MUSLIMS: PRAYING BEYOND THE WALL 6-12 September 2009

MUSLIMS: PRAYING BEYOND THE WALL

“They have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.”
Romans 10:2-3

SUNDAY, 6Sep:
A special outreach is being conducted by Muslim-background believers in the city of Mumbai, India, during the 30 days of Ramazan (Ramadan). Please pray for these faithful believers as they reach out to their countrymen with the truth that they, themselves, have learned from other Muslim-background believers--who learned it in much the same way from the hearts of other former Muslims. Praise God for His grace and tender wooing in past years, and plead with Him that many more Muslims will believe and begin to glorify the name of Isa (Jesus) this year.

This outreach does not involve a quick sharing of God’s truth, but rather a patient investment in the lives of seekers that will continue for several months after Ramazan is over.

http://www.go2southasia.org/

MONDAY, 7Sep:
In order to have a good harvest, Bambara farmers in West Africa prepare their fields by softening the soil, digging holes, adding fertilizer and finally, after much preliminary work, planting seeds. This fall several teams from partnering Southern Baptist churches will be joining the Bambara Team. Together they will share Bible stories and plant gospel seeds in at least 5 villages.

Please help prepare the spiritual soil in F, K, B, S and T villages through fervent intercession. Ask the Father to soften and prepare hardened hearts to listen. Ask God to dig holes in established belief systems and to fertilize the soil with events and circumstances that will create a fertile ground for these seeds. Pray that the mountains of spiritual blindness and complacency will be removed and that the Bambara men and women in these villages will hear and understand the Gospel. Pray for an abundant harvest of transformed lives gathered into New Testament churches.

http://www.gobambara.org/

TUESDAY, 8Sep:
The month of Ramadan can be very difficult for new Muslim-background believers. Their families will pressure them to renounce their Christian beliefs. If they refuse they may be banned from the special family celebrations that take place in the evenings when the day’s fast is broken. They may also be ostracized and/or mistreated. The life of these believers can be very lonely and stressful.

Ask the Holy Spirit to encourage and strengthen them, enabling them to focus on Christ, read His Word and stand firm in their faith. Pray that Muslim-background believers will discover other believers who will
encourage and bless them in these days.

WEDNESDAY, 9Sep:
Two Moko workers are continuing to work diligently on crafting Bible stories into the heart language of the Moko people of Southeast Asia. Some elderly and young Moko women are helping these workers with this lengthy and exacting process.

Pray that as they hear and work through these Bible stories for the first time these Moko women will understand God’s character, His love and His plan for their lives. Pray that they will meditate on God’s Word day and night and come to proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and Son of God. May their excitement for God’s story penetrate the darkness in their village and encourage all to put their faith in Jesus.

THURSDAY, 10Sep:
Please pray for a Bible training event in which Iranian believers will study the writings of Isaiah focusing on Jesus, the Messiah and God’s Son. Ask that the understanding that Jesus is the true Messiah will lodge deeply in the hearts of these church leaders and that they will effectively share this teaching with other believers inside Iran.

Pray that the teaching will strengthen their faith, since many who come from an Islamic background struggle to understand Jesus as God’s Son. Also pray that the participants will travel safely to and from the conference.

http://centralasia.imb.org/

FRIDAY, 11Sep:
The team working with upper-class Arabs in the Arabian Gulf is excited to report that in answer to the prayers of Southern Baptists, some believers will be helping Arab students settle into their studies at universities in the United States. Please ask that those who welcome these students will share in culturally appropriate ways and that the students will be open to the Good News. Also pray that details for a fall training event to better equip people to engage with Gulf students will come together and the training will enable many believers to effectively relate to these Arab students.

SATURDAY, 12Sep:
This month a team will be visiting some poverty-stricken communities in Karachi, Pakistan, to enable the residents to have good, clean drinking water and to learn about the Living Water. Pray that the project will bless and meet the needs of these communities. Pray for those who will be sharing the Good News asking for boldness and wisdom, and many “divine appointments.” Also pray for the Pakistanis who will be receiving the help to have hearts that are open to the Truth.

http://www.go2southasia.org/

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International Mission Board
3806 Monument Avenue
Richmond, VA 23230

Father! Lead Them Home...

MUSLIMS: PRAYING BEYOND THE WALL_30 August - 5 September 2009

MUSLIMS: PRAYING BEYOND THE WALL 30 August - 5 September 2009

"But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon
him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed." Isaiah 53:5 (ESV)

SUNDAY:
As the summer draws to an end, many university students are getting ready for a new school year. Saudi students are among that group. Many will arrive in Europe, the United States and Asia a bit anxious, but excited to study abroad.

