30-Days of Prayer for the Muslim World | www.30-days.net » Testimonies http://www.30-days.net What Christians should know about Islamic background, history and culture. Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:11:00 +0000 en hourly 1 Testimony from Indonesia http://www.30-days.net/testimony/testimony-from-indonesia/ http://www.30-days.net/testimony/testimony-from-indonesia/#comments Tue, 20 Dec 2011 10:46:23 +0000 TDI http://www.30-days.net/?p=1126 indonesia-testimony“No one from my family will ever become a Christian!” shouted Ali with angry face. “I will not allow her to become Christian!” His anger reached a feverish pitch when he discovered that his sister named Lia had become Christian and had recently been baptized. With a loud and and accusatory tone, Ali said “It must be because of Ahmad” (a local believer who would frequently visit Lia and her family). “He made her become a Christian!” His anger boiled over and he began to beat Lia and then he cut the electric cable to her house. At the height of this anger, Ali threatened to kick her out of the village. All of these events made Lia become very sad but God gave her the grace to survive and she continued to stay in the village.

After hearing what happened to Lia and her family, Ahmad went to visit them. He met with Lia and her husband and using God’s word he encouraged them to endure. Suddenly, when they had just finished, there was a loud noise like some one had just fallen outside. Many people ran out to see what had happened. A young child had fallen down from high place and laid unconscious and motionless but the onlookers kept hearing him passing gas. Everyone was shocked at his condition. Ahmad offered to pray for the child and the family granted him permission. Ahmad lovingly laid his hands on the child and prayed. After his prayer the child began to come to consciousness and he stopped passing gas. It was evident that Jesus had healed the child. Many people witnessed the miracle, including Ali, but because of his anger, he stormed off.

Later Ali’s adult son Budi contracted a mysterious illness. Ali had a dream in which he saw that the only person who could help his son was his sister Lia, however, he was too ashamed and embarrassed to visit Lia and asked for her help because of all the problems he had caused her. As his son’s disease continued to worsen Ali knew he had to tell Lia about his dream. As new believer, Lia doubted that Budi could be healed by her prayers, but the Holy Spirit gave her the courage to pray boldly in the name of Jesus. After Lia prayed, Budi arose from his bed and began to recover from his illness. Just like his father, Budi also hated Christianity, however, he became very open and willing to hear the Gospel. It wasn’t long before Budi came to faith in the Messiah and was baptized. Shortly afterwards he found a job after many years of unemployment.

Knowing that Budi had been baptized, Ali decided to meet with Ahmad. During their time together Ali expressed his desire to trust in the Messiah. Ahmad thoroughly explained the Gospel to him and after some weeks of practical instruction, Ali made the decision to be baptized. The deep hatred towards Christians that lived in Ali’s heart disappeared because God’s Love changed his heart.

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]]> http://www.30-days.net/testimony/testimony-from-indonesia/feed/ 6 Muslims Tell … “Why I chose Jesus” – Introduction http://www.30-days.net/testimony/why-jesus/ http://www.30-days.net/testimony/why-jesus/#comments Thu, 30 Jun 2011 12:34:29 +0000 TDI http://30-days.net/reveal/why-jesus/

Introduction

Over a period of ten years, an extensive questionnaire compiled at Fuller Theological Seminary’s School of World Mission was filled out by some 600 Muslim-background believers (or those who knew them well). The results provided here are drawn from a representative sample of 120 of those surveys. The respondents are drawn from 39 countries and over 50 ethnic groups. They provide a broad window into the hearts and minds of those who have turned from Islam to Christ.

A sure salvation

It is an issue that touches on a longing concern for much of humanity. The question of one’s eternal destiny haunts many who long for the hope of heaven and the sure knowledge that they have been saved from the penalty of their sins. The Qur’an states that salvation belongs to “those that believe and do deeds of righteousness, those are the inhabitants of Paradise, there they shall dwell forever.” (1) Yet it also states that God forgives whom He wills and chastises whom He wills.

