History

In the 1940s God spoke to several Chinese believers about spreading the Gospel starting with the western Chinese province of Xinjiang through Muslim countries all the way to Jerusalem. They called themselves “The Preach Everywhere Gospel Band”! Western missionaries called them “The Back to Jerusalem Evangelistic Band.”

Some of the spiritual roots of this movement can be traced to the 1920s “Jesus Family” group which targeted villages and preached the Gospel. They committed themselves to “sacrifice, abandonment, poverty, suffering and death” for the sake of the Gospel.

Priorities

The “Back to Jerusalem Movement’s” first priority was to reach the following Chinese provinces: Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, Tibet, Sichuan, Qinghai, Gansu and Ningxia in Central, Northern and Western China. Also included as target areas were Asia’s border countries: Afghanistan, Iran, Arabia, Iraq, Syria, Turkey and Palestine. Upon reaching these areas, they intended to establish new believing groups while shepherding and reviving existing efforts. They decided to completely rely on God for finances for all their endeavours.

Persecution

The movement did move into Western China in the 1950s and suffered great persecution and most of the believers were imprisoned. Simon Zhao, one of the early leaders was jailed for 31 years. Though Zhao entered prison as a young visionary, later he was released into a very different China as a gray-haired, elderly man with no friends. News of Zhao’s release spread, but it was not until six years later that church leaders began to seek him out.

Simon Zhao's Death

Initially, Zhao did not share his vision for the “Back to Jerusalem” ministry with others. Instead he sought to encourage Chinese Christian leadership and pray. It was not until the 1990s that Zhao began to share his vision with a group of Chinese Christians to inspire them to carry on the vision God had given him over 50 years ago. He died in 2001 after another 15 years of ministry. During this time, several believers became burdened to pursue the “Back to Jerusalem Movement” once again.

Back to Jerusalem Today

Today, many Chinese Christians have the vision to reach western China and Muslim nations all the way back to Jerusalem. They believe that in the last days before Christ’s return, it is the duty of the Chinese church to take the Gospel back to Jerusalem in order to complete a full circle of the Gospel which was originally brought to them from the West.

“Hundreds of Chinese families are desiring to relocate to unreached regions of China,” reported a Chinese house-church leader. Some leaders hope to send out thousands of itinerant missionaries to reach the non-Han peoples of China and plant new congregations. Cross-cultural outreach is still very young in China, yet some believers are praying continually about their role in reaching the Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist nations with the Good News of the Kingdom.

Flag of China

Map of China

Prayer Starters:

• Worship the Lord, Proclaim the truths of Isaiah 66:18-23 in prayer. May God open doors for many Chinese to proclaim his glory among the nations.
• Some Chinese believers have already made courageous efforts to proclaim their faith cross culturally but the results have not always been positive. There is a huge need for effective and in depth cross cultural outreach training for those who want to take the Gospel to other peoples. Training is a major priority. Zeal is not enough.

Listen to the Podcast - DAY 24 - China's Back to Jerusalem Movement

Video: About the Back to Jerusalem Movement (6:54)

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Originally from the eastern coast of Sumatra, the Kerinci fled from local Muslim Sultanates in an ancient war and moved into their existing homeland high in the Bukit Barisan Mountains. They speak Kerinci and Bahasa Indonesian.

Most of the 260,000 Kerinci are farmers harvesting rice, potatoes, coffee, cinnamon, and even resin and rattan from the jungle areas. Those living near Lake Kerinci and other small lakes are fishermen. The Kerinci have been able to resist assimilation with the stronger lowland peoples.

Mass Relocations

Today their isolation is being changed by government-sponsored mass relocations of Jawa, Sunda, and Bali people for plantation projects on their rich soil. In addition, a world-class national park is being developed by the World Wildlife Fund to preserve the rainforest, flora, and fauna. Islam is the majority religion of the Kerinci, but they still hold to animism, especially as it is exhibited by their use of traditional healers and magic to bless their crops.

