Ramadan GBIM Prayer Guide for the Muslim World. Philippines Niger India USA

Transcription

1 Ramadan 2017 GBIM Prayer Guide for the Muslim World Philippines Niger India USA The stories in this prayer guide are based on true events. Real names have been changed and specific locations omitted for security reasons. Please do not copy, share or distribute this information on social media or outside of your local church.

2 What is Ramadan? The Islamic holy month of Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic (Lunar) Calendar, and is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting from sunrise to sunset to commemorate the first revelation of the Qur an to Muhammad. It is one of the 5 pillars of Islam. It is a time to cleanse body and soul, to pray more, to read the Qur an more and to reflect on God. It is also to be a time of joy and to be more charitable. Muslims tend to seek God more during this time of year. When is Ramadan? For 2017, Ramadan begins at sunset on May 26 and ends on June 25. What is the General Baptist Prayer Guide for Ramadan 2017? During Ramadan 2017, we are encouraging General Baptists around the country to pray for Muslims worldwide, with an emphasis on praying for 4 countries with large populations of Muslims, where General Baptists currently have or will have ministries. We are encouraging our churches to pray for one country each week for four weeks. A vast majority of unreached people groups in the world today are Muslims. Please join us in prayer that these lost souls will be saved!

3 Ramadan 2017 GBIM Prayer Guide: WEEK 1 INDIA Renna is a resident in Western India. Though Hinduism is the dominant religion in India, Renna s village is mostly Muslim. As a young adult, Renna became very ill. While there are not many Christians in the region, there was a believer that came by Renna s village and prayed for her. It was during this time that Jesus healed her of her sickness. Renna knew that Jesus was the one that had healed her. So, she began to express interest in Christianity. The hardline Muslims in the village are not happy about this. Recently, at a special event in the village, Renna thanked Jesus publicly for healing her. Because of Renna praising Jesus for what He had done for her, she was beaten badly, until she nearly lost consciousness. Renna has bravely stood up to her attackers, telling them that she may have to leave her family and her village, she will not leave Jesus. She said, Jesus has healed me, and I cannot forget Him. In spite of persecution, more families are converting. The Kingdom of God will not be stopped! Currently, 5 families in Renna s village have accepted Christ and continue to worship Him, though they face death threats from other villagers. Please pray for Renna and the other believers in her village, that they will remain steadfast in the face of persecution, and that the Word of God will continue to spread throughout the region. Devotional Reference: Matthew 28:18-20 Pray for: The enormous task before us of trying to reach more than 2,000 unreached people groups in India Muslims and Hindus to come in contact with a Christian so that they can hear about Jesus. The Christians throughout India, as persecution continues to increase and intensify Our GB missionaries in India, the Vemula Family and the Pamu Family, as they minister in a very tough and restricted environment Fast Facts: By 2050, India is expected to have the largest Muslim population of any country in the world Of the 2,295 people groups in India, 2,007 are still unreached with the Gospel 368 of the unreached people groups are majority Muslim Total population of India: 1,318,245,000 Unreached population of India: 1,253,455,000 Each dot on this map represents a people group in India. Progress Scale. Red = Unreached; Green = Reached. Source: joshuaproject.net