In Indonesia

One Indonesian woman was taught in her Islamic family that the bridge to heaven was as thin as a piece of hair. This tradition is found in the canonical collection of the activities and sayings of Muhammad (the hadith). Even good deeds, she was taught, would not assure her of crossing safely into Paradise. This hair-thin bridge was difficult and dangerous to cross. For her, a key factor in coming to faith in Christ was the realization that she could not save herself. Only the blood of Christ could redeem her.

Confidence in Salvation

A West African woman wanted to know for certain at the point of her conversion that her sins had been forgiven and washed away. When a Persian émigré to the United States was asked if Christ had given him freedom from fear, he said, “Oh yes, I feel forgiven, I have the assurance of forgiveness.” For these and others, what they have found in Christ is an eternal, secure refuge. An Egyptian man stated more broadly and unequivocally that the main attraction of Christianity for a Muslim is the assurance of salvation. A Javanese man said simply, “After I received Jesus, I had confidence concerning the end of my life.”

Center Piece is Jesus

According to the survey the center piece for Muslims was always the same. They have (whether one by one or family by family) been drawn to the God-man Jesus Christ. And for their spiritual direction, they have found one book that stands out above all others: the Bible. And more than any other portion of scripture, these believers are attracted to the Sermon on the Mount. One Javanese man who read the whole Bible echoes the thoughts of many about the Sermon on the Mount, saying, “If the life of a Christian is like that, I wanted to become a Christian.”

Video: CBN News, Former Muslims Share Christ

Many former Muslims are now involved in efforts to share their faith with other Muslims.

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]]> http://www.30-days.net/testimony/why-jesus/feed/ 61 Muslims Tell … “Why I chose Jesus” http://www.30-days.net/testimony/tell-6/ http://www.30-days.net/testimony/tell-6/#comments Tue, 28 Jun 2011 12:26:05 +0000 TDI http://30-days.net/reveal/tell-6/

Persecution abounds

After his conversion, one Lebanese Muslim lost all of his teaching and professional privileges and eventually was murdered. Other professionals, who had grown accustomed to some degree of esteem, are set back by the disdain they experience as a result of choosing to follow Christ. “Traumatizing” was how an observer described one Arab North African’s experience of being arrested, interrogated and held by police for two days.

For those who have been subject to persecution on the basis of their ethnicity, the persecution for their new-found faith comes as less of a surprise and actually serves to confirm their decision to leave their former faith. The North African who found Christians to be the only non-racist people he knew was intimately acquainted with severe persecution. His brother and several close friends have been murdered.

A West African man had his house burned and he was chased by people who were attempting to kill him and his family.

A fisherman from the Philippines expressed an increase in persecution, with people stealing his boat, cutting his nets and tormenting his children. Yet, an observer notes, “he is not shaken.”

Steadfast in the face of adversary

This steadfastness in the face of persecution illustrates, at least in part, the role that persecution has played. If it does not actually spur numerical growth, it certainly seems to spur the growth of the soul, creating, so to speak, bigger Christians as a result of difficult, even horrendous treatment by the majority Muslim community. In the face of persecution, the comfort of scripture has provided profound help in time of need. One Javanese brother found courage to face persecution in Matthew 5:11: “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.” The teaching of Christ reoriented his perspective and he began instead to consider it a blessing. He noted that it was the exposition of Matthew 5:11 at a church service that was instrumental in his coming to Christ.

An Egyptian believer received similar comfort from scripture when he was being spit on and suffering death threats. The taunters told his younger brother he was an infidel. Yet, when he read the Gospels, he felt the love of God, sensing the presence of Jesus. A contrast to the Qur’an, he found the Gospels powerful and satisfying.

God is at work

In this relatively brief look at what God is doing in a very large cross-section of humanity, we see His heart being conveyed in dramatic ways. Christ’s hand is extended to Muslims in a way no less sincere than His hand has been extended to you. We don’t appreciate being known for our worst manifestations. Muslims, too, ought to be given the benefit of the doubt. Many are seeking to follow God as best they understand Him. Sincerity may not be the measuring rod for truth, but sincerity of heart is a critical foundation for a life of saving faith in Christ.

