As part of the 10/10 Prayer Initiative, 180 agencies have come together to ask God to draw to himself 10 percent of the world’s Muslims in the next 10 years. 10/10. Easy to remember, yet such an amazingly big task that only God can do it. SEND International has committed to fast and pray the first Friday of every month. Will you consider joining us?
By a former missionary to the Middle East — A year ago, we asked you to pray for the hundreds of thousands of Muslim immigrants and refugees who had recently arrived in Europe, most of them fleeing war and civil unrest. We wrote about their tremendous needs and about the tremendous opportunities for us Christians to go to help them, to reach out, and to be the light of Christ.
I want to encourage you and thank you for praying! Our awesome God is answering our prayers in ways almost beyond belief! Hundreds of former Muslims are stepping forward and not only giving their lives to Christ, but also being baptized.
Baptism is a very hard step for many former Muslims to take; historically, there have been some who have professed faith in Christ, but who delay baptism. Almost all Muslims see Christian baptism as the final severing of any ties to Islam, a step that once taken, is irrevocable. There is no more fence-sitting once you have been baptized, and ostracization and persecution are almost certain to follow.
However, amazingly, in one European country in particular, Muslims are accepting Jesus as their Lord and Savior, being baptized, gathering together, and even meeting openly as churches. In some places they are joining in with existing churches and fellowships; and in other situations, largely because of language barriers, they are meeting separately.
Of course, in the midst of this all, there are “fair weather” conversions, people thinking that if they become Christians then they will be able to get visas to move farther into Europe or to the United States or Canada. But the teams working there are softly telling the refugees that they are almost certainly stuck in the country they are currently in, and that they might even be sent back to their country of origin.
Nevertheless, there are still many who are willing to trust Christ with their very lives. They have seen what Islam has to offer and they want nothing more to do with it. They and their families have suffered; physically, emotionally, economically and spiritually they are bankrupt. They are tired of trying to follow a God who demands they earn their own salvation, and they are ready to follow a God who truly loves them. Matthew 11:28-30
breathes life into their souls: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (NIV)
I am hearing these reports firsthand from friends and former colleagues who went to Europe to minister to immigrants, and I can hardly believe it. Well, I shouldn’t be surprised, should I? We believe in a God who answers prayers, don’t we? We believe in a God who called us out of darkness and into his wonderful light. We believe in a God who is calling the nations, “every tribe and language and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9) to himself, and so when Afghans or Iranians or people from any other Muslim unreached people group start to respond, let’s not be surprised! Let us rejoice and be glad and pray all the more.
This month’s email is very encouraging news as we continue to pray for 10% of the Muslim world to come to Christ in the next 10 years. Our God is mighty to seek and save the lost and amazingly, he chooses to use his people to pray and to share that Good News with others.
Your prayers launch missionaries out to unreached peoples and give them success through the power of the Holy Spirit. Subscribe to Intercede & SEND, our monthly global prayer calendar.
• Download a free bookmark with daily themes to help you pray for your missionary friends and their children.
