Archives for August 2010

Belivers Request

Christians in Sudan have asked us for prayer. Both north and south Sudan are preparing for war. The situation is complex, the problems many. Please ask prayer networks you know to be involved in prayer for Sudan.

Background:

• South Sudan is to vote on whether it will choose independence or be part of a united Sudan on January 9th, 2011.
• South Sudan has much oil, but it is exported from North Sudan’s ports. North Sudan is Islam/Sharia law, South Sudan is “Christian” and animist.
• There is little unity in Sudan. But the real eye-opener is to read the forums where open hatred is spewed between North and South Sudanese. (see below examples).

Prayer Starters Specific to War in Sudan:

• Pray that the Christian leaders of South Sudan can hear clearly the Lord’s will regarding Sudan’s future.
• Pray that grass-roots reconciliation can become widespread — between the tribes of Sudan and the many hurting people.
• Pray the surrounding countries will stay out of Sudan and stay out of this complicated referendum.
• Pray for the various people groups / tribes of Sudan who have no access to the Gospel [approx 20 million ] (see further information below).
• Pray that there would be a fair and comprehensive deal for both South and North on the splitting of the oil wealth

Forum Quotes

• “Show me a southerner who ever said I am a Sudanese … they always take pride in being Southern and never Sudanese.” [In a showdown with a post from a north Sudanese writer.]
• “Neither do we care about being Arabs or not, but you can see the barrage of hatred here.” [A southerner observing the comments on a Sudanese newspaper site.]
• “And who is going to control the water (Nile River)? Not those boys up there!” [Another complication since water is precious to the region.]
• “Yeah war is not yet over! All Sudanese must taste the killing including the North Sudan.” [On whether war will come if independence comes. One of many, many entries where both north and south Sudanese show they are ready if not committed to a new war!]
• “Therefore, I call upon all South Sudanese people as we approach referendum to decide our fate and total independence from north, let us desist from Arab and Islamic culture and to abide to our unique African and Christian culture to differentiate us from radical Arab and Islamic culture, which I know will take years and years to overcome it in our South Sudan society but have we forgotten our African and Christian cultures!” [Commentary from a Southerner about the “Arabization” of South Sudan.]
• “However, after an Islamic legal code was introduced on a national level, the ruling National Congress (NCP) established themselves as the sole political party in the state and has since supported the use of recruited Arab militias in guerrilla warfare, such as in the ongoing conflict in Darfur.” [The history of Sudan.]
• “Program of “Arabization” in process.” [Sudanese newspaper article.]
• “A generation drenched in hate.” [A comment observing the mood from a forum where both north and south Sudanese flame each other.]
• “Sudan’s independent history has been dominated by chronic, exceptionally cruel warfare that has starkly divided the country on racial, religious, and regional grounds; displaced an estimated four million people (of a total estimated population of thirty-two million); and killed an estimated two million people.” [Wikipedia entry on Sudan.]

People Groups

Sudan is a nation made up of hundreds of ethnic, linguistic and cultural groups and clans. One researcher has identified about 2,200 groups including local clans. The following is a list of the 15 of the 36 people groups of over 100,000 people considered by some believers to be those most in need of the Gospel in Sudan. In fact, none of these groups has an established, long-term, native-language outreach involving either foreigners or local Sudanese believers. Altogether, these 15 groups number possibly more than 20 million people, with no known believers.

1. Daju | 2. Danaagla/Kanuuz | 3. Darfur Region NSA (Northern Sudanese Arabs) | 4. East Region NSA | 5. Fellata: Fulani-speaking | 6. Fellata: Hausa-speaking | 7. Kanuri | 8. Kordofan Region NSA | 9. Masalit | 10. Nile Region NSA | 11. North Region NSA | 12. Rashaida | 13. South East Region NSA | 14. White Nile Region NSA | 15. Zaghawa

Video Prayer/Faith Fuel

Salam Sudan

Mohammed Testimony

From August 9th – September 9th 2010 Worldwide Mission Fellowship will be praying that Muslims around the world going through Ramadan will turn to Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour, this is in conjunction with similar prayer strategies around the world supported by Open Doors and 30 days of Prayer. Our ultimate prayer is for their salvation. The site will be updated daily at 05:45 GMT to coincide with our early morning prayer meeting so you can join us in prayer wherever you are.

