. Others have fled to the Nuba mountains, where they are being hunted down like animals by helicopter gunships, says the Sudan Council of Churches, an umbrella organization representing all Sudanese churches.
Compass Direct News reports that: "Military intelligence agents killed one Christian, and Islamic militants sympathetic to the government slaughtered another last week after attacking churches in Sudan's embattled South Kordofan state... Armed conflict in Kadugli broke out between southern and northern militaries on June 6 after northern forces seized Abyei last month. On June 8, Islamic militants loyal to the SAF slaughtered a young Christian man by sword in Kadugli Market, the sources said... The Islamic militias were heard shouting Allahu-akbar (God is greater) as they began shooting at a Roman Catholic Church building the same day... On Sunday (June 12), North Kordofan Gov. Mutasim Mirghani Zaki El-deendeclared jihad (holy war) on the Nuba people, most of whom are Christians. Christians in the area said they are still traumatized as result of the atrocities committed against them by Sudan security forces and militias loyal to the government military. Sources in Sudan said Christians are calling their brothers and sisters worldwide to pray for the crisis in South Kordofan." Let us join them in praying that the spirit of violence and death will be bound and that peace will be restored between North and South Sudan.
As we approach the July 9 day of independence for the New South Sudan, President Bashir has declared for all the world to hear that Sharia will be the law of the land for the North, refusing to recognize the legitimate presence of the Christian minority. It is a declaration of their determination to also end the remembrance of our Christian heritage that dates back two thousand years to the story of the Ethiopian eunuch (who was from modern day Sudan)...There is a meeting in Ethiopia with the different parties of Sudan, the African Union and other international parties seeking to find a true path of peace that recognizes our right to survive and thrive as a people, both Muslim and Christian alike, with equality and justice for all. Please pray and fast with us as you are able for a solution to this crisis."
Rt. Rev / Andudu Adam Elnail, Bishop of Episcopal Diocese of Kadugli, Sudan
According to reports we are receiving on the email from concerned brothers and sisters who are close to the scene, the "escalating violence against civilians in Sudan's South Kordofan state is a major humanitarian catastrophe in the making, with an estimated 300,000 people besieged, cut off from relief aid, and unable to escape fighting." Estimates are that up to 40,000 people have fled fighting between Sudanese government troops, Sudan Armed Forces (SAF), and members of the former southern rebel group, the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), in Kadugli, the capital of Sudan's oil-producing border state of South Kordofan. Shelling and aerial bombardment has been going on in civilian areas. People have locked themselves in their homes without food or water, for fear of being killed. Others have fled to the Nuba mountains, where they are being hunted down like animals by helicopter gunships, says the Sudan Council of Churches, an umbrella organization representing all Sudanese churches.
Compass Direct News reports that: "Military intelligence agents killed one Christian, and Islamic militants sympathetic to the government slaughtered another last week after attacking churches in Sudan's embattled South Kordofan state... Armed conflict in Kadugli broke out between southern and northern militaries on June 6 after northern forces seized Abyei last month. On June 8, Islamic militants loyal to the SAF slaughtered a young Christian man by sword in Kadugli Market, the sources said... The Islamic militias were heard shouting Allahu-akbar (God is greater) as they began shooting at a Roman Catholic Church building the same day... On Sunday (June 12), North Kordofan Gov. Mutasim Mirghani Zaki El-deendeclared jihad (holy war) on the Nuba people, most of whom are Christians. Christians in the area said they are still traumatized as result of the atrocities committed against them by Sudan security forces and militias loyal to the government military. Sources in Sudan said Christians are calling their brothers and sisters worldwide to pray for the crisis in South Kordofan." Let us join them in praying that the spirit of violence and death will be bound and that peace will be restored between North and South Sudan.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
God is Still on the Move!
TRANSFORM 2011: FIFTY YEARS LATER, GOD STILL ON THE MOVE - International
Transform 2011 kicked off Monday, 3 July with an inspired evening of worship, prayer and sharing from Operation Mobilisation co-founder Dale Rhoton. Addressing over 250 participants from various countries, including Brazil, Australia, Croatia, Faroe Islands and Albania, Dale encouraged them to expect "God to work in very special ways".
This year also marks a milestone in Operation Mobilisation's history - the 50th year of ministry to Muslims around the globe. Recalling their humble beginnings when OM was a series of "long prayer meetings" at the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Dale could hardly imagine then the amazing ways in which God would reveal Himself over the last five decades. Dale shared from a wealth of experiences from his time on the field, but his conclusion was clear. "God is on the throne and always remember this - He works in hidden ways."
But the presence of believers from so many cultures was witness to God's power on display. During the closing prayer time, the room exploded with the sound of many languages, reminiscent of the Pentecost scene in Acts.
Transform 2011 is a five-day conference that equips believers in evangelism and discipleship training. After the conference, participants will go to various places around the Mediterranean to share the love of Christ. For more stories, photos, prayer requests and info, visit www.transform.org.
Transform 2011 kicked off Monday, 3 July with an inspired evening of worship, prayer and sharing from Operation Mobilisation co-founder Dale Rhoton. Addressing over 250 participants from various countries, including Brazil, Australia, Croatia, Faroe Islands and Albania, Dale encouraged them to expect "God to work in very special ways".
This year also marks a milestone in Operation Mobilisation's history - the 50th year of ministry to Muslims around the globe. Recalling their humble beginnings when OM was a series of "long prayer meetings" at the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Dale could hardly imagine then the amazing ways in which God would reveal Himself over the last five decades. Dale shared from a wealth of experiences from his time on the field, but his conclusion was clear. "God is on the throne and always remember this - He works in hidden ways."
But the presence of believers from so many cultures was witness to God's power on display. During the closing prayer time, the room exploded with the sound of many languages, reminiscent of the Pentecost scene in Acts.
Transform 2011 is a five-day conference that equips believers in evangelism and discipleship training. After the conference, participants will go to various places around the Mediterranean to share the love of Christ. For more stories, photos, prayer requests and info, visit www.transform.org.
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