Praise

Praise God for the local believers who have returned after recent outreach programs. Ask that they would grow to full maturity in Christ.

Prayer

Pray for “Stanley”, who recently shared his testimony of how he came to faith, with an aggressive Muslim woman that he knows. The Muslim husband has caused significant grief - visiting him at his work, calling him names and indicating that his name is now with the police.

Please pray for the completion of a film project chronicling dramatized conversion stories of believers in the region. Pray for the powerful use of this film to proclaim the true transformation found in Christ.

Pray for family relationships in our country. Many families have a maid taking care of the children so that the mother/child and father/child relationship is minimized, which has a bad influence on the child’s behavior and on respect for parents.

Several workers in our country have to move house. Pray that doing so will not disrupt effectiveness in ministry.

There has been a peace agreement between the government and the rebels. So far, it seems as though both parties are holding to the agreement. The rebels are withdrawing from their stronghold. Please pray that the peace will hold, and that negotiations will continue between the government and the rebels. Through the peace process, ask the Father to reveal Himself to these people.

Testimony

“Sandra” has specifically asked for prayer from you, our friends, to support her as she is facing an impending family crisis.

Her third child, “Tina”, moved to the US for university almost six years ago. Three years ago, without telling Sandra, Tina married a man she met in America. Their first child followed a year later. While Sandra has known for some time, Tina has still not told her father anything. It looks like Tina is intending to email her father soon and begin to tell him the story. First, pray for courage for her to do so. This disclosure has been far too long in the coming. Much wisdom is required here. Sandra greatly fears what her husband “Harry” will do when he finds out. Harry can be violent and often blames her for everything that goes wrong with their children.

Sandra has been seeking to follow Jesus for a number of years. She is the mother of five children. Over time, each of these kids has had amazing encounters with Jesus, though each one’s walk is complicated and challenging.

Over the past four years, all three of the oldest girls, along with Sandra, have been baptized in declaration of their desire to follow Jesus. Just two weeks ago, we had the joy of participating in the most recent of those baptisms for “Emma”, Sandra’s oldest. Emma is on the journey. She has issues and, like many of us, things that threaten to choke out the young growing faith which is sprouting up in her. Pray that she would throw off that which hinders her and pursue Jesus wholeheartedly.

Please also pray for their relationship with their cousin, “Samantha”, who also loves Jesus. There is a deep wound between them which has brought hurt, separation and isolation from one another. Pray that these relationships would be restored.

We are so thankful to see more and more people trying to follow Jesus, but it is often messy, and our hearts break for such situations. Please do remember to pray for godly husbands for these young ladies and for the desire for all of them to gather together regularly for encouragement – not just with western Christians like us – but with one another, as local Arabs who love Jesus and want to help members of their own community to do the same.

Praise

After your prayers for “Emma” last year, God has really been moving in her life and her interest in the scriptures is growing. Praise God, her heart is hungering for His Word.

Prayer

“Moe” is still dying. Please continue to pray that God will provide a witness to Moe in the country where he is seeking medical treatment for Lou Gehrigs disease.

Thank the Lord for those who are coming to faith….who are being bold about what they believe. Pray especially for one who is using the Book for teaching English to others. Pray that many will read the words in the Book and believe. Pray for one who came to faith after being healed by Jesus. Ask that he will continue to be strong and be a testimony to all around him.

Pray for K. He has asked for and received a Bible and wants to read it. Pray that God will speak through His word to his heart and that also his wife will want to read.

Pray for “Mark” who will be receiving a pre-marriage book. Pray that he would receive it genuinely and be willing to meet periodically to discuss the key concepts and for an open door to share the gospel with him.

Please pray for an Arab couple that will go to Holland within a few weeks for 7 years study. The young wife has showed interest in our beliefs. Pray that we can link them up with positive Christians in the city where they will go and that God will touch their lives.

Testimony

Hamed has been a believer for many years. Early on, he visited a church in another country where he was tremendously blessed by the worship of God’s people. He came home discouraged, saying that there will never be a building like that in his country. He feels that the Body will not grow here. He is also plagued with fear.

Ask that Hamed will realize that the Church is not made up of a building but that it is a group of people who can worship and fellowship anywhere. Ask that he will find other believers to encourage and be encouraged by. Ask that he will give God his fears.

Praise

Thank you for praying for new workers - we give praise that a number of people have come
here for a 1-2 year commitment. Please continue praying, especially for people who want to
give a longer term commitment.

Prayer

Some Arabic Christian programming is now being included in the “standard package” of some
satellite broadcast sellers. Please pray for Arabian Peninsula Muslims to find and watch these
programs, and that God would open their eyes and ears to believe His Truth.

When our friend went to the local shop, he got into a conversation with the shop keeper, who
subsequently asked for a Bible! He was able to take one to him later in the week. Pray for the
shopkeeper, that he would read the Word and that the Word would do its work in him. We are
guessing that this is his first contact with the Word.

Please pray against the spirit of fear among those that work here and healing of broken
relationships due to recent events.

Let us remember that we are in a spiritual battle for this land and the people. While there are
physical battles here, there is also the prince of darkness and his followers working to wreck
havoc in this country. Pray that the believers here will remain strong in the Word and remember
that the victory belongs to the King. Lift up all the believers this week, bringing them before
the throne of grace. Pray that they remain surrounded in the armor of God.

“A.H.” was once disowned by his wife and family, when he turned from Islam to the Lord Jesus.
Now his sons are meeting with him and a discipler to study the Bible together. Pray that the
sons will also believe, and that a church might develop from within their family.