Testimony

A young woman from a conservative Muslim background is now a follower of Christ. Her brother heard of this, but was sure she would soon return to Islam. When he saw that she hadn’t, he demanded that she renounce her faith and say the Islamic creed. She refused, and he grabbed a metal rod and threatened to kill her. The family stopped him, but her mother sobbed and pleaded with her to say the creed. She finally did, but deeply regretted it afterward. When she shared her sorrow with another believer, her friend explained that the Apostle Peter also denied Jesus, but was forgiven and restored. She has now experienced this same grace and says, “I never want to deny the Lord ever again.”

Dreams and Visions

A recently baptized believer just out of prison was greatly troubled by questions which another person brought up about the reliability of the New Testament. He said he was full of doubts and fell asleep with a Bible next to his bed. In the middle of the night he was awakened by a man who pointed to the Bible and said, “Don’t be afraid. Read my book. I’m always with you.” Later, he realized it was Jesus who had spoken to him, and he was greatly encouraged.

Flag of Indonesia

Map of Indonesia

Prayer Starters:

• Ask the Lord to give wisdom and favour to believers going among the Kerinci of Indonesia.
• Pray for God’s wisdom and authority in dealing with the spiritual forces that have kept the people bound for generations (1 Cor. 1:30, 2 Cor. 10:4).

Listen to the Podcast - DAY 18 - The Kerinci People of Indonesia

Video: Church Planting Among Muslims (1:20)

Indonesia Trailer from Techinc Productions on Vimeo.

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Muslims in the ancient capital of China

Beijing is the capital of the People's Republic of China. The city was founded more than 3,000 years ago, and was regarded as the capital of China for over 850 years.

The Hui People

The Hui people trace their ancestors back to Muslim traders, soldiers, and officials who came to China during the seventh through fourteenth centuries. These men settled and married local native (Han) Chinese women. The Hui have so well assimilated into the Chinese society that they are almost indistinguishable from the Han Chinese, except in dietary and religious practices. There is a wide range of devotion to Islam among the Hui. In north-eastern China, they are more liberal. There, they smoke, drink, and eat pork when away from home. Overall, the Hui are said to be among the least radical Muslims in the world.

Niujie Street

One can find the Muslim Hui people all over the capital region, however, they tend to congregate in certain streets as well as a few towns and villages around the city. A significant Hui community lives in the Niujie Street area of central Beijing. Slightly over 11,000 Huis live in this area of 1.5 km2 around the famous Niujie Mosque, the biggest and oldest mosque in Beijing. It was built in 996 AD and was rebuilt and expanded later. It now covers 6,000 m2. Its architecture blends the beauty of both ancient Chinese palaces and Arabian mosques.

Flag of China

Map of China

Christian Witness?

There is very little if any Christian witness to the Hui Muslims in general. There are no known believers among the Muslim Hui in Beijing.

Prayer Starters

* May God open doors for Chinese believers in the Messiah to proclaim Christ to Muslims.

* May God cause the Muslim Hui people in the Beijing area to seek the true God.

* Pray that Chinese believers can be agents of blessing and positive change for the city and the Muslim population.

Prayer Times

Practicing Muslims all over the world pray memorized ritual prayers toward the city of Mecca five times per day. This is done at appointed hours which are constantly changing by a few minutes each day depending on the calendar. Here are the prayer times for Beijing today: 5:50 AM, 12:11 PM; 4:41PM ; 6:32 PM and 8:02 PM. Some people will pray an optional sixth time at 4:09 AM.

Video: Hui Muslim community in China [2:33]

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Located in the heart of South East Asia, Malaysia is surrounded by other countries such as Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines, Vietnam and Brunei. Malaysia’s capital is Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysia's Official Stance

Malaysia’s official religion is Islam. However, the freedom of religion is also guaranteed by the constitution. Of the 28 million Malaysians (Malays, Chinese and other ethnic groups), 60.4 per cent are Muslims. Malays (the largest ethnic group) are generally Muslims. There are also Indian Muslims and a small number of Chinese Muslim converts. Although the previous and present Prime Ministers have made proclamations that Malaysia is an Islamic nation, certain segments of the population have resisted this status, pointing to the nation’s secular constitution. Proselytising Muslims is prohibited by law and conversion out of Islam is also forbidden.

