Exloring Life Eternal

"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.

"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

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

"This is the account of Noah. Noah was a righteous man. ..." Genesis 6:9ff (NIV)

PRAISE:
We are praising the Lord for the offer to help a young believer find a job and get a legal visa. There are many uncertainties, but we are thankful that the Lord has opened the door so far.

PETITION:
Pray for spiritual hunger and protection for all of the Muslim background believers during Ramadan.

Pray for new tentmaker workers in the country. Pray for God's help and sustaining grace when so many things are new and they are making many decisions about lifestyle, language learning and ministry. Pray for God's anointing and power to be present in their lives. Pray for their children, too, that they would adjust well and feel positive about coming to live here.

For continued prayer for the workers here that we will seek to stay within God’s will in this dry barren land.

That what we have, is more precious than any amount of laws and works, it is God’s gift to us and we want to be able to share that with our local friends and neighbours
during this next month.

Continue to pray for the Believer who is still in jail. Pray that his physical needs are being provided for and that the Lord's presence is very evident to him.


TESTIMONY:
For every year of his life previous to this one, Baraka looked to the legal requirements of Ramadan to cleanse him and guarantee him forgiveness. Now, with new life in Issa al Messih, Baraka fasts with a different intention – that of drawing near to God. Muslims hear the Qur’an recited in the mosques every evening during Ramadan, but Baraka wanted to try something different. “Brendan, do you think maybe we could read together this month? Instead of the Qur’an, I’d like to look at all the stories of the prophets.” What an awesome request from a young man with such a zeal for God’s word! We’ve read through Adam and Noah so far, looking at how these prophets are just like us and how God’s promise of the Messiah runs through them both. Baraka is loving these stories, and so am I.


* 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 met the 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

"Behold, I HAVE PREPARED my dinner: my oxen, my fattened livestock are butchered, and everything is ready, come ..." - Matthew 22:4

PRAISE:
There were literally thousands of Christians involved in Night of Power prayer meetings during the last days of Ramadan. These Christians spent many hours praying late into the night as their Muslim neighbors were seeking blessings as Ramadan came to a close.

PETITION:
Pray for a long-term single tentmaker who is looking for a more permanent housing situation in his country of service by ownership of a residence. Pray that the details would work according to God’s plan and provision.

Pray for the MBB young man who recently left the AP country that he lived in all of his life. He has been in a difficult situation for several months and was forced to leave. He is between 2 other countries going through bureaucratic circles to make his situation more stable. Pray for much grace and that other believers will be able to support him in all ways.

Please pray for N the wife of a local baptized believer who has big doubts about Islam, that God will continue to answer her questions and that N will trust in Jesus as her Lord and Master.

Please pray for those who have boldly taken hold of the window of opportunity that the Asian Games brings to this region. Pray that Christians will become bold in sharing the Love of Jesus with the many athletes and officials coming at the end of 2006.

Please pray for the many secret believers here to be renewed in the spirit of their minds, freed from all bondages physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually, and to become beacons of light to those in darkness all around them.

TESTIMONY:
It was a typical Iftar meal. The Muslim host had a wonderful meal catered for his Arab Muslim friends and some western businessmen at his ‘farm’ on the outskirts of a large city in the heart of the Arabian Peninsula. The western businessmen happened to all be Christians, part of the same tentmaking team. The conversations between the Arab men and the western business men varied and were all over the map: family, sports, fireworks, sex, price of property, the changed Bible, jobs, good bosses and bad bosses, the prosperity of the nation, the issue of the Trinity, the weather being too hot still (it was 34 C at 9pm), getting married, raising children, hope of eternal life in paradise, and more. Some seeds were planted; some parts of the Good News went out. Many phone numbers were exchanged and the hopes of getting together during or soon after the Eid (celebration after the end of Ramadan).

Please pray with us for fruit!

* 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 met the "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

"I give my sheep eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of my hand." John 10:28

TESTIMONY:
It was along ride out of the Gulf City where the tentmaker was living, to the home of Anisa, an Arab Muslim housewife. Not that she minded the drive or the time it would take, after all she was here to meet locals and reach them for Christ.

Anisa welcomed the two women with traditional, elaborate Arab
hospitality. As the first round of aromatic gahwa (coffee flavored with cardamom and saffron) was served, she began also to instruct them in the virtues of Islam, using the typical arguments and “persuasive words of man’s wisdom” which the locals learn from their Muslim leaders. After quite some time Anisa finally seemed to relax, having gotten these important things off her chest and into the foreigners’ ears. Allah favors the Muslim who leads infidels to Islam, and Anisa’a guests had been so polite and interested in what she had to say. Now an opportunity for the visitors to speak was open and they used it to share the Gospel, using the same friendly, conversational tone as she used when talking about a recipe or some other ordinary topic. When she came to the voluntary laying down of Christ’s own life as our Substitute, Anise’s eyes filled up with tears. She began to rub her temples and face, visibly affected by the Gospel’s “power of God unto salvation”. Trying to resume her Islamic arguments, which apparently hadn’t been as effective as she had hoped, she brought up the name of God. The temtmaker asked, “Oh, do you know His Name, too?” (Ninety-nine descriptive titles for God are given in the Qur’an, but His Name, given in Exodus 3:14, is not found there.) Anisa said, “Yes, His Name is ‘the Lord’.” The missionary replied, “Yes, that’s His title-- but do you know His Name?” Not sure where this
was leading, the Muslim hostess replied, “No.”

“Well,” the missionary continued, “the Name of God is Ahyah allathi Ahyah.” (I AM THAT I AM)

Anisa went silent. Motionless, her eyes were riveted on the Christian visitor’s face. Not knowing if Anisa was thinking about it or if she hadn’t understood, the Christian repeated the Name.

