Exloring Life Eternal

"Wake up, O sleeper, & rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you!" - Ephesians 5:14

PRAISE:
Praise that the plans for the new church facility (mentioned in March PTAP) was recently approved by the authorities. This is so much a work of God! Pray for God to provide wisdom in the planning, selecting architects etc and also provide the finances needed.


PETITION:
Please continue to pray for the tentmaker family who are hoping to move here. Pray for one of the jobs he has applied for to come forth with a job offer / contract so that this family can come and serve God here in this country. Our team really needs them.

Pray that the power system of Wahhabi leaders would crumble and that the people of Saudi Arabia would not feel controlled by these leaders. Pray that God would break down the stronghold of pride that binds Saudis to Islam.

Please pray for a Ladies' Fellowship outreach in our country, where Muslim seekers and MBBs are invited to observe (or participate with) a group of Christian women who gather to pray, read the Bible, worship & fellowship. Ask the Lord to continue to send the women of His choosing, and to use it for His glory.

Pray for the MBB’s that are being cared for by several Christian families. The MBBs are being cared for by a team of Arab and Western workers. It has been a great exercise to draw us together in a common God ordained task.

Ask God to work in the teams in our country. There has been some difficult people relationships these past few weeks. Pray that we would seek out the Lord before we engage in heated debate and that we would actively seek reconciliation and restoration. (Pray John 17.)


TESTIMONY:
Salman is an Arab Muslim who began following Jesus along with his wife, just before she died of cancer about 16 months ago. Being with his mom in the hospital these past few days reopened the shallow wounds of his wife's death. he has not grieved properly for either. He is a young single dad with tremendous responsibility and no time to stop and grieve. Pray that God would touch Salman's heart deeply this week with comfort and peace. Pray too for his boys, aged 13 and 9, that God would heal their hurting hearts as well.

One of our workers learned tonight that local tradition mandates returning to the burial site on the third day after the death to make prayers for the deceased. Salman said he hated this tradition, because he said it just reopens the hurt. Could this be because there is no hope of resurrection for most Muslims who are buried in that cemetery! Pray for wisdom as several men and women in the country are involved in his life.

<>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Praying Thru the Arabian Peninsula
www.pray-ap.info
USA #: 800-376-5876 (Eastern Time)
Encouraging & equipping believers & churches everywhere to pray through the heart of the Muslim world so that 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:
ptap@srginc.org

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

As we celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus this month, may we be reminded of what Good News this is! For it is only through His death and resurrection that we can have access to the Father and life eternal.

This week, friends in North Africa will be sharing this Good News with others. Please be in prayer for them this week and next as they follow-up on those who have previously made decisions for Christ and share with others who have yet to hear. Pray for them to have boldness in their witness and protection from the attacks of the evil one.

April 3, 2006

"Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." (The righteous acts of the saints.)
"Blessed are those invited to the Lamb's wedding supper!"
"Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."
- Revelation 19:8, 9b, 10c.

PRAISE:
Resurrection Believers' Meetings
A number of the new believers are going to meet together for Resurrection for the first time! Please pray that our team would wisely plan these events and that the right people would attend.


REQUESTS:
Pray for our Resurrection outreach over the next 2 weeks. There will also be a number of outreach events for seekers during this season. Pray for wisdom and direction as we plan each event.

Please pray for an Egyptian woman who is meeting with a group of Christians to learn about their faith. She is open & seeking, but seems to be hindered greatly by something going on at her home. Please pray for protection & release from the control of evil, and for her & her family's salvation.

God seems to be moving workers around in various areas. Several workers will be leaving Saudi Arabia in six months to a year. Pray that God would bring more workers to the areas where workers leave. Pray also for the cities and villages that do not currently have workers. Ask God to send more workers for the harvest.

Pray for a tentmaker family who are trying to get a job in our country. Pray for God to open a door for this key family to come here and join the team.

Pray for a couple who want to serve in a remote part of the country. Pray for their plans to be guided by God and for Him to open up a way to go there if it is His will. Pray for provision of a suitable job and visa. They would be a great encouragement to another family currently serving there.


TESTIMONY:
Hassan comes from a stable family situation in a large city in a country that is in the news frequently just north of the Persian Gulf. He was a good student in school, he obeyed his parents in most matters but in his late teens he began to question Islam. He eventually met some Christians in the capital city. They were different! He began to meet with them for fun and for discussions. Little by little, he began to understand their message supported
so clearly by their lives of joy, hope and genuine caring for people in love. He obtained a Bible and began to read it. Shortly afterwards he came to believe in Jesus Christ. Many things changed in his life, however his family was suspicious of why he has changed – for the good that was true – but why was ‘Hassan changing’ was the question commonly discussed in the home.

Then, Hassan received a job opportunity in the Arabian Peninsula – working in a restaurant! This was much different than his previous training but he felt it was God’s will to go. Shortly after arriving in his new place he met a small group of Muslim Background Believers from his country. He was so happy! Today Hassan is growing in the Lord. He is studying the Word and sharing his faith with wisdom in their community in his new country. Just 2 weeks ago, he had the privilege to partake of communion for the very first time. He had tears streaming down his cheeks as he joined a community of believers in this special recollection of Jesus’ work for all people – including his Muslim family. He will be baptized in the near future – another step of faith in following Jesus.

PRAY for Hassan – to be prosperous in his restaurant job, that he would be wise in sharing his faith, that his family would come to Jesus.

<>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Praying Thru the Arabian Peninsula
www.pray-ap.info
USA #: 800-376-5876 (Eastern Time)
Encouraging & equipping believers & churches everywhere to pray through the heart of the Muslim world so that 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:
ptap@srginc.org

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

http://www.leaderu.com/truth/1truth22.html
Truth Journal
Contemporary Scholarship and the Historical Evidence
for the Resurrection of Jesus Christ
by William Lane Craig
William Lane Craig is a leading apologist today in the USA.

============
http://www.xenos.org/classes/papers/doubt.htm
Historical Evidence for
the Resurrection of Christ:
by Christopher Louis Lang

============
http://www.wcg.org/lit/disc/11evidence.htm
Discipleship 101
a beginner's guide to Christianity
Evidence of Jesus' resurrection
by the Worldwide Church of God
(A group that returned to "salvation by grace through faith")

==========
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resurrection_of_Jesus
This text includes arguments for & against the resurrection.

==> Also, there are numerous links at the end to various Christian apologists. I think your magazine editors would find this part of the sight most helpful!

It is very much a pick & choose sight - discernment needed! The most
value is the links. One must note though that there are more reasons listed to believe the resurrection than to disbelieve & that they present an overall argument that is fully coherent, whereas many of the others are contradictory & mutually exclusive.

Hope that helps,
Mert Hershberger