Believers in Malaysia

Believers from a Muslim background are few in number. Many worship in house churches and retain their Islamic clothing and some cultural customs to avoid detection and harassment. In many cases, they discovered the Messiah through a direct divine encounter. Though they are few in number, they are courageous in their witness and their faith.

Bishop Ng Moon Hing of the Christian Federation of Malaysia has complained that attempts to import the Bible in Bahasa Malaysia, i.e. the Alkitab, have often been thwarted. "It would appear as if the authorities are waging a continuous, surreptitious and systematic programme against Christians in Malaysia to deny them access to the Bible in Bahasa Malaysia," wrote the Bishop in a recent open letter to the Government. "Malaysian Christians, must have access to Bibles in Bahasa Malaysia in order to read, comprehend and practise their faith."

Flag of Malaysia

Map of Malaysia

Prayer Starters:

• Pray for believers to open up their hearts to their Muslim neighbours and to be a blessing to them in practical, concrete ways
• Pray for more divine encounters to occur among the the Malays (see Acts 10:17-48).
• Pray for believers to be courageous while extending the hand of fellowship and assistance to new people (it can be risky).

Listen to the Podcast - DAY 20 - The Muslim Majority in Malaysia

Video: Malaysia: Muslim Persecution of Christians (4:49)

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Its beaches on the Java Sea are scenic and unspoiled, and the thick East Kangean forest contains many animals and beautiful birds. Monkeys, komodos, and snakes are in abundance. Local craftsmen sell wood handicrafts.

Kangean Islam

Although most Kangean people would call themselves Muslim, animism is at the heart of their faith. Many of the people practice cultural rituals, believe in supernatural numbers, magic, and so forth. This is their way of expressing Islam in their cultural context which is remote from the rest of East Java. Our prayer is that as more information is known about the Kangean people the Church will intercede and send more effectively.

The Drilling

Since 1993 the islands have been the site of natural gas drilling. They are connected to East Java via a 430-kilometre pipeline, most of which runs underwater. Other economic resources on the islands include teak, coconut, and salt. In spite of the pipeline-related development, a lot of non-developed areas remain, and travellers looking for outdoor adventures could easily find themselves at home here. The Kangean are one of the last 200 or so Muslim people groups of over 100,000 with no organised effort to establish a community of believers.

Flag of Indonesia

Map of Indonesia

Prayer Starters:

• May God make Himself known! (Luke 10:21-24).
• Proclaim Psalm 97:1 over the islands.
• Ask God to open doors of opportunity for the Good News to be seen, heard and demonstrated among the Kangeans (Mark 16:15-19).
• Pray for the Kangean people to have opportunities to read the Scriptures, see Gospel films, and interact with believers in their language.

Listen to the Podcast - DAY 17 - The Kangean People of Indonesia

Video: Getting the Bible to Indonesian Muslims (4:10)

Gunar from SGM Lifewords on Vimeo.

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The Importance of the Cham in Cambodia

The Cham people are an important ethnic minority in Cambodia. They are mainly rice farmers but also grow cotton, maize, tobacco, castor-oil plants, manioc, peanuts, ferns, beans, and vegetables. Some Cham are involved in animal domestication, hunting, and fishing. There are some Cham fishermen in the villages along the banks of the Mekong and its tributaries. Some are also cattle traders and butchers.

Folk Islam Beliefs

The Cham have been involved in Hinduism and Buddhism historically, but over a period of several centuries there was a gradual conversion to Islam. Their most ancient beliefs were in a "Mother Goddess," and the lives of the common people of Champa were centered on ancestor worship. Islam arrived in Cambodia via India and Malaysia. Those living in the rural areas now mix Islam with their indigenous culture and animistic elements, resulting in folk Islam. The spiritual center for the Cham Muslims of Cambodia is Chur-Changvra, near Phnom Penh.