Still riveted, and without moving her gaze, Anisa began to murmur softly, “ismih...ismih...” (“His Name...His Name...”). God’s Spirit was confirming the Word she was hearing and the Christians sat still, in awe of His power to break through years of Islamic indoctrination so effortlessly. Anisa began to rub her face again, more earnestly, and took a deep breath, trying to resume the Islamic argument. Unable to gather her thoughts to do so, she weakly offered, “Oh, just read the Qur’an and see how good it is. Science, math and everything prove the Qur’an is
true...”. Suddenly a verse popped into the missionary’s mind, and she knew the Lord meant it for Anisa. She said, “Dear Anisa, it is written in the Holy Bible that ‘it is not with persuasive words of man’s wisdom that we speak to you, but in the power of the Holy Spirit.’ I can see that God is working in your heart...” Anisa leaned forward &
searched deeper into the missionary’s eyes, as if looking for some reason to doubt. But the guest kept steadily looking right back at her with quiet confidence & kindness. Struck by the verse from God’s word and apparently overwhelmed by what she was experiencing, the Muslim woman slumped back in the couch. Instead of denying or protesting, she confessed,
“quwwaat allah....quwwat allah...” (“the power of God....the power of God...”). It seemed as if God had given that verse to help Anisa realize and believe what she was experiencing. It certainly had that effect. At the end of the visit, she took both women by the wrists and urged them, “Don’t cut me off. You must visit me again!”

In Jesus’ day the people said of Him, “He speaks as one having authority and not as the scribes!” Jesus is still speaking, through His Word & His Body, with authority. Not as the scribes, or in this case, the Muslim leaders.


PETITION:
Please pray for F a local man who is earnestly seeking the truth and is being wooed to Christ... BUT ... his western wife of 5 years has just converted to Islam. Satan has upped his antics but we know that Jesus is the victor. Please pray that as his wife has submitted to the pressure of the family that the conversion is not of the heart and that together. Pray that F & D will be set free in Christ.

Elections were recently held in our country. Thank God that they were peaceful and pray for those elected that they will truly serve the people. Pray for the president, that he will come in contact with those who follow the Savior and will be influenced by them.

Please pray for the expatriate church here. They have gone through a major crisis and there is a lot of hurt amongst all involved. Pray for God's healing touch on all involved. Pray for reconciliation and God's help as people seek to sort out their differences. Pray for all to be willing to humble themselves.

Samantha continues to grow by leaps and bounds in her faith. We have been so encouraged by a gift and enthusiasm for teaching that seems to be emerging. However, as she has been stepping out in this gift, spiritual attack has followed. She has beautifully weathered several very difficult tests so far. Truly nothing can snatch her out of Jesus’ hand! (John
10:28) Please pray for her that her faith would be increasingly strengthened through each trial, and that God would protect her from the evil one.

PRAISE & THANKSGIVING:
Thanks for praying for Salman and his family. Things with his house are moving along, and he has a more restful work schedule during Ramadan. He keeps hoping for an overseas job, however, to “solve” all his problems. Pray he’ll find strength and contentment in Christ every day.

<+>< + ><+>
Please THANK the Lord for the second release in a month of the sender of these from the hospital today and pray for a recovery of maximum health & functioning for the Lord's work, as well as provision for his family. (Phlp. 2:25ff)

* 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 met the 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

October 9, 2006

"This is the account of Noah. Noah was a righteous man. ..." Genesis 6:9ff (NIV)

PRAISE:
We are praising the Lord for the offer to help a young believer find a job and get a legal visa. There are many uncertainties, but we are thankful that the Lord has opened the door so far.

PETITION:
Pray for spiritual hunger and protection for all of the Muslim background believers during Ramadan.

Pray for new tentmaker workers in the country. Pray for God's help and sustaining grace when so many things are new and they are making many decisions about lifestyle, language learning and ministry. Pray for God's anointing and power to be present in their lives. Pray for their children, too, that they would adjust well and feel positive about coming to live here.

For continued prayer for the workers here that we will seek to stay within God's will in this dry barren land.

That what we have, is more precious than any amount of laws and works, it is God's gift to us and we want to be able to share that with our local friends and neighbours
during this next month.

Continue to pray for the Believer who is still in jail. Pray that his physical needs are being provided for and that the Lord's presence is very evident to him.


TESTIMONY:
For every year of his life previous to this one, Baraka looked to the legal requirements of Ramadan to cleanse him and guarantee him forgiveness. Now, with new life in Issa al Messih, Baraka fasts with a different intention - that of drawing near to God. Muslims hear the Qur'an recited in the mosques every evening during Ramadan, but Baraka wanted to try something different. 'Brendan, do you think maybe we could read together this month? Instead of the Qur'an, I'd like to look at all the stories of the prophets.' What an awesome request from a young man with such a zeal for God's word! We've read through Adam and Noah so far, looking at how these prophets are just like us and how God's promise of the Messiah runs through them both. Baraka is loving these stories, and so am I.


* 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 met the 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

Arise Shine Morocco
Prayer Bulletin #72 (10/06)
asm@ariseshinemorocco.org
<>< <> ><>
www.ariseshinemorocco.org

From an expatriate in Morocco:
(slightly edited and with names changed)

“Khadija, our house helper for eight years, surrendered her life to Jesus almost 6 months ago. She continues to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord, thanks to the love and support of God's people. This is her first Ramadan as a Christian, and she is happy to no longer be bound by the “yoke” of that religious obligation.

Her husband, Mohammed, seems to have taken a sincere interest in her faith. He said that if she does not keep the fast, then neither will he. He attended a Moroccan house-church picnic with her and spent much time discussing spiritual things with the believers. He listened and asked many questions, then later told Khadija that he understood “nothing”. I have heard this testimony several times from converts, including Khadija. I believe it describes the blindness, the veil that covers the eyes of their hearts and minds because, as the Word says, “the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving” (2 Cor. 4:3-4).