Dreams and visions may have been used by God in part because there is a dearth of flesh-and-blood witnesses for Christ willing to articulate and demonstrate the power of the Gospel in person. If nothing else, the preceding testimonies of these witnesses for Christ show that God is at work. Apparently, when Muslims do have an opportunity to see the love of Christ revealed in all its fullness, they are finding a life with Christ quite compelling. After all, grace does have an irresistible quality to it.

Source: BUND EVANGELIKALER GEMEINDEN IN OESTERREICH (BEG+OE)
Fellowship of Evangelical Churches in Austria / Missions Department

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]]> http://www.30-days.net/testimony/tell-6/feed/ 1 The Power of the Word http://www.30-days.net/testimony/word/ http://www.30-days.net/testimony/word/#comments Sun, 26 Jun 2011 12:33:18 +0000 TDI http://30-days.net/reveal/word/

Muslims Tell … “Why I chose Jesus”

While Christ is the clear center piece of the new-found faith of all Muslim converts, in some respects the person of Jesus can be recognized as the particular cause and most persuasive attraction. Simply put, Christ’s character is frequently seen by the Muslim as overwhelmingly attractive.

A Pakistani immigrant to the United States was particularly attracted by Christ’s refusal to retaliate when maltreated. This man notes that “he bore it, he never retaliated.”

Even though almost all Muslims believe that Christ was not crucified, the Qur’an certainly accepts His opponents’ intention to kill Him and His willingness to die thus.

So the report of a Persian who says he was attracted to Christ before he was attracted to Christianity is not an anomaly for Muslims. Christ is revered in Islam. There are a number of passages whose meaning is disputed, but Christ is, at minimum, seen as a prophet.

A West African man was drawn by the humility of Christ and the revelation that Christ was not tainted by sin. Though it often goes unmentioned, Christ is portrayed in the Qur’an as being without fault. Muhammad, in contrast, is told to ask forgiveness for his sins. When asked what particular teachings of Christianity attracted him, an Egyptian man stated simply, “the crucified Messiah.”

A holy book: the power of the Bible

The Torah, the Psalms (Zabur) and the Gospel (commonly understood as the New Testament) are all revered by Muslims as holy books. Though many are unfamiliar with the content of scripture, they find it quite compelling once they begin to read. For one Lebanese Muslim, Christ’s teaching in the Sermon on the Mount was most instrumental at the point of his conversion.

A North African believer was touched by Christ’s love for the poor, the downtrodden, the outcast. Another man was attracted by these qualities in Christ’s followers. He saw Christians as the only people who care deeply about justice for the poor and oppressed.

Then you will know the truth.

Others have finally found in the Bible a truth that they found to be plausible. In searching the Bible, one Pakistani believer found answers to many questions that had concerned him. After his appreciation for the Bible grew, he felt he had been deceived by those who taught him that the Bible had been corrupted.

A North African found in the Bible teaching that was plausibly the truth, and it satisfied him intellectually. An Egyptian who came to faith in Christ found that the Bible helped him see the true character of God. He had growing doubt about the Qur’an, but the Bible, he said, was “powerful and satisfying.”

Similarly, an Iranian says, “The Bible makes sense, it is reasonable and logical; it is relevant and not culture-bound.”

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]]> http://www.30-days.net/testimony/word/feed/ 2 Encounters with Jesus http://www.30-days.net/testimony/encounters/ http://www.30-days.net/testimony/encounters/#comments Wed, 22 Jun 2011 12:30:05 +0000 TDI http://30-days.net/reveal/encounters/

Muslims Tell … “Why I chose Jesus”

Empowering Dreams

A North African believer found the needed strength to face his imprisonment from a dream he had while imprisoned for his faith. In it, he saw thousands of believers pouring through the streets of his city, openly proclaiming their faith in his restricted country. While in prison, he was tortured, suspended upside-down naked for hours, beaten with electrified rods and repeatedly threatened with execution. His vision of a day when people of his country would openly proclaim their faith in the streets gave him great strength to persevere through this most difficult time.