The Outlook for the Cham of Cambodia

In Cambodia, there are several different Islamic groups. The Chang Veng group of villages tends to mix more Malay words with their vocabulary because of their strong connection with and support received from Muslims in Malaysia. The Imam San group has fewer connections with the outside Muslim world because of their stance on animistic traditions, which is unacceptable to fundamental Muslims. The Da'wa is a missionary movement from a variety of Islamic countries outside of Cambodia. Visiting groups of Da'wa missionaries can be seen in Cham villages of Cambodia traveling from village to village, spreading their beliefs, and preaching in village mosques, where they live during their stay. The Wahhabiyya is another missionary movement similar to the Da'wa; they also preach a more fundamentalist type of Islam.

Only a few dozen Cham have been reached with the gospel. There are no known churches and no Bible in the Cham language.

Flag of Cambodia

Map of Cambodia

Prayer requests:

* The Islamic missionaries need to come to Christ. May God open the eyes of the Cham to see the truth so that they will come to know Jesus as their Savior and Lord.

* Pray to the Lord of the harvest to send more workers to reach the Cham for Christ.

* Pray for safety and protection for those already working among the Cham.

* Pray for the spiritual growth in grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ for Cham believers.

Background on Cambodia (World Factbook)

Most Cambodians consider themselves to be Khmers, descendants of the Angkor Empire that extended over much of Southeast Asia and reached its zenith between the 10th and 13th centuries. Attacks by the Thai and Cham (from present-day Vietnam) weakened the empire ushering in a long period of decline. The king placed the country under French protection in 1863. Cambodia became part of French Indochina in 1887. Following Japanese occupation in World War II, Cambodia gained full independence from France in 1953. In April 1975, after a five-year struggle, Communist Khmer Rouge forces captured Phnom Penh and evacuated all cities and towns. At least 1.5 million Cambodians died from execution, forced hardships, or starvation during the Khmer Rouge regime under POL POT. A December 1978 Vietnamese invasion drove the Khmer Rouge into the countryside, began a 10-year Vietnamese occupation, and touched off almost 13 years of civil war. The 1991 Paris Peace Accords mandated democratic elections and a ceasefire, which was not fully respected by the Khmer Rouge. UN-sponsored elections in 1993 helped restore some semblance of normalcy under a coalition government. Factional fighting in 1997 ended the first coalition government, but a second round of national elections in 1998 led to the formation of another coalition government and renewed political stability. The remaining elements of the Khmer Rouge surrendered in early 1999. Some of the remaining leaders are awaiting trial by a UN-sponsored tribunal for crimes against humanity. Elections in July 2003 were relatively peaceful, but it took one year of negotiations between contending political parties before a coalition government was formed.

Economy of Cambodia

In 1999, the first full year of peace in 30 years, the government made progress on economic reforms. In 2005, exploitable oil and natural gas deposits were found beneath Cambodia's territorial waters, representing a new revenue stream for the government once commercial extraction begins in the coming years. Fully 75% of the population remains engaged in subsistence farming. More than 50% of the population is less than 21 years old. The population lacks education and productive skills, particularly in the poverty-ridden countryside, which suffers from an almost total lack of basic infrastructure.

About Cambodia

Population: 14,701,717 (July 2011 est.) * See Population note at the bottom. World rank #66

Life Expectancy at Birth: 62.67 years. World rank #178

Ethnic groups: Khmer 90%, Vietnamese 5%, Chinese 1%, other 4%

Religions: Buddhist 96.4%, Muslim 2.1%, other 1.3%, unspecified 0.2%

Languages: Khmer (official) 95%, French, English

Literacy: 73.6% -- Male: 84.7%, Female: 64.1%

School life expectancy: 10 years

Population Note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected.

External Link: In Cambodia, the percentage of uneducated Muslim people is high ... more so among the Cham. The Cambodian Muslim Students Association conducted a survey on education, women's education and ...

About the Cham in Cambodia: Video

Demo Chams from Germain P on Vimeo.

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About the Poverty

Living conditions are poor with a 10.3% infant mortality rate and a life expectancy of 47 for men, 50 for women. Many urban areas lack modern sewerage and water facilities. In Laos there are approx. 118 ethnic groups including one of Asia's smallest Muslim communities of about 500 Muslims who live in the capital, Vientiane.