Please pray the Holy Spirit will draw Mohammed, he will turn to the Lord, and the veil will be removed (2 Cor. 3:16). Pray Mohammed will have the opportunity to meet regularly with believers he met before and will continue to seek to understand the gospel.”


NORTHEASTERN REGION:
Thank the Lord for jobs He has provided for some of the national believers here. Pray they will succeed in their jobs and will shine the light in their new workplaces.

Pray for a man injured by equipment when power came on unexpectedly. Pray for healing and for patience while he is unable to work for a while.

Pray for a dear older saint whose husband is in fragile health. Pray she can share with him more about Jesus and that he will receive Christ before going to meet his Maker.

Ask the Lord to heal those who come to the clinic, not only physically, but spiritually.


CENTRAL REGION:
Continue to pray for the various media projects in process. The first draft of a twenty-five story evangelism set in Moroccan Arabic is complete and is now under further review by believers. The next step is to record it and then translate it into Berber so workers and nationals can begin using it. Pray the Lord will give believers a desire to sing His praises in their own language and musical style. Pray the Berber Christians of this region will begin to write, record, and utilize their own worship music.

Continue to pray for a suitable building to house a ministry hoping to serve some of the most vulnerable people in Morocco. Pray for the team as they launch the project.

Pray for success in gathering the many isolated believers. Ask the Lord to give them a thirst to meet and worship with others, a thirst that overcomes fear and pride. Pray for wisdom as to how expatriates can help bring them together.


NORTHWESTERN COASTAL REGION:
Pray for new workers who arrived recently. Pray they will adjust to and become comfortable in their new surroundings and will soon meet locals who will become good friends. Pray for enthusiasm as they begin language study and pray they will find good Moroccan language helpers. Pray the new workers will receive strength and encouragement from the Lord as they experience culture shock in the coming months.

Pray specifically for certain new workers who will do a lot of traveling in North Africa. Pray for physical protection, good health, and divine appointments as they travel.


SOUTHCENTRAL REGION:
Pray for wisdom, strength, and a special joy in the Lord for a worker with an evolving work situation that each fall presents him with unique challenges and opportunities.

Please pray for a brother who is trying to set up a project that should enable more workers to come into the region and would employ local believers. Pray the right believing partners will come alongside to help launch and administer the project.


Lighthouse Church:
Pray the Lord will help two of the church families to find their places and roles within the church. Ask the Lord to give one brother the strength and wisdom he needs to disciple a young man. Pray that through the Sunday School, this year will be the year when the children receive Christ into their lives. Pray for a spiritual awakening in this city.

Pray that one of the brethren will soon see his work situation stabilize and enable him to earn a satisfactory income.


SOUTHWESTERN REGION:
Praise for two emerging families of new believers. Ask the Lord to grant workers wisdom and insight as how to help them grow. One of the daughters married a non-believer over the summer and has not been seen outside her home for three months. Pray the Father will shine his Light, Love, Peace, and protection over her and her faith.

The believing daughter of another family, after rejecting many local suitors, decided to marry a nominally Christian European as a compromise. Pray true salvation will come to her husband and spiritual renewal to her heart.


FAR SOUTH:
Pray for a quick and smooth readjustment for workers returning after months away.

From a worker: “Local news here has stated that the government in Morocco uncovered a serious plot to bomb government places and residences of prominent people early last month. This seems to be more of a power grab coming from older, deposed military men rather than extremists of al Qaida ilk. Continue to pray for strengthening of the democratic reforms that are going on behind the scenes here.”


A ministry is partnering with pastors in southern Spain and others to conduct a House of Prayer in Gibraltar in November. They plan to bring people together to seek the Lord in prayer for Spain, Morocco, and Gibraltar.
For more info, go to: www.campo247.com.

"The Spirit told Philip, 'Go to that chariot and stay near it.'" - Acts 8:29

PRAISE:
We are thankful that our Muslim Background Believing friend was able to contact us this past week – previously she had been cut-off from all communication with us. She had gone home at the request of her family. They want to force her to marry a man they have arranged, but she is now a Christian and doesn’t want to marry a Muslim man. We are thankful she is in communication and that she has been able to connect with a key church leader in her country.


PETITION:
Please pray for our Muslim Background believing friends during this month of Ramadan. It is a time where they face a lot of pressure from family and oppression from the evil one. Pray especially for “Samantha” as she has been under a lot of spiritual attack. Please pray for her protection.

Please pray for a local believer who is falling away from his faith. Worries of daily life are creeping in, and there seems to be very little joy for him.

Please pray for wisdom for the workers here when dealing with so many family problems of new believers. They need our Father's wisdom to know how to handle, advise and when to stay out of the situation.

Pray for K & A, 2 Qatari’s who are disillusioned with Islam and do not know how or where to find the truth. Pray for the tentmaker who is their work colleague, that during this month he will be able to speak into their lives dropping seeds that will grow under the watering of the Holy Spirit.

During Ramadan, many of our neighbors read the Qu’ran more faithfully and strive to be more religious. Pray that the Lord will speak to them through passages about Jesus in the Qu’ran, that He will speak to them through visions and dreams, through radio programs and contact with our tentmaking team.

TESTIMONY: A Chance Encounter
We had a missionary friend who left the field when his son entered college. I purchased his car. The car was rather distinctive in color, easily recognizable.

Because of this, one day, a local Muslim man flagged me down on the road. Not knowing what he might want, I stopped. He recognized the car, but not me. We got to talking, and soon our conversation turned to spiritual things that he and our colleague had previously discussed. He had questions from what he had read in the Bible he had received.

I have spent quite a bit of time with this man, and he has become acquainted with native Arabic speaking believers who are instructing him in his language. We still talk, weekly, and he is growing, but has yet to take the final step. Pray for Ahmed that he may come to know Jesus as his Lord and Savior.


