Exloring Life Eternal

We just recently received a wonderful report of activity during the latest holy month in the Country we Love. While friends shared fruit and drinks with those breaking fast, they also had many opportunities to share the Bread of Life and give out written copies of the Good News.

Thank the Lord for these seeds sown, and pray that the Lord of the Harvest will bring fruit for their labors. Ask also that believers will be encouraged by such opportunities and emboldened to share even more. Pray that as they are faithful, the Lord will bless them in their personal lives and provide for their needs.

Arise Shine Morocco
Prayer Bulletin #75 (01/07)
asm@ariseshinemorocco.org www.ariseshinemorocco.org

NORTHCENTRAL REGION:
Please pray for a couple embarking on new ministries here. Pray they will build good relationships with their neighbors and with contacts in their town and the surrounding areas. Pray that God will open new doors for them in the coming months. Pray they will walk in obedience, wisdom, and boldness as they do what He is calling them to do.


NORTHWESTERN COASTAL REGION:
Praise the Lord for increased commitment observed in members of a local house church. Thank Him for a couple that recently joined the house church. Praise God for His mercy to a sister who prayed for her unsaved mother and who is now at peace believing that her mother was saved before she died. Thank the Lord for His divine provision and protection throughout the past year.

Pray for the recruiting of new team members. Pray the Lord wil send the right people with the right gifts. Pray for quick release of adoption papers for one couple.


WESTCENTRAL COASTAL REGION:
Please pray that all believers, both national and expatriate, will manifest a powerful, anointed, and incarnational gospel witness.

Praise the Lord for several large and joyous Christmas celebration gatherings of national believers that blessed and encouraged many.

Praise God that national believers are cooperating and are excited about working together for more organized Bible training.


SOUTHCENTRAL REGION:
Pray for trust between believers and a greater willingness to get together in Christian fellowship. Pray for steadfastness in the midst of persecution.

Pray seekers will experience the emptiness of Islam as they go through the motions of their religion. Pray Muslim seekers will question their own beliefs and practices. Pray for King Mohamed VI to rule justly and with wisdom.

Pray for workers' health, finances, family, and work relationships.

Lighthouse Church:
Praise the Lord for many answered prayers in 2006. Thank the Lord for the successful continuation of the Sunday school program and pray that it will continue to bless the children and build them up in the faith. Praise God for bringing a brother and a sister back into the local fellowship.

Pray for a spiritual awakening in this city and for plans by the church to plant a new church in a nearby city later this year. Pray for unity among the churches in Morocco, that they will work together and will see many new churches established this year.

Pray for a powerful and effective Sunday School program that will result in many of the children accepting Jesus into their lives this year.

Pray that the work situation will improve and stabilize for members of the church. Pray all will see the Lord providing for their needs.

Pray for many salvations this year, especially from among the family members of existing believers.

FAR SOUTH:
Praise God for a successful medical procedure. Thank Him for opening doors. Pray for growth of the church and for provision for various projects.


A recent article of interest:
An article entited "Morocco's Christian Converts Irk the World of Islam" includes comments by Moroccan Christians and may be found at:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20061213/lf_afp/moroccoreligion

Have you ever taken a stand in a dispute so strongly that you feel it is impossible to back down even when evidence grows that the other side of the argument is correct?

Many feel that this is the position of the leadership in the country we love concerning a major legal and political issue which continues to delay the full integration of the country back into the international community. In the interim period many innocent families continue to suffer as they see their loved ones dealing on a daily basis with the consequences of the problem.

Pray for a just and swift end to this situation and for comfort for those who suffer from its effects.

As we see the end of yet another year, we want to take the time to thank the Lord for all His goodness and great works in the Country we Love. We have seen Him do amazing things in calling out believers to go both long and short-term into the country in order to reach Ls for Christ. We have seen a record number of nationals come to the Lord this year! PTL! We have witnessed a new openess in the country, both physically and spiritually, allowing inroads to be made for the Harvest. We have witnessed His protection over the Body as they seek to gather in His Name. For all these things and more, join us in giving thanks.

Yes, He has done great things, and yet, as we enter a new year, we also do so with the realization that time is passing quickly. We anticipate the return of Christ at any time, as world events seem to gain speed toward that end. Not knowing His time, we do not want to waste our own. Please join us in praying with renewed vigor for the increase of His Kingdom in the Country we Love for the year 2007. Pray as well that the Body of Christ will grow in number and maturity in the new year. So much is against them, and Satan wants to keep it that way. Pray for all barriers to be destroyed which hinders the believers from obeying the words of Hebrews 10:25.

Keep these thoughts and requests before you as 2007 approaches. Thank you for your faithfulness in prayer.

