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.

What involuntary hospitalization is & How it felt like persecution:

Simply put, it is when the law is concerned that you are disturbing the peace and so they hospitalize the person against their will.

Not that I went kicking and screaming, the police just provided an escort and try to keep neighborhoods and office buildings free of roaming strangers. If I don't shave for a few days and get dirty and kind of hunker over, I can make a good imitation of a homeless person, but I didn't do that. I was just trying my best to share the gospel. Some would say it was without the Spirit, some would say it was with the
Spirit. All I know, is that my intent was not to scare anyone or disturb anyone's peace or ruin any concentration, I was just seeking to testify to the grace of God ... then people got a little disturbed.

There have been times I intentionally acted out of ordinary and disturbed people in sharing the simple Gospel and they fled from me, but it seemed to have more to do with
them avoiding the responsibility to face Christ. Also, I have escorted Jehovah Witnesses out of the apartment complex. But even the JW's remarked that I was "tranquil" ... despite being on low medicine dosages.

Lessons I learned, despite the "suffering" of the insults and questionings and mockery:

1. Be wise in dealing with children ... keep parents informed if you teach them the Bible and let kids play with kids. It is culturally inappropriate to talk to them without the consent of their parents. (I am thankful that
I don't have to go to elementary school to become as a child repeatedly to enjoy the Kingdom of God.)

2. Be wise at church ... keep your amens and convictions to yourself and endure poor teaching and repetitive worship if you must. It is culturally inappropriate to communicate agreement or disagreement with the man behind the pulpit. (I am thankful that Jesus is still the Head of the Church.)

3. Be wise at office buildings ... scheduled appointments are much less intimidating to physicians than an impromptu witness. It is culturally inappropriate to visit a physician without first making an appointment. (I'm glad that the Great Physician does house calls still!)

Until the patient who is "involuntarily hospitalized" has a hearing in court or consents to "treatment" (basically, expresses a willingness to take medicine & work with the program), they are held involuntarily. Because I ended up in the hospital more than once in a short period of time & they didn't believe that I was taking my medication (which I was)
and they didn't want me to stay awake at home.

Ironically, my sleep is as disturbed now as it was before, though I sleep in after the morning medicines now as I am adjusting & feeling a little less motivated. But Sheila
likes the "new" mert (sedated with medication & very lazy, okay, she doesn't like the lazy part, but then again who does?). I personally believe that it was God's will that I
be hospitalized and be harrassed by some fellow residents and deal with the hospital system. My faith grew and I was encouraged that even with the inconvenience of not being
able to doing the Lord's work on the outsie, the Lord opened up numerous opportunities to share the message of Christ, even though the official policy is "no attempts to convert
anyone allowed."

Hope that helps.

By the way, the hospital entertainment: going on walks outside the building, making silly crafts, watching TV, going to 'groups,' pacing the halls is sort of like the jail that I was in when I visited those in jail, only more staff and carpet and better decor.

BTW: I received this week notice of court order declaring that I am legally incapacitated from obtaining a license. At first I thought it was talking about a license to drive since the state police issued it, I felt odd about that. As I read the odd print later, it was about a license to obtain a firearm or a license to carry a concealed firearm. HA-HA-HA! I didn't want to get a gun anyways! I will only be able to shoot pictures from now on, no guns in the house! Dad never was for guns anyways, I guess I have no choice but being the same way in that regard.

Another funny thing, the second time I went to the hospital, I received paperwork indicating "no possessions." I think I might frame that. It is like saying, Mert, you are poor, dirt poor, you have NOTHING! Ha-ha, Ho-ho! But the Lord is our inheritance, kinda like the Levites and the third order Franciscans. :-)

Peace in Christ,
Mert Hershberger

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."

"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

Starting a new business here is not an easy matter but one that requires much prayer and wisdom. We ask you to support a friend who will be setting up a new work. Ask the Lord to bless and walk with her through each stage of the process. Pray for Him to provide the funds, the location, the personnel to meet the needs of the project. Ask Him to use this open doors for many like-minded workers to come into the country. Most importantly, ask the Lord to use this project to provide the opportunity for many to come to know Christ as Savior.

September 18, 2006

"... Daily in the temple and in every house, they didn't stop teaching about & preaching Jesus Christ." - Acts 5:42

PRAISE:
We are thrilled that ‘Alex’ an MBB+ from a neighboring country is able to go to his home country and visit with his ailing father and elderly mother. He has been allowed to leave the country for the past 3 years due to work, political and religious issues.