* 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 those at the heart who know "God-Hears" 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 Spirit told Philip, 'Go to that chariot and stay near it.'" - Acts 8:29

PRAISE:
We are thankful that our Muslim Background Believing friend was able to contact us this past week – previously she had been cut-off from all communication with us. She had gone home at the request of her family. They want to force her to marry a man they have arranged, but she is now a Christian and doesn’t want to marry a Muslim man. We are thankful she is in communication and that she has been able to connect with a key church leader in her country.


PETITION:
Please pray for our Muslim Background believing friends during this month of Ramadan. It is a time where they face a lot of pressure from family and oppression from the evil one. Pray especially for “Samantha” as she has been under a lot of spiritual attack. Please pray for her protection.

Please pray for a local believer who is falling away from his faith. Worries of daily life are creeping in, and there seems to be very little joy for him.

Please pray for wisdom for the workers here when dealing with so many family problems of new believers. They need our Father's wisdom to know how to handle, advise and when to stay out of the situation.

Pray for K & A, 2 Qatari’s who are disillusioned with Islam and do not know how or where to find the truth. Pray for the tentmaker who is their work colleague, that during this month he will be able to speak into their lives dropping seeds that will grow under the watering of the Holy Spirit.

During Ramadan, many of our neighbors read the Qu’ran more faithfully and strive to be more religious. Pray that the Lord will speak to them through passages about Jesus in the Qu’ran, that He will speak to them through visions and dreams, through radio programs and contact with our tentmaking team.

TESTIMONY: A Chance Encounter
We had a missionary friend who left the field when his son entered college. I purchased his car. The car was rather distinctive in color, easily recognizable.

Because of this, one day, a local Muslim man flagged me down on the road. Not knowing what he might want, I stopped. He recognized the car, but not me. We got to talking, and soon our conversation turned to spiritual things that he and our colleague had previously discussed. He had questions from what he had read in the Bible he had received.

I have spent quite a bit of time with this man, and he has become acquainted with native Arabic speaking believers who are instructing him in his language. We still talk, weekly, and he is growing, but has yet to take the final step. Pray for Ahmed that he may come to know Jesus as his Lord and Savior.


* 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 hears of the woman who knew "God-Sees-and-Hears" 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

When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came ... to meet him. Jesus ... said, "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." (Mark 5:2, 19, NIV)

PRAISE:
We are pleased at the way God provided a job for our friend Baraka. He can see God’s faithfulness and blessings on him and is keen to tell his Muslim family and friends that Jesus is blessing him.


PETITION:
Pray for the tentmaking single who has to decide between some different work offers. The job is necessary to obtain a visa to stay in the country. Pray that she would be able to discern with her team, which is the best opportunity.

Please pray for a local lady who has an unhappy marriage and had cancer last year (now in remission). Pray for opportunities to talk to her about Jesus.

Pray for the expatriate church here. Pray for the leadership to have wisdom and a vision for the future. Pray for those who have changed fellowships - that God will meet their needs too and provide his grace to all involved in the prolonged conflict.

Continue to pray for the Chinese fellowships - for provision of places to meet, for God's provision of people willing to serve them and be involved with this growing ministry. Pray for God to continue to bring Chinese to the Gulf region so that they can come to know the living God and for Him to strategically place them back in China at the end of their contract here.

Please pray for a secret MBB+ who is a member of a fundamentalist
Muslim family. He was brought to faith 3 years ago, partly through a dream and the witness of a tentmaking family. In all that time he had no Bible. Recently, he sought help from a Christian who put him in touch with the missionary that is now discipling him, and he is devouring the Bible in his own language. Please pray for his testimony before them, and for his entire family to come to Christ.


TESTIMONY:
Two Christian workers were summoned up to a remote mountain village to help the villagers deal with a long running conflict. They had locked up a man they believed to be crazy – just like the man in Mark chapter 5. They had him locked up in a small, stone hut, with bars on the windows and big chains on the door. They fed him through a small slot at the bottom of the door. By the time the Christian workers got there, the man had been locked up for almost 20 years! He was angry, but not crazy. They were able to go into the hut, talk to the man, pray with him and held him when he cried tears of grief and anger and joy. They brought him out of the hut, to meet the villagers – many of whom were family. This was the first time in 20 years that they had even looked at each other face to face. After a time of Bible teaching about love, forgiveness and restoration, the village voted to care for this man. The people didn’t want the miracle working Christians to leave, so they promised to return weekly to teach them the way of peace through the Prince of Peace. With Ramadan the process may be slowed, but the joy of all those involved is tremendous.

* 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 those at the heart who know that "God-Sees-&-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

September 11, 2006

"You will hear a voice behind you saying, 'This is the path, walk in it.'" - Isaiah 30:21

PRAISE:
We rejoice in the very encouraging doctor’s report for the young child of a key tentmaking family in the AP*. They shared their concern with many of their Muslim friends who are also amazed at the care the Christians receive from God.

PETITION:
Please pray for a struggling local believer. He has many family problems but remains firm in his faith.

Pray that the many, many Jesus videos/DVDs and other Christian
literature collected by AP Arabs on holiday in Europe and Malaysia will get through the security check points in their countries and into their homes where hopefully many family members will watch/read the material.

Pray for the re-establishment of friendships after the summer holiday. Pray particularly for a single person who has become an intricate part of a group of seeking Muslims. Pray for wisdom, insight, keen ears and the right words at the right times.

Lift up the single MBB+ living in an apartment on her own for a short period. She has close relationship with many Arab Christian workers and is under their protection as she starts out in the everyday work world.

Pray for God’s comfort and grace for a long-term worker from the AP* as
he goes through some difficult medical treatment for cancer.

TESTIMONY:
Heidi is an expatriate living in one of the most restricted countries of the Arabian Peninsula. She, her husband and their children have lived in this country for about 4 years. They can speak some Arabic – enough to win an endearing smile from the local Muslims who enjoy hearing their precious language spoken by non-natives.

Heidi and the women in the worker group, spend a significant number of hours per week in prayer for their Muslim hosts. They pray for divine appointments – those rare but so special meetings that one just knows could only be orchestrated by God alone.