While the signs of Christmas maybe overwhelmingly evident in your hometown or country, you will find no outward signs of it in the this land. However, this does not mean that Christmas has not come, for it has...it is in the hearts of the few who have chosen to follow Christ as Savior. Pray for national believers this week as you celebrate with family and friends and in large numbers, for many of them will be alone in remembering Christ's birth and will have no open opportunity to express their joy over the coming of Christ to this earth. Pray that they will be encouraged in reading the story of Christ's birth, remembering that He came to the poorest and lowliest of places, among the humblest of people. May they be reminded that when He comes again, it will be with power and glory, and on that day, they will be able to openly proclaim Him their King!

Do not be proud, but associate with the lowly
- Romans 12:16

PRAISE:
Thank you PTAP for your prayers for the Arab Outreach Team that was recently in Doha, Qatar for the Asian games. They had many opportunities to touch people’s lives and share the Good News. The young team is greatly encouraged and know that your prayers got them there and sustained them during their very busy 6 days of this major sporting event.

PETITION:
Pray for our family's outreach this Christmas time. Some of our National Muslim neighbors will be coming over for an enactment of the Christmas story by our children. We also will be giving out cards with verses and a CD gift of the Jesus movie to other neighbors.

Pray for those who are working with the very poor people, many who are half casts or in the "servant' class. There is one project geared to help them and a possibility for another to be started. Pray that these projects will
succeed and that the poor will get the help they desperately need.

Pray for Sincere, Melanie, Samantha, Baraka, and Hamed during this Christmas season. Pray also for the other local believers here. Locals here do not celebrate Christmas, but they are very aware of it because of the commercial influence of the West and the many foreigners living here. So many of the local believers would like to celebrate Jesus' birth at this time, even though it's not in their cultural heritage. Please pray for wisdom for us and for them for how to help them remember His birth in a really meaningful and culturally sensitive way.

Pray reconciliation between two Muslim Background Believers in our country. There is distrust and suspicion between them. While this is common among MBBs, we are asking God for wisdom and insight in the best way to mediate a peace that is glorifying to God.

Pray for the isolated MBBs in Saudi Arabia and Yemen. There are a number of believers that are not able to meet with anyone for fellowship, studying of His word and worship. Pray that the Holy Spirit would pour out abundant blessings on them.

TESTIMONY
"Isaaq" is a Muslim Background Believer who has been in our country almost 20 years. He came across to this land illegally being smuggled over in the bottom of a rickety boat. He came to faith about 15 years ago and has been a great witness among his people group as well as among
National Muslims he encounters in the workplace and socially.

Just recently he has met up with a young man his age that is from his exact area, about 10 km from his village. They speak the exact same dialect "Ajami" an unrecorded, spoken only language of about 250,000 people. Isaaq is thrilled to have someone from his area to spend time with however, his new friend "Honesty" doesn't know Jesus. He is opening up to the Gospel as he spends lots of time with Isaaq. Recently, Honesty's mother died in his home country. He was not able to go be with his father because of his visa restrictions. He was very upset to be missing this important family function, to show honor to his father. He said to Isaaq that it was God's care for him during this time.


* AP = Arabian Peninsula
+ MBB = Muslim Backround Believer
<>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Praying Thru the Arabian Peninsula
www.pray-ap.info
USA #: 800-376-5876 (Eastern Time)
Encouraging & equipping believers & churches everywhere to pray with a heart filled with the "Seed-of-Laughter" for heirs of the woman who found that "God-Sees-and-Hears-Me" so that biblical church planting movements will spread throughout the Arabian Peninsula and beyond for the Lord's glory.

====
To learn how you can support this & other work in the Middle East, visit:
http://www.srginc.org

Or write MertH.:
ptap@srginc.org

Or:
PTAP
c/o Strategic Resource Group
P.O. Box 1809
Easton, MD 21601
USA

The government of the country we love is seeking to curb the corruption that is often rife within the country. Those involved have been given until the end of the year to admit their involvement or else they will face he consequences after that. Corruption has been a growing problem with the gap between the rich and poor visibly widening over recent years.

Pray for justice in the country's financial affairs, and that the people would desire a God who combines justice with mercy.

"Throw out your bread on the waters, for after many days you will find it once more. ... Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let your hands be diligent, for you do not know which will bear fruit, whether the early or the latter, or whether both will do equally well."
-- Ecclesiastes 11:1, 6

PRAISE:
Just this Saturday a worker met a young man who asked for a whole Bible because he had read the Injil (New Testament) a dozen times and wanted to know more. He also saw the Jesus video 10 or more times. He says he wants to talk with someone about Jesus from the Bible.