PETITION:
Pray for the expatriate church here. Pray for those new to the area would find spiritual homes and a place to be refreshed and envisioned for the work of the Kingdom.

Pray for local believers during Ramadhan (it starts on 24 September 2006). Pray that God would sustain them and strengthen them and protect them against the strong pull of Islam Pray for God's grace in their lives at this time as many will be facing pressure to join with family and community events and special prayers at the mosque.

Pray for Salman, a National MBB+ as he is getting his life back together after the death of his wife from a prolonged illness. He and his wife came to Christ when an Iraqi Christian couple visited them in the hospital a few days before her death. Pray that he would be comforted by his Savior and Lord.

Pray for continued growth, rebuilding, and strength for all of the local believers here in our country.

Ask that the Father will be with a Believer who is being held in a prison. Ask that this person's family, who do not believe, will come to Faith through these very hard circumstances.

TESTIMONY:
The outreach team was praising the Lord for so many open doors of opportunity they had to give away the Jesus video on DVD, Arabic New Testaments and other Christian literature. One day, one of the team members prayed boldly “I want someone to come to us and say that they have watched the video and have questions.” Later that same day, when the team came back from an outreach on the far side of the lake, a man from Saudi Arabia approached the man who prayed so boldly hours before. The man Saudi man was aggravated and spoke loudly ‘Are you the people who have been giving out this movie about Issa (Jesus)?’ The Arab Christian man calmly but meekly said that he was. The Muslim man said ‘Good! I watched it last night and I have lots of questions!’ The two men spent the next hour or so talking about the claims of Jesus and what that means for all mankind. We are excited about the high number of people from the AP* that were brought into contact with Arab Christians that live as expatriates in the same region. Pray that they would continue to seek out the truth about God and come to faith in Him.

* 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

"A strange lad heard that the Lord would make a pathway through the wilderness. He did not understand what it meant at first, but knew that in obedience is better than sacrifice. After going as far through the wilderness as he knew, he encountered a strange sight: Two unfamiliar women dressed in gym clothes. Ashamed of himself, he cried out to the Lord and went as quickly as He could, crying out in thanks to our God & Savior who gives us the victory. Again, two people that he did not recognize ran towards him with shouts. The poor lad was terrified, sure that the Lord Jesus was revealing something to him, but unsure what. He persevered, going to the little chapel as quickly as possible, knowing that he had work. After caring for the little work he had for the day, a person called & patiently listened to his meditation on the Word for the day. He was hungry, and ate, but no sooner had he eaten a bite, than he remembered that people outside were in the midst of conflict because the administration was getting richer, but not them. The words of our Lord had beat within him all day, "Be content with what you have, for He has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you!"" He realized his sin, and could eat nothing but what he intended to eat drink to ensure that it was "not poisoned" before giving it to others. Having survived that "trial" of "royal" cup-bearers and in the strength of the food which is hidden from the world, he went out, happy with Jesus. After a little time wandering in the wilderness and visiting the locals amid the Union of the States, he returned to his little work place to seek the Lord, refreshed & grateful for the Father's love ... and for the invitation that had been extended to him by those who appeared to be faithful, even while working in the world. The closet door locked, he prepared to go home."

"Abraham believed God, & He creditted it to him as righteousness." - Genesis 15:6

PRAISE:
Praise the Lord for the successful cancer surgery for the mom of a tentmaker in our country.

PETITION:
Pray for the Arab Muslims from the Arabian Peninsula on holiday in Malaysia. Pray that they would have a divine appointment with one of the Arab evangelism teams in the city’s parks and recreation areas.

Pray for the opportunity a MBB+ has to travel to another Islamic country to minister with Muslim seekers. Pray for his visas to travel into the guest country and a return visa to his current service country.

Pray for the health of a tentmaker that left the field due to an ongoing battle with cancer. Pray that he would be able to endure the pain of his deteriorating condition.

Pray for the tentmakers taking special Arabic courses during the summer months so that they may be more effective in their contact evangelism and discipleship activities in the autumn.

Pray for the MBB that is struggling with her faith. She has been systematically enticed by her Muslim family to go back to Islam and a share of the family wealth. Pray that she would not let go of the only true Savior she will ever know.