4 Ramadan 2017 GBIM Prayer Guide: WEEK 2 NIGER Mary grew up in a rural village in Niger, West Africa. Like most everyone around her, Mary has always been very poor. She and her family are farmers, doing all they can to live from one day to the next. Her family has always survived on one meal per day during the good years when rains actually fell during rainy season, and sometimes on one meal every two or three days during years of drought. Life is hard. Clean water is scarce and getting it usually requires a 2 mile walk to and from the well each day. Mary had been a Muslim her entire life, being raised in a Muslim household. She married a Muslim man about 15 years ago. They have 8 children, with the youngest being about 5 months old. Mary recently visited a town, where she heard of a missionary who provides vitamins to nursing mothers. She heard that the missionary meets with nursing moms each week. Knowing that her malnourished baby is in need of more nutrients, Mary began going to the weekly meetings to obtain these vitamins. It was there that she first heard of Jesus, and how much He loves her, and how He died for the sins of mankind. After attending these meetings for many weeks, Mary made the courageous decision to convert from Islam to Christianity. This was not an easy decision for Mary, as she knew what her decision could mean for herself, and her family. Sadly, Mary s fears became reality. As soon as her husband found out of her conversion, he physically attacked Mary, beating her mercilessly and throwing her out of her house, with only the clothes on her back. He also took all of her children from her, except the youngest one, and placed them in a Qur'anic school. Not long after this terrible ordeal, Mary s parents caught up with her in a village, where they also physically attacked her. Her mom nearly choked her to death, while shouting that she must convert back to Islam, or die. Mary refused, stating that she would rather die than return to Islam. She was able to escape, with her clothes ripped to shreds, and seek help from other believers. Mary is currently living in hiding with believers in another village. While she is devastated to have lost her family, her possessions her livelihood, Mary knows that Christ is the only Way, and that He will take care of her, in this life and in the life to come. Praise God for giving Mary new life in Christ! Pray that Mary (and all Nigerien believers) will remain faithful in spite of persecution, and that God will work a miracle to allow Mary to get her children back. (note: Mary s name was changed and specific location omitted for security reasons...) Devotional Reference: Matthew 9:37, 38; Mark 13:10 13 Pray for: GBIM and the Yeomans family as they make plans to open a new mission field in Niger by 2019 More laborers for the harvest in Niger That Nigerien Muslims will hear the gospel and come to know Christ The continued growth of Christianity (currently growing at just over 2% annually) Fast Facts: Niger is open to the gospel (not restricted), and yet only 0.19% are evangelical Christian 28 of the 36 people groups in Niger are unreached with the gospel 10 of the 28 Unreached People Groups have NO known Christians. Niger is ranked one of the poorest countries in the world, with an average annual income of $

5 Ramadan 2017 GBIM Prayer Guide: WEEK 3 PHILIPPINES Marco grew up as a Muslim on the Island of Mindanao. Thanks to the tireless efforts of pastors, Christians and missionaries dedicated to advancing the Kingdom on Mindanao, Marco heard the gospel and became a Christian. He felt that God was calling him to be a pastor, so he attended a Bible School and became one. He began holding Bible studies in his home and he would boldly share the gospel with his Muslim family and neighbors. Despite threats to his life, he eventually converted his home into a church. Marco knew that Jesus was the only Way, and that sharing his faith with others was more important that anything else, including his own life. Sadly, Marco agitated some Muslim vendors one day near his home, and he was shot. While his family rushed him to the hospital where he underwent surgery to remove 8 bullets from his body, he did not survive. While there are many Christians in the Philippines, many face persecution on Mindanao, especially in the Autonomous Region on Mindanao that is heavily Islamic. Remember our brothers and sisters that live on Mindanao in your prayers, especially our pastors and churches in the Autonomous Region, as they try to reach out and minister to the Muslims around them. Pray that they will show love in a way that God would have them love, so that many will come to know Him through their efforts. Devotional Reference: Hebrews 12 Pray for: GBCPI The General Baptist Church of the Philippines, that our churches would focus on outreach to Muslims as Islam continues to grow, primarily on the Island where our ministries are based. GBBC that the college would continue to train up leaders who will faithfully serve and guide the ministry while increasing Muslim The Grand Mosque of the Philippines evangelism. MBI that the ministry of the Matigsalug Bible Institute will remain strong as tribal ministry is key to fulfilling the Great Commission Opportunities to be presented for Filipinos to begin ministering abroad, helping to reach unreached people groups (UPGs) throughout Asia and around the world. We need not fear Muslims or reaching out to Muslims because Jesus mandate to us is fully funded. When you are sent out by Jesus, you are not going in your own name. You are going in the Name above all Names. Under His authority, in His power, you must take initiative you must go. ( CONNECTING WITH MUSLIMS BY FOUAD MASRI) Fast Facts: There are 199 people groups in the Philippines, with 30 of them remaining unreached 14 of the remaining 30 UPGs in The Philippines are predominantly Muslim. Recent figures indicate that Islam is growing at a rate of 3.1% annually, while Christianity continues to grow at just over 2% annually.