PETITION:
Pray for a worker's landlord "RAB", a local man with a keen sense of wit and good insight into local and international affairs. After several missed attempts to get together, they sat up late last weekend discussing life and the world's problems. He shared some fantastic, historical stories of campfire fellowship in the days of his youth in the early 1960’s. Pray that we would be able to have more of these 'fire-side chat' and that they would be more and more spiritually oriented.

Pray for the Arab Christian workers at the Asian Games in Doha this week. Pray that they would have opportunities to develop friendships with Arabian Peninsula Arabs.

Pray for the Saudi Arabian woman who has come to faith – she desires to be married and that the believers in her country would be bold and faithful in their witness for Him.

Pray for the various political initiatives going on in Bahrain, Kuwait and the UAE as the issue of voting, women in office and friendliness with the West is causing friction in the community.

Pray for the 'House of Prayer' that has been established in one country. Pray for funding to keep it going. Pray for the family taking care of this needed facility.

TESTIMONY:
"A while ago, I gave a young local man a copy of the Injil. He was very happy to receive it, said thank you a hundred times and went on his way. He was like others I had the privilege to give the word of God over the past dozen years. There is a common pattern: they inquire some with questions about Jesus, about how He can be the Son of God, about how can God have a son, and questioning the very integrity of the Bible by stating that is has been changed. After a while, they come back, asking to read the book again. Perhaps they take a Jesus video or DVD. Then they are gone, often times never to be seen again. However, this time I am happy to report that my young, local friend came back. He took a Jesus film. Then he came back again to take the whole Bible, not just the New Testament. And again, he came with more questions – but the right kind of questions, questions that let me think that he is coming close to wanting to walk with this Jesus he has met in the Scriptures.

"Please pray that the God of Heaven would grab hold of his heart!" (Luke 17:17) Pray also that others who have taken materials will have a renewed hunger for the word of God & fellowship with the saints.


* AP = Arabian Peninsula
+ MBB = Muslim Backround Believer
<>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Praying Thru the Arabian Peninsula
www.pray-ap.info
USA #: 800-376-5876 (Eastern Time)
Encouraging & equipping believers & churches everywhere to pray with a heart filled with the "Seed-of-Laughter" for heirs of the woman who found that "God-Sees-and-Hears-Me" so that biblical church planting movements will spread throughout the Arabian Peninsula and beyond for the Lord's glory.

She was saying to herself, "If I only touch His garment, I will get well." - "unclean" Woman in Matthew 9:21

PRAISE:
Four of the local Arab believers joined us for a special holiday meal and worship recently. It was an encouraging time to be together and see their joy. As we sat there and watched them, my team mates and I dreamt of the day that there would be rooms full of Arab National believers in houses all around the country!


PETITION:
A single worker in the Arabian Peninsula writes: ‘After a long time, “Rebecca” wants to get back into studying the Bible with me but we keep having problems meeting. Please pray that God would remove any obstacles and we would meet this week. Also, pray that she would encounter Jesus.

Pray for the Qataris working and competing in the Asian Games being held in Doha this week and next. Pray that they would encounter Christian athletes and workers who are in Doha during this time.

Pray that the religious police would be restricted in their persecution of the expatriate church in Saudi Arabia.

Pray for the National, Muslim Background Believer who is having difficulty in her new job. She leaves her home at 6 am on a city bus and returns home at 9 pm. She is exhausted at the end of the day but learning about the real work world and how God can care for her even in this difficult situation. Pray for maturity and growing faith.

Pray for the African believers in Aden and other parts of Yemen. Pray that they would be strengthened by good teaching and vibrant prayer in their fellowships.


TESTIMONY:
Standing in the hall with a group of students, we were chatting away about various subjects. We started talking about how smoking affects your health in so many negative ways. As I began to walk away, one student, “Emily” – a national, Muslim woman, followed me and said, “I smoke.” I said, “Well, it isn’t great for you, but it is your choice.” She replied, “Sometimes you actually want to harm yourself.” At that moment my heart really broke so I asked her to join me in my office.

In my office, she proceeded to tell me a number of issues of her painful past. “Emily” explained that she wants to escape by moving out of the country. Also, she described a number of ways that she temporarily escapes by cutting herself, letting guys use her, and partying. It was very painful to hear. If these details ever became public knowledge, it could ruin her reputation, her chances for marriage, and her parents could even disown her.

Despite all of this, there was a point during the conversation where she turned to me and said, “There is power coming out of you and I can feel it.” After recovering from my shock, I started to share with her about the person of Jesus. I assured her that the power she was seeing was His and not mine. I explained that His power was available to her as well. Looking at her face, I could see her longing for this type of Jesus but she struggled to truly believe it. Please pray that the power of Jesus would pierce through the hurt of “Emily’s” past and bring her peace.