Pray that these students will find genuine friendships with believing students who
are willing to share their faith and their lives. The first year, a Saudi usually studies English before he can start his regular classes for his major. Pray for believing families to "adopt" these students, bring them into their families, practice English with them, and share their Savior with them. Maybe you are the answer to this prayer request!

http://www.lovesaudis.com/

MONDAY:
Many Muslim people groups place great significance on their dreams and are keen on interpreting them. Many former Muslims report that dreams and visions from God were instrumental in their decisions to follow Jesus. Dreams during Ramadan are considered
especially meaningful. Ask the Lord to send dreams and visions to sincere seekers, preparing them to embrace the Good News that Jesus is their Savior.

TUESDAY:
The city of Palembang in south Sumatra is a source of pride for the 25 million Malay Muslims in Southeast Asia. In 2001 the city hosted a worldwide gathering of Malays to discuss their history and sense of destiny. The Malays of Southeast Asia are unashamedly committed to their faith and closed to the Gospel. Praise God for the believers who live among the Malays of Southeast Asia!

Pray that they will manifest the presence of God in their lives and faithfully share His truth at every opportunity. Pray for God to move across the city and the entire region resulting in the salvation of hundreds of thousands of Malays and the planting of a church in every neighborhood/village. May Jesus Christ be glorified among the Malay Muslims of Southeast Asia as they realize that their destiny lies in His hands and that His plans for them are for a hope and an eternal future filled with love and joy!

WEDNESDAY:
The Karakalpaks are an unreached people group numbering roughly 500,000 who live in northwestern Uzbekistan, where life is both physically and economically difficult. As the good news has been proclaimed to the Karakalpaks many have believed and churches have been planted.

Pray for these churches to multiply, and for more and more Karakalpak to believe. Pray for the Bible to be translated into the Karakalpak language and to be read, understood and obeyed. Ask the Holy Spirit to call the Karakalpak people to faith.

THURSDAY:
Please pray for believers among the North Sumatra Malay as they make a concentrated "push" to share the Creation to Christ story with those to whom the Holy Spirit directs them. By sharing the gospel from Creation to Christ, they hope to identify "people of peace" (Luke 10:6) who desire to hear more and accept Jesus as Savior.

Pray Colossians 4:3-6, asking that God will give believers many opportunities to speak about His plan concerning Christ. Pray that they will proclaim this message clearly. Ask that believers will live wisely among non-believers and make the most of every opportunity. Pray that believers' conversations will be gracious and seasoned with salt so that they will have the right response for everyone.

FRIDAY:
In answer to your prayers, a Christian organization in the Deccan has refocused its
attention on training churches to work among the Deccani Muslims of India. Several hundred believers have been trained this year in both theory and practical tools for evangelism. Please pray that those who have been trained will boldly open their mouths in love and humility to the 21.5 million Deccani Muslims surrounding them.

Pray that God will lead His church in the Deccan to Muslim "people of peace" (Luke 10:6). Pray that this year will be the year of harvest among them.

http://www.go2southasia.org/

SATURDAY:
Praise the Lord for two new Jola-Fonyi believers. After their baptism, they recorded a message for the partnering church in Idaho, thanking them for what they had done in
sending people to Diouloulou to tell them about Jesus. One of the young men closed by saying that he desired for the people of Diouloulou and the surrounding villages to hear and understand the message of Jesus Christ. He finished with hands raised, declaring, "All Senegal for Christ!" For these two young followers of Jesus, the phrase "All Senegal for Christ!" is more than just words spoken in the excitement of the moment. They have begun Bible studies in the villages of Djibali, Badionkoto and
Missira--all of this in addition to the weekly Bible study that they have in Diouloulou. How exciting it is to see God do an amazing work in the lives and hearts of these two followers of Jesus.

Please pray that God will continue to give these young men great boldness in declaring the gospel of Jesus Christ so that one day "All Senegal for Christ!" will be a reality!

http://www.jola-fonyi.org

---
International Mission Board
3806
Monument Avenue
Richmond, VA 23230

MUSLIMS: PRAYING BEYOND THE WALL 23-29 August 2009

"How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?" (Rom 10:14, NKJV).

SUNDAY:
The many prayers which Muslims offer up during this month of Ramadan must be recited in Arabic, since it is the only language that Muslims believe to be acceptable to Allah. However, the vast majority of Muslims across the world do not speak Arabic, and even if they can, it is not their heart language.

Praise the Lord and give thanks that He speaks, understands and values every language. Pray that His true Word, the Bible, will be available in the heart language of every Muslim people group. Pray that He will speak directly to each Muslim who seeks His face this month. Ask Him to speak in their heart language and clearly point them to Jesus.


MONDAY:

As you enjoy the blessings of fresh summer produce, please pray for the development of an exciting agricultural project that will help provide much-needed food for Wassulu families in West Africa. The project focuses on developing a gardening cooperative for Wassulu women. Workers on the field, the agricultural ministry of Mali, and potentially agricultural interests in the states of Georgia and Texas will partner together to establish this cooperative and to train and encourage the Wassulu women. Just as the Lord opened the door for this project, ask Him to open the hearts of everyone who will be involved in the gardening initiative.