Encounter

Though not strictly a dream or a vision, a number of Muslim-background believers have had a significant supernatural encounter that was instrumental in drawing them to Jesus. One Egyptian Muslim was reading the Injil (Gospel), when he came to Luke 3, where the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus in the form of a dove. God said, “This is my son, in whom I am well pleased.” As he read those words, a stormy wind broke into his room. A voice spoke to him saying, “I am Jesus Christ, whom you hate. I am the Lord whom you are looking for.” He recalls that he “wept and wept, accepting Jesus from that time.”

Whatever personal perspective one has on dreams and visions and the Christian walk of faith, it is difficult to consider engaging in ministry to Muslims without a recognition of and an openness for God to continue drawing people to Himself through what may be viewed as unconventional means.

The greatest of these is love

By far, the reason found most compelling for the greatest number of Muslims who have turned to Christ is the power of love. Like Paul, many a believer from a Muslim background has found that “the greatest of these is love.” Nearly half of all Muslims who have made a shift of faith allegiance have affirmed that the love of God was a critical key in their decision.

By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. Love’s attraction could be simplified into two subcategories. The first is love by example. One Jordanian believer attributes his conversion to “the unconditional love and the aura of peace and contentment” that he saw in his Christian friend. An Arab émigré to France, describing the friendliness of her Christian acquaintances, says they “radiated the beauty of Christ.” These friends, who had emigrated before her and given their lives to Christ prior to her arrival, prayed that God would answer her prayers for a job. She says she has been amazed at how “the Lord has continued to answer prayers.”

This young Sunni Muslim woman saw a kindness and experienced an intimacy with her believing friends that made her believe that God, too, could be her friend and give her eternal life. Admittedly, it is difficult to separate the example of love demonstrated by believers and the witness of scripture, testifying of a God of love.

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]]> http://www.30-days.net/testimony/encounters/feed/ 7 I Had a Dream… http://www.30-days.net/testimony/dreams/ http://www.30-days.net/testimony/dreams/#comments Sat, 18 Jun 2011 12:31:50 +0000 TDI http://30-days.net/reveal/dreams/

Muslims Tell … “Why I chose Jesus”

Dreams and Visions

For someone who has not had extended exposure to Muslim-background believers (MMB) in Christ, probably the most striking surprise is the powerful role that dreams and visions have played in drawing people to Jesus. Though dreams may play an insignificant role in the conversion decisions of most Westerners, over one-fourth of those surveyed state quite emphatically that dreams and visions were key in drawing them to Christ and sustaining them through difficult times. Rick Love, International Director of Frontiers, has recognized the pattern as well. He writes that, “Just as God used a vision to convert Paul, in like manner He reveals Himself to Muslims through dreams and visions. Just as God prepared Cornelius to hear the Gospel through a vision, so God is preparing a multitude of Muslims to respond to His good news.”

White Robes

One believer from Guinea recounts the dream of a figure whom he later believed to be Christ. The figure was in a white robe, calling the man to come to Him. In a related dream, he recalls that the same figure’s arms were extended, beckoning him. Dreams of this type have become recognized as a pattern of work among Muslims. Though there are variations, Christ appearing in a white robe is a recurring image among those who have had dreams and visions. Similarly, a Muslim Malay woman was drawn by a vision she had of her Christian parents who had died. She saw them rejoicing with others in heaven. Jesus, appearing in a white robe, said, “If you want to come to me, just come.” Feeling that she had tried her entire life to reach God without success, she now saw God initiating the effort to reach her through Jesus.

A convert from the Middle East who had been afflicted with severe headaches was lying on his bed after having prayed for his sick son. A man with a beautiful, peaceful face appeared. Dressed in white, the figure walked to the head of the man’s bed and touched him three times on the head. The next morning his headaches were gone. His son, too, was fully healed. Understandably, he now recounts with confidence, “I believe in prayer in the name of the Christ.”