Ranging from a diverse ethnic heritage, the largest Muslim community are descendants from Tamils on the Indian subcontinent. Tamil Muslims found their way to Laos via Vietnam during the French colonial period. In addition, a small number are descendants from French Legionnaires who were originally recruited from (French) North Africa. Others come from Pakistan and Bangladesh.

The oldest and best known mosque is the Jama Mosque, or Congregational Mosque. The Imam is Haji Moulavi Kamarudeen Noori, who comes from Madras, India.

Smaller Muslim communities in Laos

The smaller Muslim community arrived as refugees from Cambodia in 1975. The Cham community is small, comprising of approx. 200 people. Almost all the Cham Muslims live in the working-class district of Chantabouli, northwest of the city centre. The Cham built their mosque in 1976, known as The Azhar Mosque or Masjid Cambodia. Imam Musa Abubakr is the elderly spiritual leader of Lao's Cham.

Most of Vientiane's Muslim community make their living by trading textiles, fishing or butchering meat for restaurants. The ethnic heritage of the Muslim communities is reflected in the south Indian Muslim restaurants and others serving North African meals of couscous and kebabs.

There is also a very small community in the mountainous region of Laos where Chinese Muslims have traditionally traded between those living in the valley along the Mekong.

Flag of Laos

Map of Laos

Pray for the Muslims of Laos

* Pray for this small but diverse ethnic group of Muslims living in Laos. Pray for Christian business men to have opportunities to share the Gospel with them.

* Pray for the Tamil, Cham and North African Muslims to have an open heart to hear and receive the message of Jesus.

* Pray for Christians around the world to obey God's leading as He calls them to go and serve these people with His love and the Good News of Jesus.

* Pray for Muslims in Laos to have a revelation of Jesus and the transforming power of the Cross, and a strong effective Christian community to emerge.

Background on Laos (World Factbook)

Modern-day Laos has its roots in the ancient Lao kingdom of Lan Xang, established in the 14th Century under King FA NGUM. For three hundred years Lan Xang included large parts of present-day Cambodia and Thailand, as well as all of what is now Laos. After centuries of gradual decline, Laos came under the control of Siam (Thailand) from the late 18th century until the late 19th century when it became part of French Indochina. The Franco-Siamese Treaty of 1907 defined the current Lao border with Thailand. In 1975, the Communist Pathet Lao took control of the government ending a six-century-old monarchy and instituting a strict socialist regime closely aligned to Vietnam. A gradual return to private enterprise and the liberalization of foreign investment laws began in 1986. Laos became a member of ASEAN in 1997.

About Laos

Population: 6,477,211 (July 2011 est.) World rank #103

Life Expectancy at Birth: 62.39 years. World rank #180

Ethnic groups: Lao 55%, Khmou 11%, Hmong 8%, other (over 100 minor ethnic groups) 26%

Religions: Buddhist 67%, Christian 1.5%, other and unspecified 31.5%

Languages: Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages

Literacy: 73% -- Male: 83%, Female: 63%

School life expectancy: 9 years

Poverty in Laos - Video

Meet Kaisong, a typical girl from Laos (in South East Asia). She has dreams like everyone else but she's got a day-to-day battle infront of her just to survive.

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Shahid of Malaysia

Shahid, like many rural Malays came to the capital Kuala Lumpur (KL) looking for a job and some big city excitement. He stays with five other young men in a three room apartment near the electronics factory where they work. One of his roommates has been encouraging him to use drugs, a massive problem among young, urban Malays. One of Shahid's other room mates recently joined with a radical Muslim group that wants to see a more Islamic government take over from the current moderate government.

Malaysia - Looking for Answers

Shahid had left behind the quiet, conservative (and sometimes boring) village life he grew up with; but he is beginning to feel the emptiness of the big city thrills of massive shopping malls, night-clubs and drugs. Maybe he should follow his roommate to a meeting and see if a more radical form of Islam can give him a purpose to live for. Adding to Shahid's confusion is his constant concern for his recently divorced sister Haslina and her daughter Noor. How can they face the future financially or socially? There are millions like Shahid and Haslina in Malaysia; looking for answers, with almost no Christians who are willing or able to point the way to the Saviour. Many of Malaysia's Christians have never thought to much about how to lead their Muslim neighbours to Christ. The cultural and relational gaps between them and the Muslim community are sometimes enormous.