Just this past summer, when many of the local and expatriate families were out of the country on holiday (to escape the 50 C/123 F summer heat), Heidi was in a shopping center browsing for a blouse for her daughter. As she looked at the options in red, light blue, stripped pink and gentle orange, a woman approached her from the next aisle. This woman was a National Muslim woman. She was fully dressed in a black abaya with a tightly wrapped hijab around her head. She had glasses on and a veil that went from the top of her nose and hung gracefully below her chin. Heidi was guessing that she was middle aged like herself – perhaps a mother of 5 – 7 children, probably the first wife of her husband. In the few seconds that Heidi made her assessment about this mysterious woman who was approaching her, she sent up a quick prayer asking God to give her love and wisdom. The national woman asked Heidi if she would follow her to a secluded part of the large store. Once there, the woman asked directly ‘would you be my friend?’ She followed up her question with a brief explanation that she felt very lonely and wanted a friend that she could share and trust that the things she shared wouldn’t be cast about the extended family far and wide. Heidi met with her many times in the next few weeks. It didn’t take long for the conversation to involve spiritual things – most Muslims are very God conscious. Their conversations out God, life, children, marriage, eternity, sin, joy and sadness soon turned into a Bible study. In a matter of weeks, Heidi’s new friend was ready to begin a new life in Jesus. A few other tentmaking women have become key parts of Heidi’s friend’s life. She enjoys her times with the Christians and finds fulfillment in studying the Bible and subtly sharing the Good News with her children. Praise God for his work in her life! It is the prayers of the Christian church world wide that moves God’s hand to create divine appointments that change the face of eternity.

* 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 those at the heart who
know "God-Hears" 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

August 28, 2006

"Beloved, the Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as think, but He is patient towards us since He does not want any to perish, but for all to come to make room for repentance & to come to a knowledge of the truth." - 2 Peter 3:9; 1 Timothy 2:4

PRAISE:
We rejoice at the successful Arabian Peninsula Consultation (APC) that was recently held in Europe. The many missions leaders and interested parties met to forge new alliances and made plans to advane the Good News in the Arabian Peninsula. This meeting is complimentary to the North American APC and the annual main consultation in the AP held each autumn in the region.

PETITION:
Pray for a believer to get a job. She has been hoping and praying for a long time. Ask God to open the door for her and provide for her in this way.

Pray for the new workers coming to the field this month. many have families and the logistics of moving to this region is many times very complex and difficult.

Pray for M. He is being challenged to go deeper in his relationship with Jesus. He has been on the fringe of following Jesus for several months.

Pray for S, a new Local believer, as she moves into a new housing situation. She is a difficult person and many in the Christian community have concerns about having her live with them.

Pray for the tent making teams in all of the Arabian Peninsula. Many changes have occurred in the past few months. Ask that the Holy Spirit would breathe anew into these Christian brothers and sisters as they are God’s ambassadors to the Arab Muslims in these lands.

TESTIMONY:
While much ministry takes place in the AP itself, those who are connected to the work there also have openings to share the Word of Truth with neighbors they meet in their homelands and during travels.

One PTAP partner has participated in a ministerial fellowship in a part of his home country where little organized ministry to Muslims has been taking place. Recently the ministerial fellowship hosted an outreach
to school-aged children and their families in a local park. While many of the children were of families from African, European, Hispanic, and east Asian heritage, there were a dozen or so families from the Middle East.

Many of the mothers who brought their children expressed genuine interest in learning more. Finding appropriate ways to connect women who will be able to minister to the needs with those mothers who expressed interest is a bit challenging, but the Lord is already beginning to prepare the way. He does not want any to perish.

* 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 those at the heart who know "God-Hears" 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 pardon the lengthy testimony, but glorify God for the Way He saves, even in Arabia!

Praise:

We give thanks to God for bringing new members into our team that will be in country in August and September. Our team in the capital city has had several families leave the country recently due to family situations.


Petition:

Pray for the pastor of the evangelical church. Pray that he would know God's vision and way forward. Pray for God's strengthening in the face of difficulties. Ask for God to send others to encourage him and uphold him.

Pray for the schooling needs of the Arab National worker in our region. His oldest son has an excellent opportunity to study medicine in North America, but they need additional funding for him to attend the university. This young man loves the Lord and wants to use his medical skills as an open door for the Gospel in the Arabian Peninsula.

Pray for the tent makers with teaching positions. Ask God to rejuvenate them during the summer weeks off of term time. Pray for the new students – particularly the National Muslim students - they will have in their classes starting in August and September.

Pray for the effectiveness of the outreach teams in London to share the Good News with Gulf Arabs – particularly in light of the recent bombings. Pray for divine appointments.

Pray for the security of 2 MBB young men that are in hiding in their country due to family pressure for them to return to Islam. Pray that they would grow strong in their faith in Jesus during this tremendous time of testing.


Testimony:

Living in a rural part of his country, Abdullah and his family struggled to make ends meet. He was good with his hands and even had a mechanics certificate. But there was very little work in the southern part of the country where they lived. He traveled to the big city to find work. He knocked on many doors and finally got a job with a small repair shop. The workplace was poorly lit, untidy with many safety hazards. Many of the workers were National Muslims like him, but many of them chewed a drug that numbed them to the dull and mundane existence they shared.

Abdullah knew that he couldn’t stay in this place long. He traveled to a more prosperous country in the Arabian Peninsula. He found better paying work in the new country. The cost of living was much higher in this country but he thought his chances of providing for his family would be better. He managed to scrape together enough money to have his wife come to the new country so they could both work and try to get ahead. They both worked long hours. They lived in a small, run down, 1 room apartment. The money that came in only seemed to cover their immediate needs. They weren’t able to save money so they could start a family. They became frustrated with their lives and small arguments often became big fights. He would shout and scream and blame her for their problems. Abdullah often hit his wife. During this stressful time his wife became pregnant and was sent back home because she couldn’t keep her job.