* AP = Arabian Peninsula
+ MBB = Muslim Backround Believer
<>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Praying Thru the Arabian Peninsula
www.pray-ap.info
USA #: 800-376-5876 (Eastern Time)
Encouraging & equipping believers & churches everywhere to pray with a heart filled with the "Seed-of-Laughter" for heirs of the woman who found that "God-Sees-and-Hears-Me" so that biblical church planting movements will spread throughout the Arabian Peninsula and beyond for the Lord's glory.

====
To learn how you can support this & other work in the Middle East, visit: http://www.srginc.org

Or write MertH.:
ptap@srginc.org

Or:
PTAP
c/o Strategic Resource Group
P.O. Box 1809
Easton, MD 21601
USA

Please be in prayer for a friend who has been unable to return to the Country we Love for over a year now. His inability to travel there has not stopped his work, but has lessened his opportunities to see first-hand what is happening on the ground as well as to use his trips for effective sharing. Please ask the Father to open the way for him to resume periodic trips into the country.

Thank the Lord for two new friends who will be joining our team for the next year. Ask the Lord to use this time to open their eyes to what He is doing in the Country we Love and to show them what their long-term future role might be, if this is His will for them.

Syria - Pray that political, economic, and human rights reforms promised in January would be implemented quickly and effectively.

Jordan – Pray that the government will continue to allow freedom of religion to remain despite rising Muslim extremism.

Tunisia - Pray that God will raise up wise Christian leadership to disciple the people, unite them, and encourage them to share their faith with others.

Mauritania - Pray for the leaders of fellowships and for spiritual wisdom for national Christian Believers in handling changes within the Church.

Sudan - Thwart the plans of the Ugandan Lord’s Resistance Army, which is deliberately disrupting the UN humanitarian work in the south of the country. Bring justice for all the victims of violence.

Received from:
WINDOW INTERNATIONAL NETWORK
PO Box 49127
Colorado Springs, CO 80919
www.win1040.com

Turkey - Pray that much-needed leaders will be trained and discipled as the Christian Church is growing in the midst of persecution

Somalia - Thank You, Father, that people remain faithful to You in Somalia despite horrific abuse and persecution. Bless their faithfulness with the bearing of much good fruit and provide the international community with the wisdom it needs to deal with a government that flouts international law and does not observe the basic human rights of its citizens.

Eritrea - Lord God, we pray for the thousands of people held as prisoners of conscience in Eritrean prisons, 2000 of whom are Christians. Enable them to stand fast in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, both in word and in deed.

Tibet – Pray for Tibetan Christians who may face persecution as extreme as poisoning and stoning from their friends and families.

"He who sacrifices thank-offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God." - Psalm 50:23 (NIV)

PRAISE:
We are excited that God re-connected a tentmaking woman with a seeking woman who left the country suddenly in the summer. The tentmaker had a wrong phone number. God brought a couple through the region that actually lived in the seeking woman’s country. They were able to help the tentmaker get in touch with her friend and what joy followed as the two women were able to catch-up with what the Lord has been doing in the seekers life. She has experienced much heartache with the separation from her National Muslim husband and the loss of her 5 children that are with him. Pray for wisdom for the tentmaker and His continued work the seeker's life.

PETITION:
Pray for "Lydia", a National woman who has breast cancer. She is undergoing treatment. Please pray that she would hold onto Jesus' hand tightly as she goes through her treatment. Pray for her healing and witness to her Muslim family and friends.

Pray for complete healing for the son of a key tentmaker in a neighboring country. The boy has had eye problems for the past several months and is undergoing treatment. The family is thankful for the way God has arranged medical support and are trusting God for full recovery.

Pray for the young MBB woman who just started in a new job this week. She is uncertain about her ability to perform the tasks, but is confident that God brought this job to her.

Pray for the nation-wide prayer initiative started by some Indian and Korean believers in our country. They are very tied into the evangelism activities of the churches here and want to bring down God's tremendous blessings on His work in our country.

Pray for the Christian witness that will be going on at the Asian Games in Doha over the next 3 weeks. Pray for the Christians living in Doha that they make the most of this opportunity to reach out to the nations which have come to them.

TESTIMONY:
Holidays are a great time to share the life of Jesus with our Arab Muslim friends. Just this past week, there were numerous celebrations for Thanksgiving across the Arabian Peninsula. The collection below is just a sampling of the events and happenings at these celebrations.