Flag of Malaysia

Map of Malaysia

NOTE: In 1981 the Malay Language Bible was partially banned - only Christians are allowed to purchase and own one. The number of places of worship have been limited which affects the status of independent churches. Public gatherings of five or more people are also officially outlawed.

Pray for the Muslims of Malaysia

* Pray for the political leaders of Malaysia that as they serve their people, God would give them wisdom and enable them to lead their nation in justice.

* Pray for the church to be bold and courageous, that fear would not be their hindrance in sharing the Gospel, in the midst of the current persecution.

* Pray that the Muslim Malays would have a revelation of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The risen Christ will help them turn from the things that would bring destructive influences into their lives.

* Pray for the younger generation to find their place and role in society. Pray for employment opportunities and for them to have hope in the future.

* Pray for wisdom and guidance for the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship (NECF) in Malaysia.

Background on Malaysia (World Factbook)

During the late 18th and 19th centuries, Great Britain established colonies and protectorates in the area of current Malaysia; these were occupied by Japan from 1942 to 1945. In 1948, the British-ruled territories on the Malay Peninsula formed the Federation of Malaya, which became independent in 1957. Malaysia was formed in 1963 when the former British colonies of Singapore and the East Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak on the northern coast of Borneo joined the Federation. The first several years of the country's history were marred by Indonesian efforts to control Malaysia, Philippine claims to Sabah, and Singapore's secession from the Federation in 1965.

Economy of Malaysia

Malaysia, a middle-income country, transformed itself from 1971 through the late 1990s from a producer of raw materials into an emerging multi-sector economy. Growth was almost exclusively driven by exports - particularly of electronics. As a result, Malaysia was hard hit by the global economic downturn and the slump in the information technology (IT) sector in 2001 and 2002. Malaysia "unpegged" the ringgit from the US dollar in 2005 and the currency appreciated 6% against the dollar in 2006. Healthy foreign exchange reserves and a small external debt greatly reduce the risk that Malaysia will experience a financial crisis over the near term.

About Malaysia

Population: 28,728,607 (July 2011 est.) World rank #43

Life Expectancy at Birth: 73.79 years. World rank #112

Ethnic groups: Malay 50.4%, Chinese 23.7%, Indigenous 11%, Indian 7.1%, others 7.8%

Muslim 60.4%, Buddhist 19.2%, Christian 9.1%, Hindu 6.3%, Confucianism, Taoism, other traditional Chinese religions 2.6%, other or unknown 1.5%, none 0.8% note - in addition, Shamanism is practiced in East Malaysia

Languages: Bahasa Melayu (official), English, Chinese (Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka, Hainan, Foochow), Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Panjabi, Thai

note: in East Malaysia there are several indigenous languages; most widely spoken are Iban and Kadazan

Literacy: 88.7% -- Male: 92%, Female: 85.4%

School life expectancy: 13 years

"At the Crossroads - Malaysia - Video"

There are claims Malaysia's secular constitution is being threatened by creeping Islamisation. A documentary.

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This quote from Rudyard Kipling is still true today, 100 years after he first wrote it. Today Burma is known as Myanmar and is indeed an extraordinary, charming and interesting country. It is the largest country on mainland Southeast Asia with an area of 676,000 square kilometers in a highly strategic location between India and China at the Bay of Bengal. Although the population is quite low there are 135 different people groups that create a wide variety of challenges. About 89% are considered to be Buddhist. Among the minorities groups there is a strong Christian presence.

Myanmar is unlike anywhere else

Arab Muslims first arrived as seamen and traders over 1000 years ago. They settled in coastal cities and lived peacefully with their Buddhist neighbours. In the time of the Myanmar monarchy they gained some influence economically and politically. During the British colonial time the influx of Muslims from neighboring India increased dramatically. This laid the foundation for considerable alienation and ethnic tensions between Buddhists and Muslims that is still happening today. Normally they avoid close contact with each other and view their cultural differences as a strong dividing factor. For example, when the Muslims celebrate the yearly Feast of Sacrifice they usually slaughter cows. Buddhists, from their Hindu roots holding cows in high esteem, see this as cruel and barbaric.