Abdullah plodded on in his struggle. He was hoping for a boy – a son to make him more respected in his community – both at home and in his working country. After a few months his wife had a miscarriage at a hospital not too far from their rural home. Some Christian doctors and nurses had tried to help her but the baby boy did not survive. Abdullah was crushed and angry. He was angry with those Christian medical people who were responsible for the loss of his child. On his next trip home, he went to the hospital with a gun. He wanted to get even with the Christian medical staff. When he went into the hospital with his gun under his kondura, he was met by a female Christian doctor who expressed real sorrow over the loss of their baby. She was so kind and sensitive. She gave him a Bible. Then she was called away to care for some emergency. Abdullah was alone, with his gun and his new Bible. He decided to leave the hospital. He returned to his work in the other country without telling his wife what had happened in the hospital.

One day after work he met an Arab Christian man from another country. He asked this man many questions and told him he even had a Bible. Over many weeks and months, Abdullah began to study the Bible with this Christian man. He began to see how bad he was, how poorly he had treated his wife and that his anger was a big problem. After more weeks of soul searching and discussions with his new friend, he placed his faith in Jesus. He began to change. He budgeted his money so that he could call his wife once a week. He grew in his walk with Jesus. He read his Bible. He was rarely angry. He had a good attitude even though his low paying work was below his skill level.

He went to his home country for a short holiday and asked his wife for forgiveness. She was shocked and amazed at the changes in her husband. His wife asked what had happened to him. He told her about Jesus and his Arab Christian friend in the other country. She called this man to find out what he could tell her about Abdullah’s change. After a short while she too came to faith in Jesus.

Today they are living in their home country working in whatever jobs they can to make ends meet for them and their children. They are active in the lives of the people in their region, sharing the Good News of Jesus with whoever will listen. They have been hassled by the police, they have been detained when traveling, but they can’t stop telling of the great things Jesus has done in their lives.

<>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Praying Thru the Arabian Peninsula
ptap@srginc.org
www.pray-ap.info
USA #: 800-376-5876
Encouraging & equipping believers & churches around the world to pray through the heart of the Muslim world so that church planting movements will spread throughout the Arabian Peninsula, to the ends of the earth & the islands ... to the glory of God in Christ.

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

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

N. American Coordinator & family is now a legal resident in the Great Lakes State. The Lord is renewing his work in various places & ways. To see God's people awakened to His presence & power is very encouraging!! The sweetness of our Savior is the savor in the midst of suffering. Please pray for our daily needs & let us know how we might pray for you. May the Lord be our Guard. - MJH ptap@srginc.org

"Love one another deeply, from the heart." - 1 Peter 1:22; 4:8

PRAISE:
Praise God for another new Arab believer. This believer desires to share Christ with her family. Pray that God will draw her family close to Him and prepare their hearts for what she will share.

PETITION:
"Salman" hopes to move into his new house soon! This finally means freedom for him and his sons to pursue their faith in Jesus - Isa al Messih - together as a family. His older son "Ammar" mentioned to me last month that he was - confused about whether Christianity or Islam is the right way." Who wouldn’t be confused in his situation – family split over major faith issues? Please pray for Salman as he models and teaches his boys about loving God through Isa al Messih.

Could you also pray for the local believers here. There is a lack of passion and desire to study the word. May they get the passion that comes from Him.

Pray for all the ministries in our embattled church here in our capital city. Pray for God's protection on the youth, for those on the fringes or making enquiries (such as those doing Alpha courses), for the young believers, as well as those more mature believers who are involved in the conflict.

Pray for a local man named Mohammed who recently received a “Skinny Luke-a thin booklet with the Gospel of Luke. Pray that he will read God’s Word and that He will change his heart so he could receive the Truth of Jesus Christ.

Praise God for the recent marriage of a fellow worker. The PTAP world-wide network has periodically prayed for this brother whose wife died tragically at a young age. Pray that God would richly bless this new marriage. Pray that God would knit the family together as the new bride becomes the instant mother of 3 young children (ages 7, 5, 2).

TESTIMONY:
"Sally" is a young mother of two very active, unruly children. She does not know how to handler her children. Her culture tells her it is OK for them to be undisciplined, they will get better over time. Her husband is very aloof when they are together as a family and rarely interacts with the children. He is very busy with work and spends a lot of time learning new programming languages for work while at home in the evening.

"Sally" has two lady friends that she really likes and respects. They are both Christians. One is an Eastern woman like herself and the other is a middle-aged Western woman. Both of them are calm, godly women. The middle-aged woman has a handful of children spanning 12 years. "Sally" really likes the way the older woman's children play, interact with their siblings and with other children. In response to her requests, the two ladies meet weekly to go over some Christian parenting resources. "Sally" is very encouraged by this and wants to know more about what Christianity has to say about raising children, about the husband-wife relationship and about sane living. Pray that through the discussions the Christian women have with "Sally" that she would hear the Good News of Jesus and understand God’s desire for her.

<>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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

"If you believe & continue to pray, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer!" - Jesus (Matthew 21:22)

PRAISE:
Praise God for another local MBB! We call her Michelle. Pray that God would allow her to see Him working in her life and to experience Him and His power is a special way. Pray that she would safely get some Christian resources and for an improvement in her work situation.

PETITION:
Please pray for the expatriate church here. They are going through a major crisis and conflict situation. Pray for God-given wisdom and guidance for those in positions of authority making decisions. Pray for God's will to be done here. Pray for healing for the church members, and for a way forward.

Former seekers have had renewed contact with workers. Pray that the workers will be given the opportunity to share with these seekers again. Pray that these local seekers will read and watch materials already given to them. Pray that God would give them the faith needed to believe.