In our largest city, a young, sharp, devout Muslim man who has been seriously seeking the Truth heard a satisfying explanation of the Trinity that set his mind working in new ways from an Irishman tentmaker whom he met at a holiday gathering.

In a small neighborhood suburb of another city an Egyptian seeker who has had many heartbreaks and sorrow in life, met a Gulf Arab MBB who if full of joy even though she has had to leave her home due to persecution and is now living in another country with a Christian family that has loved and cared for her. This testimony spoke volumes to the seeker.

A gathering of families included two single Muslim Sudanese women who shared in this kind of meal for the first time. They heard of God's work in the lives of individuals, met with an Iranian MBB who lives in the same town that they do in the Gulf. They talked of life, death, God, prayer and many other topics that can be revisited in later times as the Holy Spirit works in their lives.

Please pray for other holiday parties, desert bar-b-ques, and gatherings where Muslims will be with their Christian friends. Pray that the gospel would be shared with love and clarity.

Pierre Gemayel was a Lebanese politician who sought to establish peace in Lebanon, but was assasinated for his attempts to unite the remaining Christian community in Lebanon through the bond of peace and reconciliation. Please join with Windows International Network in praying for ...

The family of Pierre Gemayel to sense God’s peace, comfort and strength during this difficult time.

God’s wisdom, leading and guidance for Prime Minister Fuad Saniora and his Cabinet as they respond to Gemayel’s assassination.

Justice for those responsible for Gemayel’s slaying.
Gemayel’s assassination not to lead to a full-blown Lebanese civil war. Pray protection from hatred, violence and chaos.

The Church to realize the importance of its role in intercession and stand in the gap in this very crucial time in the history of Lebanon.

The Lord to either change the hearts of corrupt rulers or remove them from their posts. Pray for righteousness in the government. Pray for rulers who will father the nation with love for the people and the nation.

The walls between Lebanese churches to continue to fall and Believers will come together in unity. Division is one of the biggest strongholds of the nation. Pray for the Lord to send a spirit of humility to the Church and the nation. Pride is another stronghold in the country.

The Lord’s perfect plan for Lebanon and the neighboring 10/40 Window nations to be fulfilled.

A spiritual revival, for thirst and hunger for the Lord all throughout the Middle East.

Sources: The Associated Press, Catholic News, Assyrian International News Agency, Jerusalem Post, Operation World and World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Commission.

<><
Prayer requests received from http://www.win1040.com. Contact WIN for the full article.

UAE - Pray against the spirit of fear that comes over Christian leaders working in Muslim lands. Pray instead that Christian Believers will move forward in an unprecedented boldness to spread of Gospel of Jesus Christ in this land.

Yemen – Pray for all elected to office in municipal, regional, and national elections held on September 20th, 2006.

Egypt – Pray that the growing prayer initiative within the Egyptian Christian community would strengthen further and that God would act in response to the prayer offered.

Iraq – Pray against the spiritual forces that want to use corrupt leaders for war and destruction, and that the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ will penetrate the spiritual darkness over Iraq.

Morocco - Pray that Christians in Morocco would be empowered by the Holy Spirit and that they will know God’s strength in the face of any persecution.

Israel - Pray for effective Christian ministry to those bereaved, wounded, or traumatized by recent conflicts.


WINDOW INTERNATIONAL NETWORK
PO Box 49127
Colorado Springs, CO 80919

EXODUS OF ARAB CHRISTIANS FROM PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY
In Bethlehem, Israel, flyers curse Arab Christians and Pope Benedict and accuse a Palestinian Christian of selling mobile phones carrying offensive sketches of the Islamic prophet Mohammed, reported AgapePress. The frightened phone dealer has gone into hiding and is now thinking of moving abroad. It is part of a modern exodus of the tiny Palestinian Christian minority that could lead, some predict, to the faith becoming virtually extinct in its birthplace. Palestinian uprisings and the separation barrier started by Israel in 2002 have accelerated the flight by turning once-bustling pilgrimage sites such as Bethlehem into relative ghost towns. The growing strength of radical Islamic movements has added new concerns. During the protests after the pope’s remarks about Islam in September, some of the worst violence was in Palestinian areas with churches firebombed and hit by gunfire. [RELIGION TODAY/HCJB 13 Nov. 2006]

TAKING THE GOSPEL BY CAMEL
Converted Arab Christians in northern Africa recently undertook a grueling, 3-month camel journey across the Sahara desert to share the gospel with hostile nomads. They were unable to contact their families, were once beaten by metal rods, kidnapped, and one man was stabbed. Nonetheless, they intend to [persevere in the future as well.] Missionaries introduced the Arabs to Christ 6 years ago when there were fewer than 10 Christians in the Muslim group of 1.5 million. There are now 9 worship groups. These believers felt led to share the gospel with a tribe that was notoriously fierce and unfriendly to outsiders. Worship groups contributed 8 camels, horses, tea, grain and cooking oil, plus stacks of gospel cassettes and "JESUS" videos dubbed into the language of the nomadic people. The group found open hearts in at least 10 nomadic camps. [BP, 12 Oct. 2006]