Cultural Differences in Myanmar

In all the major cities in Mayanmar you can see many Muslims. They are easy to recognize as most men wear a long shirt over the traditional longyi (an ankle length garment similar to a sarong). The more religious Muslims wear a white cap and grow a beard unlike the Buddhists who would never do this! Usually women are not veiled, but depending on their ethnic origin some wear a scarf or a kind of embroidered cap. Downtown Yangoon, Mandalay and Mawlamyine you can see several large old mosques, most of them still dating from British occupation. Most Muslims are engaged in businesses ranging from small roadside shops to international trading companies. Muslim families are larger than average, often with 5 or more children. The official number of Muslims is 4% but it may be closer to 6 or 7%. In reality that's over 3 million people.

Flag of Burma

Myanmar - Burma - Map

There are different groups within the Muslim population. Some are culturally very much adapted to the Buddhist Myanmar people. Only the religion is different.

Pray for the 3 million + Muslims in Myanmar (Burma):

* Pray for the government to have wisdom to rule this ethnically diverse country in justice and in peace.

* Pray for the many Muslim children , that they may get a chance to listen and respond to the gospel.

* Pray that the Lord will call local workers from the churches in Myanmar for the harvest among the Muslims. Pray that the Christians will overcome their fear by love.

Background on Myanmar (Burma) (World Factbook)

Britain conquered Burma over a period of 62 years) and incorporated it into its Indian Empire. Burma was administered as a province of India until 1937 when it became a separate, self-governing colony; independence from the Commonwealth was attained in 1948.

General NE WIN dominated the government from 1962 to 1988, first as military ruler, then as self-appointed president, and later as political kingpin. Despite multiparty legislative elections in 1990 that resulted in the main opposition party - the National League for Democracy (NLD) - winning a landslide victory, the ruling junta refused to hand over power. NLD leader and Nobel Peace Prize recipient AUNG SAN SUU KYI, who was under house arrest from 1989 to 1995 and 2000 to 2002, was imprisoned in May 2003 and subsequently transferred to house arrest, where she remains virtually incommunicado. In November 2005, the junta extended her detention for at least another six months. She was finally released in November 2010.

Economy of Burma / Myanmar

Burma, a resource-rich country, suffers from pervasive government controls, inefficient economic policies, and rural poverty. Lacking monetary or fiscal stability, the economy suffers from serious macroeconomic imbalances - including rising inflation, fiscal deficits, multiple official exchange rates that overvalue the Burmese kyat, a distorted interest rate regime, unreliable statistics, and an inability to reconcile national accounts to determine a realistic GDP figure. The most productive sectors will continue to be in extractive industries, especially oil and gas, mining, and timber. A major banking crisis in 2003 shuttered the country's 20 private banks and disrupted the economy. Published statistics on foreign trade are greatly understated because of the size of the black market and unofficial border trade - often estimated to be as large as the official economy. US imposed sanctions add to Burma's economic woes.

Statistics on Burma / Myanmar

Population: 53,999,804 - see notes below (July 2011 est.) World rank #24

Life Expectancy at Birth: 64.88 years. World rank #168

Ethnic groups: Burman 68%, Shan 9%, Karen 7%, Rakhine 4%, Chinese 3%, Indian 2%, Mon 2%, other 5%

Religions: Buddhist 89%, Christian 4% (Baptist 3%, Roman Catholic 1%), Muslim 4%, animist 1%, other 2%

Languages: Burmese, minority ethnic groups have their own languages

Literacy: 89.9% -- Male: 93.9 %, Female: 86.4 %

School life expectancy: 9 years

Note: Population estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (World Factbook)

Video from Burma: SHOOT ON SIGHT

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At high speeds and with unbelievable agility the eagles gracefully show off their flying abilities. The event beginning in mid-October signals the opening of the hunting season. The birds are trained to hunt for groundhogs, frogs and even wolves. The "Feast of the Golden Eagle" is a zealously guarded part of local Kazakh culture. In recent decades, the Mongolian Kazakhs have even been able to hang on to their traditions and skills much more so than their brothers in neighbouring Kazakhstan.

