Exloring Life Eternal

MIDDLE EAST: GROWING INTEREST IN GOSPEL
from: Mission Network News (http://www.mnnonline.org) - January
30, 2006

Throughout the Middle East, Christians are quietly and faithfully
living for Christ despite opposition and persecution.

In countries like Saudi Arabia and Iran, there is a growing phenomenon
of interest in the gospel of Jesus, and Lee DeYoung with Words
of Hope (http://www.woh.org/about.php) says the interest is in
response to efforts to promote hostility toward Christians.

"Efforts to suppress and to vilify Christians, for some people,
actually produce a reaction that increases their curiosity and
their interest. And thankfully, we've heard accounts of people
who quietly share, Christians sharing with Muslim neighbors who
ask them about their faith and why they believe what they believe."

Many Muslims really are seeking after God. They have a hunger
to know him, and as they have opportunities to talk with Christians,
they find a common quest to discover God. Many are finding Jesus.

DeYoung says that as attempts are made to spark antagonism, there's
a growing curiosity, and people are saying, "'Well, what is it
about you that causes people to be so opposed in my country,
or among others who share my religion?' And that leads to opportunities
for dialogue, or it leads to interest in hearing radio programs."

Source here (http://www.mnnonline.org/article/8253).

During the recent African Cup football tournament in Egypt, there were many opportunities for believers to come in contact with sports fans traveling from the country we love for the games. They were also able to share the Good News in a more tangible way by giving out a large number of Bibles. Pray that the Word of God that has been put in the hands of many from North Africa will be read, leading those touched to seek out Christians for more understanding.

Thank the Lord for those who were willing to take the challenge
and risk of sharing the Bible with Libyans. Pray that the Lord
will lead some of these short-term laborers into full-time
service within North African countries dominated by Islam or which have many Islmicized peoples: Algeria, Chad, Libya, Mali, Morrocco & Western Sahara, Sudan, Tunisia, & Egypt itself!