IN FACT:
$46 billion - Amount spent per year globally on bottled water
$1.7 billion - Amount needed per year beyond current spending to provide clean drinking water to everyone on earth
More than one billion - Number of people worldwide who lack reliable access to safe drinking water
80 - Percentage of world illnesses due to water-borne diseases [NY TIMES]

The worst crime of the desert is to withhold water from the thirsty.

Pray that Muslim Arabs would receive the Water of Life, willingly & freely from Oman to Maurtinia, from Syria to the Sudan. Thank the Lord for the many wonderful blessings which He has sent you as well as the way He is sending out the Gospel message to the ends of the earth. May the deserts bloom!

When God calls a person into missions, the most encouraging thing he/she can hear is affirmation from fellow believers. We thank the Lord for those who are able to come out to serve with the blessing and backing of the local church, for it is from them and other prayer supporters like you that we gain our strength and encouragment for the work. Unfortunately, there are many being called by God to serve in the Country we Love who are feeling isolated and discouraged because their local Body is either not understanding their call or not committed to the support of missions. This is happening in both the Middle East and the West.

Therefore, please pray today in a special way for those who feel that "fire in their stomachs" to act quickly on His command and yet are struggling to get the prayer and financial support and blessings from their local Body. Serving in the Country we Love is not easy with the greatest of "home" support, so we ask you to remember the servants who are moving forward in obedience, yet hurting by the lack of support. Ask the Lord to wake up the local churches to the needs of those called to leave all behind in answer to the Call, and ask the Lord to provide "other family" to pick up the slack where their local church doesn't provide.

"Nicodemus came to Jesus at night." - John 3

PRAISE:
We are so excited over the new believer we recently came in contact with from Saudi Arabia! He is a young man that is so keen to know more about Jesus.

PETITION:
Many believers from expat congregations in our country are eager to learn how to reach out to the local Muslim population. Please pray for the teams who are training them, and for the many groups meeting weekly to learn how to share their faith effectively.

Please pray for a local man in our area affiliated with the secret police, who formerly hated and persecuted Christian workers. He asked for a Bible and since has been a changed person. We suspect he is a secret believer, due to the joy we now see in him and his eagerness for Christian contact and materials.

Pray for the Christian media production that is happening in Qatar at the moment and for the distribution at the Asian Games.

Pray for the deep shame that many Qatari's feel because they themselves are saying that the country is not ready for the Asian Games and many venues are still not ready. That God will be able to reach and to teach the local people through this time. Pray for the expatriate Christian workers coming specifically to be messengers of the Good News in Doha from 01-15 December.

Pray for "TA", a middle aged man in Saudi that is searching for God. He has had dreams of Jesus but is afraid of making more of a step toward Him because of the fear of reprisal.

TESTIMONY:
A Muslim man living in our city (whom we'll refer to as "R") decided he could earn a bit more money for his family by renting out the upstairs of his house. It suited an "Eastern" Christian family who were looking for a less expensive place to live. The Christian family was very friendly, and the wife was an excellent cook, so "R" found himself visiting them often and was welcomed as full member.

R was in a time of turmoil about some family matters and peace eluded him. One day he was in need of an onion to make his lunch, so he went upstairs to borrow one from his surrogate family. R knew about the picture of Jesus on his friend's refrigerator and as he entered the kitchen this time, Jesus' picture all of a sudden seemed to come alive. As he starred at it in wonder, he said, if you are the Lord give me peace." R was so affected by it that he left without getting the onion and then suddenly noticed that the peace he asked for was there. That night he had an unusual dream. In the dream, he was walking in the desert, very thirsty, and saw a single tree off in the distance. He made his way over and as he got closer, he noticed a man sitting under it. As he approached, the man handed him a large bowl of fresh water. As he drank it, the bowl covered his eyes and when he let it down, the desert had turned into a lush oasis teeming with life all around him.

Suddenly, he knew who the man was...it was Jesus, and He looked just like the picture on the refrigerator. The next morning, he excitedly went upstairs to see the Christian family. Pointing to the picture on the refrigerator, he shared his experiences and said he now knew it was the truth and wanted to become a follower of the Messiah, but how? He was a Muslim, from a family of Fundamentalists.