Muslims living in the state of Rajasthan, in Western India, consist of about 60 different peoples. Out of the estimated 61 million Rajasthani population Hindus account for 88.8%, Muslims make up 8.5%, Sikhs 1.4% and Jains 1.2%. The Muslims mainly speak Hindustani which is a mixture of Hindi and Urdu. However, most read from the Hindi script. A full Bible in Hindustani is still needed.

Christians have been reaching Muslims using a simple ‘kurbaan story’ which describes the major sacrifices in both the Old and New Testaments. Some, who have come to know by word of mouth, the story of God and man based on the Bible, are capable of telling it in a logical way. This is very helpful to illiterate believers and those seeking God.

Prayer Starters:

• Pray for the Rajasthani Muslims who have discovered the Messiah in His fullness to be obedient to the only true and living God.
• Please pray for a deepening faith as they enter more and more into a daily experience of dying and rising with Christ. To do this, a complete Bible translation in Hindustani is very desirable.
• Continue to pray that as they witness boldly to others, Jesus is exalted above all. There is opposition (Acts 4:27-31).
• Pray for the Rajasthani Muslims from each of the major peoples (the Pathan, Shaikh and Sayyid ethnic groups): That they will call on Jesus for salvation (Acts 4:12).

Video Prayer/Faith Fuel

Rafique Testimony

Lydia Testimony

From August 9th – September 9th 2010 Worldwide Mission Fellowship will be praying that Muslims around the world going through Ramadan will turn to Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour, this is in conjunction with similar prayer strategies around the world supported by Open Doors and 30 days of Prayer. Our ultimate prayer is for their salvation. The site will be updated daily at 05:45 GMT to coincide with our early morning prayer meeting so you can join us in prayer wherever you are.

In Nigeria many of the 15+ million Nigerian Fulani stay in small settlements and cities in Nigeria’s predominantly Muslim northern region. There are numerous sub-tribes and clans of the Fulani but in Nigeria they generally fall into five large groups: The Adamawa (1.1 million) the Haabe (2.6 million), the Sokoto (2.7 million), the Toroobe (7.5 million) and the Mbororo (2.3 million).

The vast majority of the Fulani in Nigeria are no longer nomadic. But they trace their origins to the nomadic, pastoral lifestyle. Fulani households consist of a male leader, one or more wives, six to 12 or more children and other family members.

While the Jesus film and gospel portions have been put into the Fulani language (Fulfulde), there are still very few Christians who are reaching out to this people. Even so, God has done marvelous things in bringing some Fulani to himself.

Prayer Starters:

• Pray for laborers. There simply are not enough Messianic believers proclaiming the Good News to the Fulani.
• Ask the Lord to touch Fulani leaders and imams that they may become obedient to the Lord Jesus (Acts 6:7).
• Pray for increased understanding among the followers of Jesus and Muslims in Nigeria. Peacemaking and repairing the decades of strife and civil unrest between Muslims and those who follow Jesus is a major necessity.

Video Prayer/Faith Fuel

Wagdi Testimony

Rahim Testimony

From August 9th – September 9th 2010 Worldwide Mission Fellowship will be praying that Muslims around the world going through Ramadan will turn to Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour, this is in conjunction with similar prayer strategies around the world supported by Open Doors and 30 days of Prayer. Our ultimate prayer is for their salvation. The site will be updated daily at 05:45 GMT to coincide with our early morning prayer meeting so you can join us in prayer wherever you are.

Saudi Arabia has the largest share of oil of any nation as well as the very best technology in the oil industry. The Saudi Aramco Corporation is the world’s richest company. A few years ago Saudi Aramco topped the Non-Public company list with an estimated value of $781 billion USD.