M & S went on Hajj, but returned home disillusioned & searching for satisfying truth. They recently meet some tent-makers in their country. They enjoyed listening to their stories of Issa, and have continued the relationship. Pray that both M & S would come to know the Way, the Truth and the Life.

Pray for the 4 men arrested just recently that that God will comfort and guide them while they are in prison. They are charged with worshiping as Christians. Pray that they will be a light in darkness of the cells they are being held. Pray for the Secret Police who arrested them. Pray that God's Word would not return void and that it would penetrate the hearts of these men.

Two MBB men have an appointment this week with some expatriate government officials that could have a positive effect on their complicated situation. They ask that we join them in praying that God would open the doors or close the doors for them according to His will. They also ask for the wisdom to clearly see His leading.

TESTIMONY:
In 1999, Mary and her mother came to a large, cosmopolitan city from a neighboring, rival country. She came to get a visa to study in the West. They stayed in a modest hotel in the heart of the bustling souq (traditional shops) area of town. They were in town for only a long weekend.

One morning while they were waiting in the small lobby of the hotel, a pleasant, middle-aged Western woman approached her and her mother and asked if they could speak any English. Mary immediately knew she would like this woman – her face was so kind! In her broken English Mary tried her best to talk with the friendly woman. It turns out that this woman was a visitor to this country too, she came to meet with some people she knew and for tourism. Before the bus came to take Mary and her mother to their meeting at the Western embassy, the kind woman said that she would pray for her, that God would show her the way. “How interesting, that this Christian woman whom I only met 10 minutes ago, promises to pray for me! I wish I could meet her more times.” Mary thought.

Her visa meeting did not go well. She was denied the visa. The next 3 years of her life were miserable as her brother got heavily involved in drugs. His destructive lifestyle disrupted her entire family. Finally, her brother left the country after being chased by the police – he had become a thief and street gangster to support his drug addiction. After a few months, her brother called. He said that he was a changed man, he had become a Christian. “A Christian! Impossible! You are just lying like you always do” was her father’s reaction. However, over time, they noticed a change in his letters, emails and phone calls. He even sent some money from the country he was staying in to begin to pay back for the things he had stolen. Eventually, he returned home, shared his life and new faith with his family. They were also brought into the Kingdom and put their faith in Jesus. PTL!

The story doesn’t end there. In June 2006, Mary, her brother and few other people from her country that are now Christians, travel to that same country that Mary and her mother visited in 1999. While she is there at some Christian seminars put together for people from her background, she meets and kind, older woman who looks familiar. After a few minutes talking, Mary realizes this is the same woman at that hotel she met 7 years ago! Amazing – and here she is in the Christian meetings. Mary finds out that this kind woman had prayed for her every day for 7 years.

She prayed that God would draw her to Himself and that her whole family would come to know Jesus. That is exactly what happened. Mary was so happy on this day – rejoicing in the goodness of God. She has returned to her country where her family leads a house church network of hundreds of believers. Pray that she and her family would continue to keep their eyes fixed on Jesus and to be used by Him mightily in her home land.


<>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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

May 8, 2006

Peter said to Jesus, “You must never wash my feet!”
Jesus answered, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” – John 13:8

PRAISE:
We are so thankful that suitable housing has been found with a young believing couple for an MBB from the region living here. He was going to be living in a house without some mature Christians to disciple him.

PETITION
Pray for MBBs to have faith and trust in God’s way as they face all kinds of trials and persecutions. Pray that their desire to follow Jesus would be strengthened.

Pray for Christians living in remote regions. Pray for opportunities to meet with other believers. Pray for God to encourage them and bless them in their work. Pray for them to be envisioned to reach out to their friends, employers and work colleagues in the name of Christ with all kinds of loving deeds and expressions of God's truth.

A couple new to our city has moved into a neighborhood with local neighbors. This is not common in our city. It is not easy to find housing in local neighborhoods. Please pray that God will give them opportunities to show God's love to their neighbors and to share the truths of kingdom life with them as well.

Please keep praying for healing for a key tentmaker’s 7 year old son’s left eye. His vision is improving but it still has a long way to go. May God be glorified through the healing.

Please pray for two young women here who have expressed great interest, and then been heavily bombarded with opposition to the point of discouraging them from continuing to seek truth. Pray God's protection on His little lambs, & His enabling them to hear & follow their Shepherd in spite of all efforts to hinder them.


TESTIMONY
Sandra was horrified! She protested loudly and said this was too low of a thing to do. She also made it clear that we just did not understand her culture. On the contrary, we did. Jesus was a Middle Easterner and he understood exactly how offensive this act of service was for his disciples.

Samantha, the daughter of Sandra's uncle and the newest in the faith, upon hearing of how Jesus had washed his disciples’ feet during the last supper, suggested that we do the same. Sandra did not like the idea, to put it mildly.

Sharon, along with teammate Joy and another co-worker, Shirin, had gathered for an Easter celebration with Sandra, her daughter Melanie and her cousin Samantha, all of whom are Muslims who are now actively following Jesus. They spent the evening reading Luke 22-24.

The foot washing had not been in our plans but we were happy to do it. Once we reached that part of the story, Samantha got up, wrapped a towel around her waist and started to wash Joy's feet. Sandra was so upset that both she and Melanie refused to have their feet washed.

Sandra had read this passage before, but it came to life in a new way that night. Jesus' words to Peter broke through. Would Jesus really have nothing to do with her if she refused? Sandra understood the symbolism of servant-hood but struggled with the physical action of allowing her younger relative actually to do it. Melanie relented and allowed Samantha to continue. Sandra finally stood up, dipped her feet in the bowl and allowed Samantha to dry them off.

The week leading up to Easter had been especially tough for Sandra's daughter Melanie. She had doubted her new faith and almost did not come.

As we looked at Peter's claim that he would never leave Jesus, only to deny him later that evening, and Jesus' love for him through it all, Melanie heart broke. Despite her hard heart towards Jesus that week, she had received many blessings. She could not understand why that would happen. In Islam, she has feared God her whole life. She was always afraid of punishment. She could not believe that God still loved her and that He would still bless her even when she was not faithful.