The Christian family was moving out of the country, spent time with R preparing him to hear the gospel. They introduced him to a missionary living nearby. R's Muslim family then came to live with him in the very apartment he had rented to the Christian family. For the next three years R's very young and immature faith remained secret to all, but eventually he was moved to contact the missionary he'd been introduced to before and get some help with his secret faith. This was a serious risk, but he was pressed from within to get some direction and a Bible. R was passed on to a worker, who got him a Bible and offered to meet on a regular basis. R, was elated to be accepted in confidence by the Christians, and to finally have his very own Bible!

The night before their first scheduled meeting, R was injured rather badly with a serious cut to his hand. His family urged him to stay home, but R sensed it as an attempt by the devil to keep him from what he needed to do. He came, bandages and all, told the tentmaker his whole story, and then earnestly asked his long-held question, 'So, how do I become a Christian for sure?' Later that night R was kneeling on the floor and his hands held up, he confessed with his mouth Jesus as Lord (Rom 10:8-10).

R and the worker meet for a few hours each week, and it thrills us to watch his growth. He has many questions, and is growing daily in his understanding, obedience, confidence and assurance, even to the point of showing up a few times at the English-speaking Church on his own initiative. He is still secret before his family and friends, but God is really at work in his life building a powerful testimony.

Recently, his mother was suffering from an infection on her lower leg that caused swelling and discoloration. Many trips to the doctor and prescriptions of antibiotics gave no relief. With no progress in her condition, the family had decided to send her out of the country for medical help. Then, R and his new worker friend prayed together on the mother's behalf, and within the day the swelling completely receded....she was healed! R was so encouraged by the answer to his prayers!

Naturally, the mother asked who was this person praying with him, but R was only able to reply, "He and his family are religious people." He is not yet ready to announce Christianity publicly, but as God builds his faith and testimony through things like this, we anticipate He is preparing his whole family to receive the Truth as well.

* AP = Arabian Peninsula
+ MBB = Muslim Backround Believer
<>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Praying Thru the Arabian Peninsula
www.pray-ap.info
USA #: 800-376-5876 (Eastern Time)
Encouraging & equipping believers & churches everywhere to pray with a heart filled with the "Seed-of-Laughter" for heirs of the woman who found that "God-Sees-and-Hears-Me" so that biblical church planting movements will spread throughout the Arabian Peninsula and beyond for the Lord's glory.


To learn how you can support this & other work in the Middle East, visit:
http://www.srginc.org

Or write MertH.:
ptap@srginc.org

Or:
PTAP
c/o Strategic Resource Group
P.O. Box 1809
Easton, MD 21601
USA

"Do good to all people, especially believer, because in this way you will reap a harvest if you just don't quit." Galatians 6:10

PRAISE
We are thankful for the long day a tentmaking family had with "Samantha" recently. She came to faith several months ago and has endured extensive rejection and persecution from her family. She however has chosen to stay in her home and continue to relate to her family "to feed Jesus to them" as she says. She is staying strong in her faith and is a great encouragement to other MBBs in her community of friends.

Petition:
The 15th Asian Games are being hosted by Qatar starting December 1, 2006 for 2 weeks. Pray for the interactions among believing volunteers/staff and the games participants particularly those from Muslim countries.

Pray for Taxi Drivers (that have been hired for this event) who will be the chauffeurs for a specific VIP during the games. We are asking God to bring Christians into these positions. Pray for fruitful one-on-one interaction with the most influential people coming to the games.

Pray for Christian businessmen who have mentoring relationships with National Arab businessmen in our developing country. The local men admire the skill and knowledge of the Christian businessmen; pray for
opportunities to share the message of the gospel in context to these men.

Pray for the young MBB woman from a neighboring country that is looking for work. She is getting discouraged, but still looking to God for her provision. Pray for the young couple that is providing her accommodation and love.

Pray for "M" an expatriate Arab Muslim living in our fast growing, cosmopolitan city. He has had many discussions with several tentmakers and is wrestling with the person of Jesus and the Truth He presents. Pray for the work of the Holy Spirit in his life.

TESTIMONY:
Salem was raised in the most conservative country in the Arabian Peninsula. He was a faithful follower of Islam until his late teens. He was given a book that compared the teachings of the Qu'ran and the Bible. He found that there was great truth in the Bible passages in the booklet. He suddenly realized that the wonderfully friendly Subcontinent man who worked in the grocery store near his home was a Christian - he was different. So he asked him the next day "Are you a Christian?" The Indian man said yes and began to encourage Salem to read his Bible passages. Eventually, this Indian man gave Salem a complete Arabic New Testament. Salem couldnt read it fast enough. He read it over and over and over and the more he read, the more he believed in Jesus.