Two Types of Dreams

The great majority of dreams seem to fall into one of two broad categories. The first could be considered the preparatory dream. Like Christ appearing in a white robe, the vision confirms thoughts or conversations one has been having about Christ or the Christian faith. The second could be called the empowering dream. Here the dream or vision commonly gives the believer strength in the face of persecution. Short of persecution, it may embolden believers, strengthening the nature of their witness.

Examples

One Sunni woman from the Arabian Peninsula had a figure appear to her in a dream, telling her to visit a Christian woman she knew. The figure, who she was later convinced was Christ, told her this woman would teach her.

Prior to his conversion, a Persian man had a vision. In it, he was falling in darkness over a cliff and was saved by a light holding onto his back.

In a fascinating twist on God’s use of dreams and sleep, one Algerian recounted how she heard her sleeping Muslim grandmother say, “Jesus is not dead. I want to tell you He is here.”

A West African man recounts a succinct, yet powerful vision he had prior to conversion. He saw a devout Muslim in hell and a poor Christian who couldn’t afford to give alms in heaven. A voice explained to him that the difference was belief in Jesus.

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]]> http://www.30-days.net/testimony/dreams/feed/ 7 God’s love http://www.30-days.net/testimony/gods-love/ http://www.30-days.net/testimony/gods-love/#comments Sun, 12 Jun 2011 12:28:02 +0000 TDI http://30-days.net/reveal/gods-love/

Muslims Tell … “Why I chose Jesus”

A second category of love is that which is demonstrated directly by God and evidenced in scripture. One Bengali man says he was “subdued by the revelation of God’s great love, his own sinfulness, and Christ’s great sacrifice for him.” A West African from Gambia explains simply that “God loves me just as I am.” He described his experience in Islam as “rigorous submission to God.” He sensed an inability to please God. Though he was stoned for his faith in Christ, he remains faithful to his new life in Christ.

The love of God is particularly poignant for Muslims who may have been suppressed by other Muslims. One Shi’a man was attracted by the truth that “God loves all people” and that he was personally loved and protected by God. Similarly, a West African was surprised by God’s love “for all people of all races, including enemies.” His experience in Islam convinced him that Arab Muslims are racist towards Black Africans. Sadly, he described Islam as a “tool used by Arabs to oppress non-Arabs.”

I have called you friends: relationship with God

For some 10 percent of Muslim-background believers, the particular attraction of a relationship with God was the strongest apparent factor in their conversion. The Algerian émigré mentioned earlier was taken by the fact that God could be a friend and a father. Similarly, a North African convert was drawn by the opportunity to have a direct relationship with God. What he felt he lacked in Islam was any proximity or nearness to God there was no possibility of walking together with God. In Christ, he stated that a very strong attraction was a direct relationship between the Lord and the people. In a sense, the veil of separation had been lifted.

An Egyptian believer stated two compelling reasons for his attraction to Christianity: being adopted as God’s son and the Holy Spirit dwelling in him. This reflects positively what one Indonesian states negatively about Islam: “God is universal and has no family. There was no way of knowing what God was like.”

North American evangelicalism has been criticized for its emphasis on the experiential, the personal. In light of the testimony of this cross-section of Muslim-background believers, the opportunity for access and relationship to God is not an appeal unique to North Americans. Instead, one lesson from this cross-section of fellow Christ-followers from a Muslim background may be the universal appeal of what has been called a Divine romance: Christ’s love for His Church and His desire to commune with those whom He has called His own.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake

Some refer to it as the eighth beatitude. Others consider it more simply the by-product of living out the preceding beatitudes. However you view it exegetically, in practice it is clear that those who are coming to faith from within the Muslim sphere are much more likely to be intimately acquainted with persecution than those from the Western world.

A West African believer was burned and stabbed by his own family. Though he was not killed, his family now considers him to be dead. Though the physical suffering is great, the psychological wounds that are inflicted on those who have been counted as dead may be underestimated. A North African man found it difficult to overstate how traumatic it was for him as he was rejected and beaten and left homeless. Sadly, the national church did not accept him either.