The evening as a whole was incredible. Sharon felt it was her best Easter celebration ever and when shared with a trio of local believers who all endured tremendous opposition in the days and hours before the meeting, the event was nothing short of miraculous. It is such a privilege to be a part of God's team here.

"My child, you sins are forgiven!" - Jesus
... As a result, they were all astounded and gave glory to God, saying "We have never seen anything like this!"
(Mark 2:5b, 12b).

TESTIMONY:
There two women in our very modern city that a young tentmaker mom has been visiting for several months. The ladies live many kilometers apart and it is difficult to get together. Both are expatriate Muslim Arabs and they don’t drive. Both are feeling trapped in their lives. Fatima, the first woman – a 28 year old mother of 6 children, showed an interest in the Gospel kindled by a friendship she had with another tentmaker several years back. The other gal, Maryam, was very negative about anything religious and would stifle any conversation about Christianity when the 3 of them were together. The tentmaker prayed for wisdom in this situation. The Lord gave her the idea to meet with the women separately. This was a difficult thing due to her home responsibilities trying to care for her 2 small children, drive across town in terrible traffic and spend time with both ladies separately. But she trusted that God would provide.

God’s plan has borne fruit in that Fatima recently proclaimed that ‘she loves Jesus & wants to know more about Him!’ After her daily reading, she returns her Bible to its hiding place while her Jesus video is in another place – away from her husband’s suspicious eyes. She is hungry for the Word and is growing spiritually. Meanwhile, Maryam didn’t know that Fatima was meeting one-on-one with the tentmaker. Maryam was glad for her "alone-time" with the tentmaker. She has just recently begun to ask questions and wants to study the Bible with her friend. PTL for God melting her coolness and drawing her to Himself! Join us in prayer that Maryam will come to faith in Jesus. Pray for wisdom for the tentmaker mom as she juggles her schedule and responsibilities to meet with these dear women.


PRAISE:
Recently a Christian worker brought her "Muslim" friend to a Ladies' Fellowship to receive prayer. The young friend had a progressive disease leading to blindness, to paralysis, and death. She received prayer from the believers & the next day went for her routine check-in with her doctor. The doctor could find no trace of the disease, pronounced her "healed" & cancelled all her future appointments! Pray this will impact the Muslim community all around.


PETITION:
Pray for the tentmakers studying Arabic so they can speak the heart language of tens of millions of lost Arabs in the heartland of Islam. Some are learning storytelling, folk stories, and debate to better connect with locals – particularly the large number of illiterate women in Yemen & rural Saudi Arabia.

Please pray for a key couple in the region who are having an impact on the Muslim population & also the Christian community. They have been under persistent attack from the enemy & need protection, power & grace from the Lord.

Two Muslim Background Believers, Baraka and Hamad got together last week for the first time to study John’s Gospel together. It was awesome to see Hamad taking the lead in answering Baraka’s questions! Pray that the studies would continue and that both men would become pillars of God’s church in our country.

Pray for the work of God in the Farsi speaking community in our city. There are many that have come to faith in Iran and are now living or working in our city. Many come from homes that are loving on the outside, but manipulating and self-centered to the core. Pray for the wisdom as there are leadership issues and struggles in the small fledgling church.

Praise God for a new believer, we will call “Ben”. He just came to faith in the past few weeks. This dear believer is illiterate, but trying to learn to read so that he can read God's Word. Pray that God would bless him in his attempts to learn to read. Pray that God would continue to help him grow in wisdom and knowledge of the Lord.


<>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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

"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ & you shall be saved - you and your household!"
- Acts 16:31


PRAISE:
We are so excited! There have been two families in our city that have come to the Lord over the past few weeks. They are keen to grow in the knowledge and grace of their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Thank you partners in Praying Through the Arabian Peninsula [PTAP] for your faithful prayers!


PETITION:
Pray for a local man named Mohammed who recently received a Gospel of Luke. Pray that he will read God Word and that God will change his heart so he could receive the Truth of Jesus Christ.

Pray that whole Saudi families would come to know Jesus.

Pray for the plans for a new church building in our country to be approved by the various authorities. Pray also that God will provide the finances to go forward with it. Pray with us over all the details - the final design, the vision in the hearts of the people, the official approvals and paperwork, and God's provision for all of this.

Continue to pray for our tentmaking team as we disciple local Muslims that have come to faith in Jesus. For most of us, these are the first local believers we have discipled. Pray for us as we live the Gospel in front of them. Pray we can communicate in ways our Arab brothers and sisters can understand and apply.

Pray for a new MBB living with a family in a nearby country. She is young in her faith and emotionally immature. It has been a difficult transition to living with a family of a different culture. Pray for wisdom, much grace and love in this unique discipleship situation.


TESTIMONY:
We have another new believer! Samantha responded with hunger to her cousin Melanie’s amazing testimony of tremendous joy and new freedom through Isa al Messih. Melanie had experienced the mercy of Jesus breaking into deep issues in her heart, and Samantha wanted to know if she could experience that too. Sharon and Joy, two of our team members, visited Samantha to pray for her and tell her about Jesus. She just burst out, “I want Jesus!”

The next morning, Samantha had a dream in which she was holding the biggest loaf of bread she’d ever seen. In the dream, she began breaking the bread and giving it to all of her family! She called Sharon asking, “So, what do you think the dream means?” Tears ran down Sharon’s face as she led Samantha to John 6, where Jesus calls himself the Bread of Life. Samantha cried out in amazement, “You mean I am feeding Jesus to my family?!”

Samantha is part of an extended family that now includes 4 believers! We’ve been praying that God’s kingdom would expand along family lines. And now we’re seeing that happen. Please pray for mothers and brothers and fathers and sisters and aunts and uncles and cousins to 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