TIM, media and communications coordinator at Open Doors Australia, invites Christians to get involved in praying for Muslims during this Ramadan period…
This year Open Doors is asking churches and small groups in Australia to participate in ‘A Dedicated Faith’. With well over one billion people around the world identifying Muslim, Christians need to be praying for God to make a breakthrough in the Islamic World. These are people who fear god, but, in our view, do not know Him. They are devoted to serving him, but are disconnected without Jesus.
Ramadan is a month in the Islamic calendar running from 6th June to 5th July. During these 30 days, Muslims will fast during daylight hours, and will pray in order to get closer to Allah. Muslim’s believe that it was during Ramadan that the first revelations of the Quran were made to Mohammed making the observance of Ramadan is a key part of Islam. As it’s understood Muslims have no certainty of salvation, this holy month represents a chance to tip the cosmic scales in their favour believing that any action taken for God is counted as more holy in this month.
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PICTURE: David Adams
“They are not our enemy, they are our mission field.”– Brother Andrew, founder of Open Doors in his book, God’s Smuggler.Ramadan, an opportune time |
Ramadan, an opportune time
But we as Christians have what these people long for. God has revealed Himself to us and by grace given us the very thing they so desperately seek, Jesus. These 30 days are an opportunity to share the Gospel. To offer truth, hope and salvation to the very people who are so desperately seeking Him.
While we believe that Jesus is God, Muslims do not. Jesus appears 25 times in the Quran but is never referred to as God, only a prophet. The Quran states that Jesus never died on the cross but agrees that He will return to earth, ushering in the end of time. So this is a moment that we can take to pray that Muslims will come to a true understanding of Jesus.
While many Christians in Australia may not ever know a Muslim, as a part of the global church this is something we can do together. In addition, many Christians who live in Islamic nations desire our prayer and in Ramadan more than ever.
Islam and persecution
Islamic extremism is not just a political issue but is also the major cause of persecution of Christians. With the actions of Islamic State in Iraq and Syria getting much notoriety it can be easy to overlook the influence of Islamic persecution elsewhere. Of the top 50 countries where persecution is the worst, Islamic extremism is the main reason in 35 of them.
While it may be the case that persecution from Islamic extremism is spread so widely it does not necessarily look the same in every country. In countries at the top of the list like Pakistan and Somalia, persecution can be very violent. In countries that rank lower, Christians often find themselves marginalised. In Malaysia or Tanzania this can result in denial of employment or difficulties in getting accepted into university.
It is important to remember however that Muslims are loved dearly by God, in fact the Islamic world is crying out for a saviour. God has revealed Himself to us and by grace, given us the very thing they so desperately seek: a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. This 30 days is an opportunity to share the Gospel. To offer truth, hope and salvation to the very people who are so desperately seeking.
To do this Open Doors want to invite you to participate in a one day fast during daylight hours, then break your fast by sharing a Middle Eastern style banquet and pray for the Muslim world. Register for ‘A Dedicated Faith’ resources for everything you need to get your church or small group to join you in praying for this.
Register for ‘A Dedicated Faith’ at www.opendoors.org.au.
* Tim is media and communications coordinator for Open Doors Australia. His surname has been withheld due to security reasons. Open Doors serves persecuted Christians in over 60 countries around the world. Beginning with smuggling Bibles, Open Doors also provides practical support and training for Christians living in the most hostile places to the Gospel.
COUNTRIES WHERE THE MAIN SOURCE OF CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION IS ISLAMIC EXTREMISM: WORLD WATCH LIST
2. Iraq; 4. Afghanistan; 5. Syria; 6. Pakistan; 7. Somalia; 8. Sudan; 9. Iran; 10. Libya; 11. Yemen; 12. Nigeria; 13. Maldives; 14. Saudi Arabia; 16. Kenya; 18. Ethiopia; 21. Qatar; 22. Egypt; 24. Palestinian Territories; 25 Brunei; 26. Central African Republic; 27. Jordan; 28 Djibouti; 30. Malaysia; 32. Tunisia; 35. Bangladesh; 36, Tanzania; 37. Algeria; 39. Comoros; 41. Kuwait; 43. Indonesia; 44. Mali; 45. Turkey; 47. United Arab Emirates; 48. Bahrain; 49. Turkey; 50. Oman.