Eventually his family found out about his faith and forced him to go to Mecca to perform the Hajj. He hated every minute of his time there and proclaimed to his family even more about his faith in Jesus. He was forced to leave the country because he refused gifts of money, gold, fast cars and friends in lieu of following the truth Jesus.

He now lives in another Arab country where he has been cared for by a group of Arab believing families. He has a vision to reach his home country and to share firstly with his father. Pray for a breakthrough with his father.

* AP = Arabian Peninsula
+ MBB = Muslim Backround Believer
<>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Praying Thru the Arabian Peninsula
www.pray-ap.info
USA #: 800-376-5876 (Eastern Time)
Encouraging & equipping believers & churches everywhere to pray with a heart filled with the "Seed-of-Laughter" for heirs of the woman who found that "God-Sees-and-Hears-Me" so that biblical church planting movements will spread throughout the Arabian Peninsula and beyond for the Lord's glory.

====
To learn how you can support this & other work in the Middle East, visit:
http://www.srginc.org

Or write MertH.:
ptap@srginc.org

Or:
PTAP
c/o Strategic Resource Group
P.O. Box 1809
Easton, MD 21601
USA

One believer's car was at the mechanic being mended so he was having to use taxis to get around town, not as convenient as using his own car. But one day he rejoiced in his circumstances. As he drove along he was discussing the current news with the driver and was surprised at his knowledge of the Bible. "How do you know so much?" he asked. The driver replied that he was listening to the radio. "Are you a believer?", he asked. The driver smiled but didn't reply. The believer spent the next hour answering many questions the driver wished to raise. He happily accepted a Bible. All his knowledge had come from the radio he had not seen a Bible before. When the believer had to leave he suggested they meet again the following week to discuss these things further. The taxi driver didn't think that a good idea--"Next week! Why not tomorrow? I have many more questions and don't want to wait that long."

"Fan into flame the gift that was given to you ..." 2Timothy 1:6

PRAISE:
Thank God that the Believer who was in prison was released. Pray for him as he processes what he went through, how he should respond to his family and friends and for his safety in the future.


PETITION:
Pray for the tentmaker team in the upper Arabian Gulf region that is undergoing change - new people joining the team, others leaving for a time period. Pray for all the missionary teams across the AP.

Pray for the continued growth and discipleship of young woman from a neighboring country. She came to Jesus under strained conditions, was pushed out of her home and is now being discipled by a group of believers.

Pray for the protection of an MBB that recently left our country to seek refuge in another Arab country. He has not been heard from since he was forced to leave his first country visited after leaving the AP. Pray that his eyes will always be fixed on Jesus.

Pray for Swahili speaking nationals in Oman. They are a significant part of the national population and needing a witness for the gospel among them. Pray for fruit and for open hearts.

Pray for the Chinese church in the Arabian Peninsula. There are hundreds of Chinese believers each year added to His family. Pray for continued open doors for the Chinese to come to faith outside their own country.

TESTIMONY:
A young man from a neighboring Muslim country came to faith when he was in his late teens. Shortly after he came to faith, his brother came to follow Jesus. Then in rapid succession, his parents came to Christ.

Our young friend came to our city to look for work, which he got in less than 2 days. He has been actively reflecting Jesus' love and grace to the Muslims in his work place. He lives in a 2.5 m x 3 m sized room with 10 other adult men who work with him. He stuggles to find time and a quiet place to read his Bible. He works often 7 days a week, from noon to 1 am. He wants to get married but has a job with no status. He has little or no money to spend on discretionary items. He struggles to get to church, but his boss has shown him favor in allowing him infrequent Friday mornings off. He is aggressive in his faith - just this week he brought another man of his own background to church to hear the Word.

Please pray for our dear brother. Pray for perseverance. Pray for peace. Pray for God's blessing on him and for the favor of his employers. Pray for the many he has shared his faith with in the 1 year he has lived in this country.

* AP = Arabian Peninsula
+ MBB = Muslim Backround Believer
<>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Praying Thru the Arabian Peninsula
www.pray-ap.info
USA #: 800-376-5876 (Eastern Time)
Encouraging & equipping believers & churches everywhere to pray with a heart filled with the "Seed-of-Laughter" for heirs of the woman who found that "God-Sees-and-Hears-Me" so that biblical church planting movements will spread throughout the Arabian Peninsula and beyond for the Lord's glory.

====
To learn how you can support this & other work in the Middle East, visit:
http://www.srginc.org

Or write MertH.:
ptap@srginc.org

Or:
PTAP
c/o Strategic Resource Group
P.O. Box 1809
Easton, MD 21601
USA