Testimony

“Fred’s” New Year’s resolution is to: “to know and walk closer to GOD and to live happily ever
after with my wife, “Beth”, and my kids.”

“Beth” believes that God wants to use their marriage to redeem “Fred”. This past month, “Beth”
was spending time in prayer and fasting and asked “Fred” to join her. Each night they would
gather together and pray in their room. Please pray for this family as “Beth” continues to show
the light of Christ to her husband.

Pray also for “Fred”, that his resolution to know and walk closer to God will lead Him to
experience the true closeness to God found only through Christ.

Praise

Previously we prayed for a meeting place for a church in this country.  Here is an update: We found a gathering place right in the centre of the city and we’ll be starting the new church on February 12th! Praise the Lord! And please pray that He would be glorified through this new church!

Prayer

Please pray for local seekers and converts that are known by Christian media; that they will be willing to meet up with workers here to be discipled, and when mature enough, will be linked up with fellow converts, so they can encourage each other.

Please pray against a spirit of fear among the local believers in our country.

Pray for our police friend “Mark”. He is a young man who is preparing for his marriage in early April. He is without a father or older brother to give him advice - he is open to hearing things from several adult believers in his circle of friends. We plan to give him some good pre-marriage books in the coming weeks. Pray that he would read them and to discuss the topics.

Pray for “Sam” who is returning to his home country in the AP from a neighbouring country in the AP where he took refuge over 3 years ago. His life was threatened by his family. He is now returning to his home town to try to reconcile with his family and to be a light in the community

The 6 who were taken hostage in June, are still missing, and there is no new news. Continue to ask that they will be freed.

Testimony

Muslims believe that the Bible has been changed. When discussing the story of Christ with Christians, this argument comes up often.

Recently a young man attended a wedding with “Tariq”. They talked about the social issues of the community. Eventually the conversation turned to the topic of who Christ is.  Tariq said, “It is required that we believe that Christ was a prophet, but that he was not crucified.” The young man challenged Tariq on this subject as he believes the contents of the New Testament.  Which man has the correct view?  He told Tariq the following tale:

“If there was an accident on this street, you have seen it from that direction, I from this direction. You, I, a traffic cop, and a security officer (the last two had investigated the crash), all go to the judge and present our testimonies. The stories are recorded and the judge makes his decision. Then, a year later, someone comes to the judge and says ‘No, that is not what happened.’ Who would the judge believe – the four or the one who came later?”

Please pray that Tariq would not be deceived, but believe in the death and resurrection of Christ, the Saviour.

Praise

Four people who work here were diagnosed with cancer in the summer. Praise the Lord that three of them underwent successful surgeries and are cancer free. The fourth person has had chemotherapy treatment that has been very positive. Praise the Lord for this and ask for complete healing.

Prayer

Pray that relationships in this country will be restored after there were accusations of betrayal against some local believers.

A Shia colleague expressed that Ali (a major prophet for them) had stated that influencing the market and its prices is possible by uniting the believers and agreeing to boycott certain products. This year the Shia want to influence the price of a can of Pepsi, which recently was increased by 30%. Pray that a desire will be awakened in their trials to change corrupt practices and morals in this country.

Please pray for high-level men and women who have put their faith in Christ, that they will use their positions wisely as led by the Lord.

Continue to pray for the displaced persons in the far north of the country. The weather is cold and children need warm clothes. Ask that a project to collect clothes this week will be a success. Ask that those who are able to take the clothes to them will be able to drive safely to the capital and collect them.  Pray that through this project, the people will know that they are not forgotten and that others are concerned for them. Ask for peace in this region and that the families will be able to return home.

Two Muslim brothers at the same college, M. and M., passed by their professor’s office.  ”Sir, when would be a good time to talk with you about spiritual things?  We know that you study the Bible.”  Pray that they will return this week, and that God will open their hearts and minds to embrace the truth of the Gospel.

Testimony

An interesting conversation took place waiting for official administration procedures. The officer serving us was surprised that he had the same name as my son, Joonas…..His name is Younis – the pronunciation and articulation of the name is very close and the meaning is also the same - Jonah. He was so proud and happy that, with his slightly raised voice, it felt like he was indirectly announcing it so others could hear that he and Joonas share the same name.
I started to then say in Arabic, “Joonas is a very good name. I like that name very much.”
He replied, “Yes, it is!”
I continued, “But do you know why I think it’s a good name?”
“Why?”, he asked.
I said, “Well, you know as I know that Jonah is a prophet”
“That’s right. Praise God!” he answered. (”Alhumdullilah” is a common response from Muslims whenever a prophet’s or other religious names are mentioned)
I said, “I like Jonah because I firmly believe that God liked Jonah very much.”
“Hmmm…interesting….continue…” Younis said.
“Do you remember the story of Jonah and the fish?”, I asked.
“Yes!” he replied.
I said, “God liked Jonah so much that even when Jonah disobeyed God and went a different direction away from Niniveh (where he was asked to go) God still sought him out, placed him safely in the belly of a fish and brought him to Niniveh. God forgave him in spite of his disobedience. This clearly reflects God’s fondness of Jonah and how much He still trusts him to do the will of God.”
I went on to say, “The story of Jonah relates to us so well even today. When comparing the life of Jonah and our lives today, we too fail to obey God’s commands from the Holy Book. Nevertheless, the same God Jonah believed in is the same God who is ready to forgive and start anew. And….that’s the reason I chose to name my firstborn Joonas…….I like that name!”
Younis replied, “Wow, I never saw it that way. I never took time to actually think of the life of the prophet Jonah (praise God!!), even though we share the same name.  I like it very much! Thank you!”
Please pray for Younis, that he will come to know the God who seeks and forgives us.