Spotlight on Germany

"The name of the salon is German -- Goldene Finger (Golden Fingers) -- but the services it offers are listed in the window in Arabic and Turkish. In the front of the shop, 40-year-old Palestinian Toufic al-Rifae gives men haircuts and trims their beards. Veiled women disappear into a back section behind a curtain, where female hairdressers do their hair and, using thick lines of the traditional Middle Eastern cosmetic preparation known as kohl, apply their makeup in the Arab style. " (Life in a Parallel Society by Norbert F. Pötzl)

This article gives a great deal of information on the current status of Muslims in Germany. According to one survey listed on the site, of the Muslims questioned:

• 0.9% are from a German background


• 2.4% are from other Asian and African countries


• 3.3% are from European countries


• 5.8% are from other Arab countries


• 9.6% are from Iran. Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan


• 78% are from Turkey

Of those Muslims who immigrated to Europe, 23.1 % have lived in Germany since they were born, which classifies them as second generation Muslim/Germans.

To learn more about the status of Muslims in Germany, we highly recommend this article. The link can be found here, or at the top of the page.

To encourage those of you who pray strategically for Muslims in Europe, know that God is at work! Currently, we know of at least one small fellowship that has begun amongst Turks living in a large German city. People are learning about the redemptive power of Jesus Christ and choosing to follow Him. Pray for them as they still face much persecution, despite being away from their home country. Because so many of them live in immigrant neighborhoods, they risk becoming social outcasts when they choose to follow Christ. This can make them feel even more lonely considering they are already living away from their home country.

Pray for your brothers and sisters in Christ who live in Germany who once followed Allah, but now follow Christ!