AEIOU - Intercessors Network
NATIVE MISSIONARIES MAKE STRIDES AMONG SECRETIVE DRUZE PEOPLE
Referred to by the Institute of Druze Studies at the University of San Diego as “one of the most misunderstood and understudied religious sects in the world,” the Arab people group known as Druze remains largely unreached with the gospel message. Yet through the work of native missionaries, Druze communities are beginning to open to the gospel.
Because of their secretive, isolated lifestyle, the exact number of Druze in Arab countries is unknown, but estimates indicate there are nearly 1 million Druze scattered throughout Lebanon, Syria, Israel and Jordan. Nearly all group members follow a secretive system of beliefs that are offshoots of traditional Islam dating back to the 11th century.
Though the Druze consider themselves Muslim, most Muslims regard them as a sect. Through prayer, study and a lifetime of acquaintance with these people, native missionaries are reaching the Druze with the gospel. Home visits and English classes for Druze children have been especially effective. Missionaries plan to start the first Druze home church in one area of Jordan.
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ARABIC BIBLES TO BE DISTRIBUTED ACROSS NORTH AFRICA, MIDDLE EAST
The persecution of the Christians in southern Sudan continues. Many of the believers there are on the move and there is a lack of Scripture portions available, but the church is still growing. John Anderson of the World Bible Translation Center says they’re looking to distribute thousands of Arabic New Testaments in the region, but accomplishing that goal is a big challenge.
“We’ve tried to be very careful about who we send them to, how they’re packaged, so that they don’t get immediately identified as Scriptures, and also just send them in smaller numbers.” Anderson explains. “Not only can they get confiscated because there’s a strong Muslim presence there, but they can even get confiscated going through customs.”
Dale Randolph, the center’s chief executive officer, says the ministry released the New Testament in portions “because it makes it a more effective tool for evangelism in this particular culture.” The center plans to distribute at least 250,000 copies of the New Testament across the Middle East and North Africa in the next three years.
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‘RELIGIOUS POLICE’ IN SAUDI ARABIA ARREST 40 PAKISTANI CHRISTIANS
Saudi Arabia’s muttawa (Islamic religious police) arrested 40 Pakistani Christians while they met privately for worship in Riyadh the morning of Friday, April 22. The gathering was a joint weekly Catholic-Protestant prayer service.
Several carloads of muttawa members reportedly surrounded the house, halted the sermon and proceeded to beat some of the worshipers, overturning the furniture and breaking Christian symbols as they searched the house. All men, women and children present were detained at the Dera police station and later released.
“We are very upset over this news,” a Pakistan church leader said. “Why do Saudi Muslims have the right all over the world to build mosques and worship in them when they refuse to designate places of worship for Christians who are guest workers in Saudi Arabia?”
Police authorities also confiscated the Christians’ identification cards, Bibles, hymnals, tapes and other Christian materials in the Urdu language. The investigating police officer, Lt. Col. Saad Nawafal al-Rashid, said the raid was part of a wide-ranging “security campaign” that recently uncovered a prostitution ring, two home-brew alcohol factories and a variety of drug caches. The Pakistan embassy downplayed the incident, insisting that only 20 or 25 Christians were arrested, none of them children, before being released.
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Source: Intercessors Network [Intercessors.Network@Comhem.se]
Referred to by the Institute of Druze Studies at the University of San Diego as “one of the most misunderstood and understudied religious sects in the world,” the Arab people group known as Druze remains largely unreached with the gospel message. Yet through the work of native missionaries, Druze communities are beginning to open to the gospel.
Because of their secretive, isolated lifestyle, the exact number of Druze in Arab countries is unknown, but estimates indicate there are nearly 1 million Druze scattered throughout Lebanon, Syria, Israel and Jordan. Nearly all group members follow a secretive system of beliefs that are offshoots of traditional Islam dating back to the 11th century.
Though the Druze consider themselves Muslim, most Muslims regard them as a sect. Through prayer, study and a lifetime of acquaintance with these people, native missionaries are reaching the Druze with the gospel. Home visits and English classes for Druze children have been especially effective. Missionaries plan to start the first Druze home church in one area of Jordan.
=====
ARABIC BIBLES TO BE DISTRIBUTED ACROSS NORTH AFRICA, MIDDLE EAST
The persecution of the Christians in southern Sudan continues. Many of the believers there are on the move and there is a lack of Scripture portions available, but the church is still growing. John Anderson of the World Bible Translation Center says they’re looking to distribute thousands of Arabic New Testaments in the region, but accomplishing that goal is a big challenge.
“We’ve tried to be very careful about who we send them to, how they’re packaged, so that they don’t get immediately identified as Scriptures, and also just send them in smaller numbers.” Anderson explains. “Not only can they get confiscated because there’s a strong Muslim presence there, but they can even get confiscated going through customs.”
Dale Randolph, the center’s chief executive officer, says the ministry released the New Testament in portions “because it makes it a more effective tool for evangelism in this particular culture.” The center plans to distribute at least 250,000 copies of the New Testament across the Middle East and North Africa in the next three years.
=====
‘RELIGIOUS POLICE’ IN SAUDI ARABIA ARREST 40 PAKISTANI CHRISTIANS
Saudi Arabia’s muttawa (Islamic religious police) arrested 40 Pakistani Christians while they met privately for worship in Riyadh the morning of Friday, April 22. The gathering was a joint weekly Catholic-Protestant prayer service.
Several carloads of muttawa members reportedly surrounded the house, halted the sermon and proceeded to beat some of the worshipers, overturning the furniture and breaking Christian symbols as they searched the house. All men, women and children present were detained at the Dera police station and later released.
“We are very upset over this news,” a Pakistan church leader said. “Why do Saudi Muslims have the right all over the world to build mosques and worship in them when they refuse to designate places of worship for Christians who are guest workers in Saudi Arabia?”
Police authorities also confiscated the Christians’ identification cards, Bibles, hymnals, tapes and other Christian materials in the Urdu language. The investigating police officer, Lt. Col. Saad Nawafal al-Rashid, said the raid was part of a wide-ranging “security campaign” that recently uncovered a prostitution ring, two home-brew alcohol factories and a variety of drug caches. The Pakistan embassy downplayed the incident, insisting that only 20 or 25 Christians were arrested, none of them children, before being released.
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Source: Intercessors Network [Intercessors.Network@Comhem.se]