“What Jesus Did” Video

What Jesus Did from Mark Robinson on Vimeo.

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]]> http://www.30-days.net/testimony/gods-love/feed/ 4 Testimony from East Africa http://www.30-days.net/testimony/testimony-from-east-africa/ http://www.30-days.net/testimony/testimony-from-east-africa/#comments Thu, 19 May 2011 08:54:09 +0000 TDI http://www.30-days.net/?p=1128 Zeynuba is a woman in her late twenties who is married and has two children. She grew up in an area of East Africa where Muslims live in a close community with little contact to non-Muslims. When she finished secondary school she came to the capital to help in the household of her uncle. Since her uncle did not support her for further studies, she was glad to accept an opportunity in the neighbourhood to do computer studies in the home of an expatriate Christian family. As she got to know these people better, Zeynuba was surprised to realize that these believers in the Messiah were friendly and accepted her, quite different from what she had expected. They prayed before meals and displayed a positive lifestyle. In the following months she began to study the faith of these believers.

When her own family became aware of her new interest in the Messiah they took her back home and tried to strengthen her Islamic beliefs. Zeynuba escaped and went back to the capital, however, her bus got stuck and she feared that now she would have to stay at home. In this desperate situation she prayed to God to help her for the first time in Jesus’ name. A moment later the bus continued its journey. This experience made a deep impression on her.

Back in the capital she continued learning about the Messiah which eventually led to a discouraging confrontation with her relatives when she refused an arranged marriage. It seemed like her life was coming to an end. Many questions worried her: “What will happen to me? Will I ever get a husband?” Her Christian friends encouraged her to trust Jesus who had a good plan for her. She responded positively and trusted the Messiah. The lifestyle and prayers of her believing friends convinced her to follow Jesus, coupled with her family’s rejection. For a while she had doubts about her decision, sometimes even praying the Islamic prayers at night. Over a year later Zeynuba was baptised. This brought a significant change because only after her baptism did she really understand the gospel. She finally understood what Jesus had done for her. Today Zeynuba has a believing husband and they both serve the Lord.

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]]> http://www.30-days.net/testimony/testimony-from-east-africa/feed/ 0 Dreams and Visions of Jesus http://www.30-days.net/testimony/dreams-and-visions-of-jesus/ http://www.30-days.net/testimony/dreams-and-visions-of-jesus/#comments Wed, 18 May 2011 00:02:16 +0000 TDI http://www.30-days.net/?p=1079

They are turning to Jesus

Seeking answers, Khalid asked people who were well informed about the Qur’an to get more understanding. But as a good Muslim, his heart did not find any rest. One day Khalid paid a visit to one of his childhood friends. In his friend’s home he found a book which he thought was a commentary on the Qur’an. However as he read the book his heart started to beat stronger and stronger because in the book he was finding the answers to many of his questions. That same night he had a dream in which he saw the words “I am the God that you are looking for, I am the truth”. The following night he had the same dream. The next day Khalid’s heart was very troubled so he went to see his friend and told him about the dreams. Then his friend explained that it was probably the God of the Bible who had revealed himself to him and he invited him to pray to that God.

Khalid was then secretly welcomed into an assembly of believers. This is not always the case. New believers from a Muslim background often have difficulties being accepted by local assemblies. Some groups of believers fear that they will suffer persecution if they help a Muslim background believer. Having been rejected by their own family, these new believers need to find new “brothers and sisters.” For more information see the web site: www.secretbelievers.org/

Prayer Starters:

  • Pray for the secret believers who ask for help from local churches and do not find it, that they will continue to hope in Christ.
  • Pray for the leaders of believing communities in Muslim countries. They are subject to varied and serious pressures.
  • Pray for local assemblies – that they would be willing to take the risk of helping new believers and that their communities could become real sources of refuge for those who are discovering new life in Christ.