110,000 Kazakh's

Kazakh nomads have roamed the mountains and valleys of western Mongolia with their herds since the 19th century. The area has many peaks ranging from 3,000 to 4,000 meters. Up until 1930 the nomads could freely move between Kazakhstan, Mongolia and the Chinese province of Xinjiang. However after the founding of the Mongolian People's Republic in 1924 many of them left their semi-nomadic lifestyle and began settling down in the western Mongolian highlands. Today the Kazakhs in the province of Bayan-Olgii number around 87,000 or about 88.7% of the provincial population while across the country they represent some 4% of the total Mongol population (about 110,000 people).

A Different Culture

The Kazakh culture differs in several ways from the Mongol culture. Traditionally the Mongolian Kazakhs are Sunni Muslims whereas the rest of the population are associated with Tibetan Buddhism. In daily life, Islam actually only plays a minor part in the lives of most Mongolian Kazakhs. Years of governmental atheistic indoctrination and communist upbringing has left its mark on the people. Until the end of the 1990's there were practically no mosques at all in Bayan-Olgii. Places of Islamic worship only sprang up a few years ago in the villages and settlements. Some of these were paid for by foreign Islamic organisations. It remains to be seen if such efforts will actually win their hearts deeply to Islam again.

Since the 1990's 35,000 to 50,000 ethnic Mongolians have submitted themselves to Christ. Previously only a few dozen were known to be Christians. The Kazakhs in Bayan-Olgii have so far remained untouched by these events.

Flag of Mongolia

Map of Mongolia

Prayer Points:

* Pray that the the Gospel could be presented in a culturally sensitive way to the Kazakhs of Mongolia so that they could put their hope in the God. "Those who hope in him will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint" (Isaiah 40:31).

* Pray that Mongolian Christians and others will make increased efforts to bring the Good News of the Messiah to the Kazakh minority in Western Mongolia.

Background on Mongolia (World Factbook)

The Mongols gained fame in the 13th century when under Chinggis KHAN they conquered a huge Eurasian empire. After his death the empire was divided into several powerful Mongol states, but these broke apart in the 14th century. The Mongols eventually retired to their original steppe homelands and later came under Chinese rule. Mongolia won its independence in 1921 with Soviet backing. A Communist regime was installed in 1924. The ex-Communist Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) won elections in 1990 and 1992, but was defeated by the Democratic Union Coalition (DUC) in the 1996 parliamentary election. Since then, parliamentary elections returned the MPRP overwhelmingly to power in 2000 and produced a coalition government in 2008.

Economy of Mongolia

Economic activity in Mongolia has traditionally been based on herding and agriculture. Mongolia has extensive mineral deposits. Copper, coal, molybdenum, tin, tungsten and gold account for a large part of industrial production. Soviet assistance, at its height one-third of GDP, disappeared almost overnight in 1990 and 1991 at the time of the dismantlement of the USSR. The following decade saw Mongolia endure both deep recession due to political inaction and natural disasters. Growth was good in 2010, largely because of high copper prices and new gold production. Mongolia's economy continues to be heavily influenced by its neighbors.

Statistics About Mongolia

Population: 3,133,318 (July 2011 est.) World rank #134

Life Expectancy at Birth: 68.31 years. World rank #153

Ethnic Groups: Mongol (mostly Khalkha) 94.9%, Turkic (mostly Kazakh) 5%, other (including Chinese and Russian) 0.1%

Religions: Buddhist Lamaist 50%, Shamanist and Christian 6%, Muslim 4%, none 40%

Languages: Khalkha Mongol 90%, Turkic, Russian

Literacy: 97.8% - male, 98%, female, 97.5%

School life expectancy: 14 years

Mongloia Video

One of the earliest churches to compose their own songs in Mongolia is represented in this video

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