6 Ramadan 2017 GBIM Prayer Guide: WEEK 4 USA North Carolina: Rebecca s parents both attended church when they were children. Her mom lived in a poor black community near Raleigh. A woman used to come to her neighborhood and teach scripture and would give prizes to people who memorized verses from week to week. Her mom memorized many verses, but didn t understand what they meant. Both her mom and dad, over time, got involved with the Nation of Islam. They met each other at a Nation of Islam meeting, in fact. They got married and eventually converted to Sunni Islam. One year later, Rebecca was born. Her parents continued to be actively involved in Sunni Islam, and Rebecca was being raised as a young Muslim girl. When she was in elementary school, Rebecca s mom attended an AA meeting. There, she met Bob, a Christian. Bob asked her repeatedly if he could bring a small group from his church to her house to talk about the Bible. Knowing the only way to get Bob to stop asking was to say yes, she finally agreed. Bob brought a small group to her home one Saturday while Rebecca s father was away. It was during that time that a woman in the group asked if she new that God loved the world so much that He sent His Son to die for everyone ( John 3:16). Rebecca s mother began to cry. She had known John 3:16 most of her life, but suddenly she understood and believed it! Rebecca s mom converted from Islam to Christianity that day! She began taking Rebecca and her sister to church each week, where they were introduced to Christ and are believers. Rebecca s dad is still a Muslim. Please pray for him. (note: per R s request, we are using the name Rebecca in this story, rather than her real name.) Devotional Reference: John 3; Romans 3 Pray for: The 125,000+ international students from Muslim countries studying at US colleges/universities. The millions of unreached immigrants that have left their homeland in search of a new life. Christians and churches in the US to reach out to their Muslim neighbors and show them the love of Christ. General Baptists to reach out to Muslims, at home and abroad, to love them as Christ commands. Fast Facts: Christianity is growing at a rate of 0.5% annually Islam is growing at a rate of 1.9% annually. God is bringing the nations to US! DO YOU KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS? THE FOLLOWING CITIES HAVE MOSQUES/ISLAMIC CENTERS Little Rock, AR (AT LEAST 1) Cape Girardeau, MO (1) St. Louis Metro (AT LEAST 15) Dayton, OH (AT LEAST 6) Springfield, IL (AT LEAST 1) Tampa,FL (AT LEAST 3) Louisville Metro (10) Detroit Metro (AT LEAST 20) Jonesboro, AR (1) Nashville, TN (AT LEAST 6) Indianapolis, IN (AT LEAST 6) Carbondale, IL (2) Bowling Green, KY (2) Modesto, CA (AT LEAST 2) Palestinian Muslims, Memphis Kansas City Metro (AT LEAST 10) Memphis, TN (AT LEAST 9) Springfield, MO (AT LEAST 2) Tulsa, OK (2) Des Moines, IA (4) Atlanta Metro (AT LEAST 10) LA/Ontario, CA (AT LEAST 30)

7 Though many of the stories shared with you are regarding the persecution that former Muslim believers face when they convert to Christianity, or begin following Isa al-masih, we want to assure you that God is moving among the Muslim world! More Muslims are turning to Jesus now than ever before. Some have noted that more Muslims have become followers of Jesus in the last ten years than in the last 14 centuries of Islam. We are living in exciting times. God is on the move, and He has invited us to be a part of it! You re the one! shouted a Muslim woman to Kamal Assam. He turned to see a black hijab walking toward him in the busyness of the morning market in Cairo. For a woman to be seen talking to a man was unacceptable in their culture. Kamal started to turn away to avoid a potentially dangerous situation, but instead heard a voice inside that suggested this was the very reason he had made his unusual trip to the market. You were in my dream last night, the woman said. Those clothes. You were wearing those clothes. For sure, it is you. Kamal immediately recognized why this person had so passionately invaded his life. Was I with Jesus? he asked. Yes, the woman cried, Jesus was with us! * Many former Muslim believers state that Jesus appeared to them in a dream and led them to an authentic Christian witness. The hajj is one of the Five Pillars of Faith for Islam. It involves making pilgrimage to Mecca, if one is physically and financially able, once in his or her lifetime. One Visitor to Mecca whether during the hajj or not consistently gets into the city without identification papers. Jesus has been dropping in for centuries, and lately He seems to be taking up residence there. His message of grace arrives quietly in Mecca. It has to. But like a palm tree that flourishes in the desert and yields sweet dates despite harsh conditions, His Word has taken root and is growing. Although officially there are only Muslims in Mecca, followers of Jesus study Scripture there every day many of them thanks to those who risk everything for the sake of His Word. * The underground church is growing rapidly in Iran and China, despite attempted government regulations and persecutions. Laylat Al Qadr, or Night of Power, is on June 21st this year. This is perhaps one of the most important nights during Ramadan. Per the hadith, Whoever establishes the prayers on the night of Qadr out of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah s rewards then all his past sins will be forgiven. Please pray with us that as Jesus reveals Himself to Muslims, they will receive Him and be able to experience true forgiveness and salvation. Thank you for joining us on this journey to pray for the Muslim World! It is our hope that the prayers will not end at the close of Ramadan, but will continue throughout the year. * Doyle, Tom. Dreams and Visions. Thomas Nelson. Nashville, TN Used by permission

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