Testimony from West Africa

My name is Abdou. Like practically all people in my tribe in Togo I was raised as a Muslim. Having been given a basic understanding of the Qur’an, I was not very regular at normal prayer times at the mosque, however, I really loved God. Even at a very young age my lack of mosque attendance and my lack of rigor in keeping Islamic practices caused me to have problems with my father. However, at school I was a good student.

At age 19 I encountered my first real problems at school. My difficulties were apparently caused by hidden spiritual forces so as a good Muslim, I decided to seek help from God.

I even started reading some books about Jesus and I attended some Christian meetings with a friend in secret. When my father discovered this he forced me to leave home and relationships with my family deteriorated. My father disinherited me and told me not to come to his funeral. Happily some believers in the Messiah gave me help.

After several years of struggles and failure to receive my high school diploma, I finally succeeded and I was even able to enter university in 2007. Some believers have accepted me into their home. We live very simply and I continue to grow in my relationship with Jesus.

    You should pray for Abdou and others like him in Togo.

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]]> http://www.30-days.net/testimony/dreams-and-visions-of-jesus/feed/ 35 How One Palestinian Feels Toward Israel http://www.30-days.net/testimony/how-one-palestinian-feels-toward-israel/ http://www.30-days.net/testimony/how-one-palestinian-feels-toward-israel/#comments Tue, 17 May 2011 00:05:05 +0000 TDI http://www.30-days.net/?p=1091 As the “30 Days” booklet is being prepared, more conflict in Gaza has broken out. We do not know what the situation will be when you, our readers actually use the “30 Days” booklet later. But note, even through war and difficult circumstances, a number of Jews and Arabs have learned to respect and to love each other as disciples of Jesus. Here is a testimony from one Arab believer living in Israel / Palestine.

Testimony

“As a young Palestinian refugee I fled to Nazareth with my family during a time of war. Later we found that our home in Haifa was occupied by Jews during my family’s absence. As a child I found it difficult to understand how God could love some people and put others in the street. As the years passed I became an enemy of the Jewish people. Later after having acknowledged Jesus as my Messiah, I met an old Jewish man who asked for forgiveness for the things he had done personally. His step of seeking forgiveness touched me and since that time my love for the Jewish people has not ceased to grow.” When this former refugee was asked “Is it possible for a Jordanian or a Palestinian to love Israeli soldiers?” he responded: “For followers of the Messiah the word ‘love’ has a different meaning than for those who do not know the Lord. For us, the love of God comes through the cross of Christ.” He continued: “I have also visited Iraq. When I was there God filled my heart with love for the Iraqi Muslims. My heart was really grieved when I saw how the Iraqis and the Iranians had killed each other during the war from 1980-1988. I have also spoken of the profound love which God has given me for the Jewish people when Israeli soldiers were controlling my identity papers in Jerusalem.” He has found it possible to love Muslims and Jews.

Prayer Requests:

  • There are several initiatives by Messianic Jews and Arab believers for prayer and reconciliation. The transformation which God brings is the greatest hope for lasting change in the Middle East. Pray for further breakthroughs in reconciliation and deepening love and respect among Jews and Arabs (1 John 4:12 and 19).
  • Pray that the hope of true reconciliation through Christ would be better known in Israel and Palestine becoming an example for both Jews and Muslims. Jesus is rightly presented as someone who brings personal peace. He is also very interested in bringing peace between peoples (Matthew 5:9, Ephesians 2:14 and 2 Peter 3:13).

Special Prayer Section for the Thulukkan people of India

Recent political and economic reforms have sparked phenomenal growth in the Indian economy. However, in spite of its remarkable progress, India continues to suffer from high levels of poverty, illiteracy, malnutrition, and environmental degradation.
More than 33 million people in southern India’s Kerala state speak Malayalam, one of the 22 languages recognized by the Indian Constitution. About 269,000 of them (just .023% of the total population of India) belong to a little-known people group called the Thulukkan. The primary religion of the Thulukkan people is Islam. Very little else is known about them. There are no known efforts to reach this people with the Gospel.

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