Pray that each of the components will fall into place in a timely manner, and that the ultimate goal of lanting seeds of Truth in hearts will result in an abundant eternal harvest.
wassuluprayeradvocates@gmail.com

TUESDAY:
Turks began going to Germany in the 1960s as guest workers. Today more than 2.6 million Turks live in what they hoped would be their "Promised Land." In reality, they are often blamed for crime, noise and educational deficiencies and are resented as "cheap labor." This negative reaction has caused many to close their doors and their hearts. They cling to Islam for cultural security and community. Turkish women who often cannot speak German are even more isolated from their German neighbors, and Turkish children who are born in Germany are often not accepted fully there nor in Turkey.

Pray for believers in Germany to experience a revival that will cause them to reach out in love to their German neighbors proclaiming the gospel. Pray for the Turks living in Germany to hear, understand and respond to the Gospel in faith. Pray for them to find their true home in Christ!

WEDNESDAY:
Praise God for new believers among the Sayang, Aroma and Bunga peoples in July! Pray for these Southeast Asian Muslims to continue to hear and respond to the Good News that God loves them. Pray also for the new believers to be discipled early and well.

As in every culture, people can acknowledge something verbally without taking the actions that would verify and follow through on their verbal commitment. These new believers were all part of at least a month-long process of hearing stories from the Bible and learning about Christ before they believed. Pray for them to now remain faithful to meet together to worship, study God's Word and invite Him to
change their lives as He teaches them more about His ways and His will. Pray that they will boldly and eagerly share the Truth they have learned with their family and friends.

THURSDAY:
The Nubian people of Egypt and Sudan are descendants of the Cushites of the Old Testament. Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, was a Cushite. For approximately 4,000 years, the Nubians have lived along the Nile River between the modern-day cities of Aswan and Khartoum. Much of the homeland of the Nubian people was flooded due to the construction of Egypt's Aswan High Dam. They are currently facing the possibility of losing more of their homeland to the planned Kajbar Dam in northern Sudan. They have a long history of prosperity as well as of oppression and destruction. For centuries, they were among the great civilizations of the world. Nubian Pharaohs ruled both Cush and Egypt for approximately 100 years. Sometime after the first century, Nubians converted to Christianity. They remained a Christian kingdom until the 13th century. Although they resisted the Muslim conquest that swept across northern Africa, they eventually were converted to Islam through inter-marriage. Almost 100 percent of modern Nubians are Muslim. There are only a handful of known believers among the Nubian people. While the Bible has been translated into Arabic, there are no complete translations in the Nubian language, which is falling into disuse since Arabic is the official language of both Egypt and Sudan.

Please pray for the evangelization of the Nubians.
prayfornubia@gmail.com

FRIDAY:

Each day a Pakistani vendor sits alongside the road to the bazaar, selling bags of roasted corn. If you speak to him, he'll answer you with a written note. He no longer speaks. For four years he has been silent. It is his attempt to gain favor with Allah by speaking no evil. He has no assurance of finding favor with his god, Allah, only a vain hope that his piety and good works will be enough to keep him from hell.

Pray for Pakistani Muslims living in fear and doubt to have an opportunity during this month of Ramadan to hear the Good News that their sins have already been forgiven through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, the Messiah. Pray for them to understand and believe!
http://www.go2southasia.org/

SATURDAY:
The Riau Melayu are Malay fishermen who live along the east coast of central Sumatra and on the Riau islands in the Straits of Melacca. For many of the Riau Melayu, life is hard and sometimes providing adequate food and clothing seems impossible. Despite this they are a cheerful and hospitable people who are very proud to be Muslims. They have been closed to the witness of both Indonesian and international believers. At times the task of bringing the gospel to the Riau Melayu seems impossible.

Pray for believers to be encouraged and guided in their witness. Pray for them to persevere and to make the most of every opportunity the Lord provides for witness. Ask God to push back the darkness that blinds these people to the truth and keeps them from recognizing and responding to Jesus Christ, the Light of the world!!

---
International Mission Board
3806 Monument Avenue
Richmond,
VA 23230

All,

I'm going to start posting a variety of questions & statements. I invite you to contribute and respectfully respond to others' thoughts, views and experiences. If things get heated- Remember!- in any debate, one is to attack the statement not the individual who made it.

Enjoy! And thanks for your participation.


Question 1: How is it that a God of love permits the triumph of evil?

Obama fires watchdog who barked at his crony

Obama fires watchdog who barked at his crony

Shared via AddThis

Article: Barack Obama and American "Arrogance"

Barack Obama and American "Arrogance"
President Barack Obama delivered a speech in Strasbourg, France, in which he accused the United States (of which, by the way, Obama is the President of) of showing arrogance. It was a display of craven obsequiousness to Europeans.
http://www.associatedcontent.comarticle/1624819/barack_obama_and_american_arrogance.html