Ramadan Day 5

Muslims pray five times a day during Ramadan. Very devout followers will do this year-round. During Ramadan, some will spend the night in the mosques praying and asking God for forgiveness hoping to earn more "points" with God. Each night of Ramadan the Imam reads Surahs from the Quran so that by the end it has all been read. On the last day he has to read 4 Surahs.

Today, ask our Father to give Muslims access to the Word of God in their own language so that they may read and discover that they can't DO anything to earn God's favor. May they read and see that Christ has already paid the price for them. They must only accept His free gift of salvation, repent and live their lives surrendered to a loving God who desires relationship with each and every one of them.

Ramadan Day 4

K is 23 years old and has been living in Europe with her brothers for about 2 years. She loves the freedom she has here, but misses her parents and family in her country. Sometimes when she’s alone she wonders about who God really is, and when she reads the Qu’ran, she doesn’t understand what it’s talking about. When she was 12 she dreamed that she saw a bright, white light, so bright that she “can still see it,” and out of that light God spoke to her, but she can’t remember what He told her.

Pray:

• That she remembers what God told her in that dream, and He would speak to her again in dreams and visions
• That she would come to know who God really is through Jesus Christ

Ramadan Day 3

Philippians 4:4-7

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Pray Muslims in Europe will encounter the true peace that Christ offers by seeing around them those who live by these verses!

Ramadan Day 2

Romans 15.3-4

For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: "The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me."For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

Many will hear the Quran quoted in its entirety this month. We know that what has been written before was written for their salvation as well. Pray that miracles will happen so that people will have access to God´s Word, will seek the the truth of the Word and will find salvation through it.

Ramadan Begins

The night before Ramadan, Muslims look for the first appearing of the moon and then begin fasting the next day. Some will watch for an announcement on TV telling them Ramadan has begun. In some countries, Muslims will then go to the Hammam on this night to do a thorough washing before beginning the fast.

During Ramadan, it is forbidden to eat, drink, have sex or smoke between sunrise and sunset. Many of the women wear a jalaba (a long robe type dress) during this month.

Many Muslims see this month as a time to draw near to God. It is one of the five pillars of Islam, so most see fasting as obligatory if they hope to gain entrance into Heaven. In Europe, although Muslims are far from their home countries, many will still observe the fast. Halal meat markets are busy at this time of year trying to meet the requests of the Muslim immigrants. Women are busy preparing the food each day as families gather together to break the fast at sunset. Please pray for Muslims in Europe. Ask that as Muslims desire to become closer to God during Ramadan, they will find the one true God.

The 8th Month

Muslims all across Europe will soon be celebrating Ramadan. But for now, they are preparing. This 8th month in the Arabic calendar is called Shaban. During Shaban, women can be found wearing hena, cleaning their house and shopping to prepare for all the food they will be eating during Ramadan. Some of the foods they will be eating is harira (a soup), shabekia and zameeta (two common types of sweets eaten during Ramadan.)

The night before Ramadan, the people look for the first appearing of the moon and then the fast begins the following day. Some will watch for an announcement on the television to tell them when Ramadan has begun. On this night, many will go to the Hammam (public bath) and do a thorough washing before beginning.

During the month of September, join with us as we pray for Muslims living in Europe. Each day, check here for a new post about how you can specifically pray.

However, today will you please lift up Muslims who are preparing for Ramadan? History has shown us that many Muslims have dreams and visions of Christ during Ramadan. One can only assume that the prayers for Muslims during this time are critical. Here are some basic ways you can praying right now:

• Ask that the Father will prepare in their hearts a desire to seek the one true God during Ramadan.
• Ask the HS to invade homes in a way which causes many to experience JC for the first time through a dream or vision.
• Ask the Father to provide a way for Muslims who experience dreams and visions to find a Good Book in their language, and to find a Believer who can share Truth with him or her.
• Lift up workers who may encounter Spiritual Warfare during this time.
  

Ramadan begins September 2nd. Will you partner with us?

Who Would Have Thought . . .

Some volunteers from the states recently came to put on a sports and English camp. It was sponsored by a local sports club, and prior to the camp, the director was informed that the volunteers coming had a spiritual agenda: Truth would be shared, and stories about Jesus would be taught. Fair enough, the director thought.

On the first day, about 10 immigrant children showed up. By the end of the first day, each one of these kids were keenly aware of the things they were being taught. One little boy was even bold enough to say, "God (Allah to him) doesn't have any children." People were talking about how Jesus, the Son of God had changed their lives. What was being taught was in stark contrast to what these immigrant children are taught at home, and in the mosque.

So the volunteers wondered . . . would these immigrant children return knowing that the camp was blatantly teaching from the Good Book? Will their parents even allow them to think about coming back?

The answer was YES. In fact, over the course of the camp, new immigrant children also came. We know they returned each day and told their parents what they learned, and some even sang the songs that were taught.

So what can we learn from this camp? It is important in Europe to be security conscious. But what we can forget is that although workers need to be careful, they don't face the same restrictions as workers do in other high security areas. Workers can run a sports camp that boldly proclaims Truth to Muslims, and they cannot be asked to leave the country for it. Europe is currently a free place to believe what you want, and tell others freely what you believe. Therefore, workers can be encouraged to try things they may not be able to do in high security areas, but they CAN do here.

So perhaps your small group, you Sunday school class, or even your church needs to start rethinking how and where you can reach Muslims. Is there something your particular group of people are talented at that could be used here? Sports is just one way that can give access to immigrants. The Father is all knowing, and sovereign and He already has an idea of how you can take part in boldly proclaiming the message of Salvation to immigrants in Europe. You just need to ask. Because who would have thought that a blatantly Christian camp would draw in so many immigrant children . . .