By a member of SEND’s Diaspora | North America team — The impossible has happened right before our eyes! The COVID-19 virus has disrupted our world in ways that few could have predicted, and it is presenting us all with new challenges on a daily basis. But there are also opportunities and blessings occurring in the midst of this upheaval. The church is in a unique position to reach out with the love of Christ to those in need around us, and this includes our Muslim neighbors and friends.
This month Muslims worldwide will begin observing Ramadan, the month of fasting, from April 24 to May 23. They will fast from water and food daily from sunrise to sunset. This will undoubtedly be challenging in the current environment, as Muslims typically gather daily for prayer during Ramadan and break the fast together in community. There are exceptions to the fast; sick people, pregnant mothers, and travelers are exempted. In years past, some wealthy Muslims took advantage of these rules and would plan trips during this time of fasting. They were supposed to make up the missed fasting at another more convenient time, but that time wasn’t always found. This year, however, there is no place to hide or no place to travel where the virus hasn’t reached, or can’t reach.
As we find ourselves at home this month, let us take a break from the non-stop news about the COVID-19 virus, and join with thousands of Christians around the world to pray for the 1.8 billion Muslims who don’t know Jesus as the Savior of the world.
You can still order a copy of this year’s 30 days prayer guide and learn about Muslims around the world and those living next door. Each day’s reading provides a snippet of info and prayer requests about a certain aspect of Islam or a particular Islamic group. This year’s booklet says: “We hope that you will learn a lot about the diversity that exists among Muslim people in their expression of faith, their religious beliefs and their ideologies as you read this year’s prayer guide, and that it will inspire you to pray with fresh insight for them.”
We need to get to know each Muslim as an individual and not allow ourselves to stereotype them into boxes. Take the time to ask questions and to get to know your Muslim neighbors and colleagues; they are indeed very different from each other, just as you and I are different from our neighbors and colleagues.
If time slips away and you find you are out of time to place an order for a prayer guide, you can also download a PDF copy of the 30 days prayer guide.
Another great resource is daily videos that will be posted by Prayercast. You can register here or text “RAMADAN” to 22828.
Perhaps you could organize a ZOOM or Skype meeting with members of your church or small group to pray together during Ramadan.
I know we are in the midst of an order for social distancing to fight the spread of COVID-19, and we all want to do our part to help in this, but please keep an eye out for ways that you can help your Muslim neighbors and friends. Many people are being laid off and could use some assistance, so it would be great if the church, in addition to praying, could also find ways to be the hands and feet of Jesus in these trying times.
Join with Christians around the world who are praying for 10 percent of the Muslim world to come to Christ in the next 10 years. This is a prayer request so big that it will take a miracle from God to answer. Thankfully, God is in the business of performing miracles!
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.