The Saudis have developed a huge infrastructure to facilitate the drilling, processing and exportation of petroleum. Historically significant numbers of foreign workers and engineers were involved in the oil industry, but now about 85 percent of the official Saudi Aramco work force of 54,000 is Saudi.

Saudis are largely Sunni Muslims; from their perspective they are all Muslims by birth. Proselytising is not punishable by death, but by imprisonment and deportation (for some the loss of a job is as bad as death). Conversion is forbidden by the Qur’an and the penalty is death.

Prayer Starters:

• The Scriptures say that the whole earth will one day be “filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” (Hab. 2:14).
• Pray for the thousands of Saudis involved in the oil industry, that they could come “to know the glory of God in the face of Jesus the Messiah” (2 Cor.4:6).
• Many of them live in the following cities, towns, ports and drilling settlements: Dhahran, Ras Tanura, Jubail, Dammam, Al-Khobar, Hofuf, Abqaiq, Udhailiyah and Shaybah. (Please know that you are among only a small group worldwide who has ever prayed for these cities by name.)

Video Prayer / Faith Fuel

Prince Turqi of Saudi Arabia

Walid: Why I Left Jihad

Syria – Jesus Impact

In Jesus’ day the “news about him spread all over Syria” (Matthew 4:24) and large crowds came to him and followed him. Some of the oldest churches in Christendom are found in Syria and are evidence of the extent of Jesus’ impact in the region. Today, the Good News of the Kingdom is not all over Syria. The vast majority of the Syrian people (more than 90% Muslim) do not know Jesus. What happened?

Diversity in Syria

The people of Syria are a diverse people. Just as the carpets in the ancient market are full of different colours, textures and designs – each with a story behind the pattern, Syria has many different people groups, each one with its own distinct characteristics and history known by God.

Islam has a long history in Syria, with Damascus as a former capital of the Umayyad caliphs (AD 661-750) bordering with the Byzantine Empire. The Christians of that time were weakened in their faith and gave in to the constant mistreatment and temptation.

Christians in Syria

Praise God for the precious few believers who live in Syria! Most are from a culturally Christian background, from peoples who kept their faith, even though greatly weakened. They have a passion for Jesus but are strongly restricted in proclaiming their faith by the Muslim majority. They face historical and cultural barriers and possible imprisonment for evangelistic efforts. The very few Muslims who have believed in the Messiah face persecution from family and government and the difficulties of isolation.

One predominately Muslim people group is responding to Jesus. The Kurds have reached an identity crisis. After a long history of persecution by their Muslim neighbours, they have been given freedom by the “Christian” West. Several are believing in Christ and even meeting in their own Kurdish fellowships.

The Scars

Syria has had some very hard years of oppression and corruption under the reign of dictator Hafez Alasad. However, his son, Bashaar, has a different style. He is opening up the country inside and outside, both economically and politically. But, he is not alone in the government and it is not easy to turn a big ship. The scars of oppression are very noticeable in the people, who are often suspicious and fearful.

Prayer Starters:

• Please pray that the Good News of Jesus would again be heard all over Syria.
• Pray that Muslims may come to faith and start meeting and encouraging each other.
• Praise the Lord that Muslim Kurds are turning to Jesus. May God continue to draw more Kurds to himself and deepen their faith.
• Pray that God would raise up local evangelists from Christian and Muslim backgrounds to reach out.
• Pray for the government, that the Party and Islamic authorities would reign so that believers may live peaceful and quiet lives (1 Tim 2:1-3).

Video Prayer/Faith Fuel

Palmyra, Syria

Zamzam, Former Muslim Lady’s journey to find True God. From Islam to Christ

From August 9th – September 9th 2010 Worldwide Mission Fellowship will be praying that Muslims around the world going through Ramadan will turn to Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour, this is in conjunction with similar prayer strategies around the world supported by Open Doors and 30 days of Prayer. Our ultimate prayer is for their salvation. The site will be updated daily at 05:45 GMT to coincide with our early morning prayer meeting so you can join us in prayer wherever you are.