Several years ago Heather Mercer, former prisoner for Christ in Afghanistan, visited VOM's offices. Her visit happened during Ramadan, and we asked Heather specific ways that Christians should pray for Muslims during Ramadan.
This year, Ramadan begins on Monday, July 8. Please watch this video (and share it with your Christian friends) to help you pray specifically for Muslims during this Ramadan season.
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Nigeria (MNN) ― Six more people were killed late last week at the hands of Nigerian terrorist group Boko Haram.
Attacks on Christian churches by the Boko Haram have been practically a weekly occurrence in Nigeria for the last couple of months. But this particular string of attacks was not directly against Christians. Instead, the attacks included a run-in with the military Joint Task Force (JTF).
Two people were killed in Maiduguri during a gunfight between the JTF and suspected Boko Haram members, according to Reuters. Gunmen later killed four people at a nearby market.
Interestingly, this all happened the day after Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan agreed to lift the state of emergency on several regions.
"It seems like they clearly are making a statement," says Todd Nettleton with Voice of the Martyrs. "But it also is the beginning of Ramadan, so it's interesting to think that may also play into this."
During the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, jihadists often have increased their attacks. Ramadan just began on Friday.
More Boko Haram attacks like this only increase the concerns of Christians, many of whom bring machetes with them to church to defend themselves from militants. But the way these particular attacks were handled by the government is actually a good indicator.
"I think one of the positive things about this story is that the military was actually fighting back against Boko Haram," says Nettleton. "That has not always been the case in the attacks in Nigeria, so the fact that the military was involved--that they were trying to take an active role in stopping Boko Haram--is good news."
Better news than that is the prayerful approach Nigerian believers have begun to take. "As they think about defending themselves, they're also thinking about praying and seeking God's favor, and seeking the move of God's Spirit in Nigeria," says Nettleton.
Especially in this season of Ramadan when Muslims are more openly seeking God, believers are praying for Muslims and even Boko Haram members to meet Christ. Pray with them that the Holy Spirit would reveal His truth to many in Nigeria, not only so that the attacks might stop, but so that more people would be rescued from death and brought into the eternal grace and life of Jesus Christ.
Source: Mission Network News
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International (MNN) ― Christians around the globe are gearing up for increased persecution.
Tomorrow marks Day One of the Muslim observation of Ramadan. Ramadan is a month in which Muslims pay special attention to their religious duties within Islam. Some of those may include fasting during the day, praying more, and increased giving to the poor.
But for Christians living in the Muslim world, the heightened responsibility to Allah that some Muslims feel during Ramadan can be dangerous.
"Many months of the year, Christians can blend into the population like everyone else. But when Christians are eating or drinking during the day (during Ramadan), it makes them targets for the persecution that their fellow countrymen can exhibit among them," explains Carl Moeller, president and CEO of Open Doors, USA.
This is not just a theory or possibility. Moeller says during Ramadan, "Christians in Muslim-dominated countries experience a severe increase in persecution worldwide."
Year after year, Christians have faced increased hardship during this Muslim holy month. As Muslims focus on serving God, some hone in on the Quran's commands to eliminate Christians.
This year, tension may even be worse than normal. The Arab Spring uprisings have heightened hostility toward Christians, says Moeller.
"We look across the whole region and see the rise of radical Islam as a result of these revolutions throughout the Arab world. We see Christian communities in almost every one of those countries directly or indirectly threatened by radical Islam."
As Ramadan begins, the biggest need is prayer. Pray for the safety of believers, especially in nations experiencing hardship like Syria, Egypt, Iraq and Nigeria. But pray also for Muslims to come to Christ during this next month. You can still get your copy of "30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World" which will provide insights and suggestions on how to best pray. Click here to get it.
Source: Mission Network News
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