TESTIMONY:
Ibrahim is a business executive in his country. He is fairly successful with his government job and does well with his private business that he runs with his family. He is middle aged, with at least one wife and several children in their 20’s and late teens. Over a year ago, he began a friendship with a foreign medical professional. They met for coffee every once in a while, talked about all aspects of life which of course included their faith in God. Ibrahim began to wrestle with his Islamic faith in light of the discussions with his Christian friend. After several months of discussions and mostly watching his Christian friend’s work, social and family life – he expressed his desire to follow Jesus. Together the two men studied the Bible, prayed together, grappled with application issues that affected his new life in Christ. Amazingly, shortly after Ibrahim was firmly rooted in his new faith, his Christian friend left his country. Instead of being alone however, God brought another Christian into his life – who “happened” to know his first Christian friend.

Today, Ibrahim is still growing in his faith, however, he is not meeting with the very few other Christians from his own country. He meets one-on-one with a few expatriate Christian men for discipleship and Bible study. Pray that others from his people group would come to faith and become the core of the first National church 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 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

"You not only began to do something, but to desire. NOW, finish the doing as well, so that the eager desire may be completed out of what you have." - 2 Corinthians 8:10b-11

PRAISE
We are rejoicing at the way God has provided for a family of workers in the UAE. God has paved the way for this trained and equipped family to join the work God is doing in this country.

PETITION
Pray for the number of local Muslims that have been relating to tentmakers over the past few months. Pray that they would continue to grow in their faith even if their spiritual mentors are out of the country for a short while.

Pray for the Muslim woman who came to faith in the UAE in the spring. She is growing in wisdom in dealing with her Muslim parents who know of her faith in Jesus.

Pray for wisdom for the Christian community in the 7 Arabian Peninsula (AP) countries as they interact with dozens of Muslims per day wanting to understand the violence in Lebanon, Palestine and Iraq. Pray that the peace of Jesus would reign in these situations.

Pray for the work in Kuwait. The church and tentmaker communities in Kuwait have a very strong bond. There have been a number of Kuwaiti seekers that have been jointly cared for by the church and the tentmaker community.

Pray for volunteers to help staff a guest house we have in the region. This house provides accomdation and a meal to thousands of weary, missionaries from across the region as they travel from country to country. Pray that the couple caring for the guests would get a break this summer.

TESTIMONY
Praise the Lord for the powerful prayers of the church team that came to the lower Gulf countries of the AP*. They came to pray for God's work in these countries. They traveled throughout the area praying as they walked.

The team from North America was linked with a Muslim Background Believer who provided them with prayer insight like no other could. They visited all of the Islamic hotspots of the countries visited. They were able to pray onsite with insight.

While the results of those prayers are still to be fully manifested, we are certain that God will use their faithful prayers to change the face of eternity as He responds to their request for more MBBs+.

We are excited that groups have signed up to come and pray in the coming year.


* 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

One of the biggest challenges for believers is to decide how bold to be in sharing their faith. Not everyone in their homeland will rejoice with them in their New Life and many will want to see them return to their former position. Yet they desire to be faithful and obedient to their Master.

One believer has decided that his responsibility is primarily for the members of his extended family and he is actively seeking ways of speaking to different individuals and helping them to discover truth.

Please remember this man: that the Lord will give him wisdom and opportunity to testify and that he may rejoice to be the first among many in his family to believe.

July 10, 2006

"Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila." - Acts 18:18

PRAISE:
We are rejoicing in our tiny Arabian Peninsula country where two of the National Muslim Background Christian believers are meeting together regularly during the summer to study God’s Word, for prayer and encouragement. This is a huge step to do this together! We are so grateful for God’s work in their lives.

PETITION:
Some tentmakers have speaking engagements in their home countries. Pray for God to use them to call people to pray and intercede for this region. Pray also for God to speak through them and call others to join us here in the work.

Pray that Saudis would begin to think critically and question Islam, and that God would bring the presence of His eternal truth to Saudis.

Please pray for a believer who has slipped back and turned away from the truth. Pray he will be brought back again.

Thanks PTAP for your prayers on behalf of the Muslim Background Believers (MBB) brother in the UAE who needed his passport to be renewed by his country’s embassy. He received his passport late last week. He now needs God’s wisdom to determine which door is being opened to him.

Pray for the two MBB brother that are living undercover in the region. They may be granted an opportunity to visit a Western nation that has a group of fellowships to care for them. Pray that God’s will would be clear in this situation for these two young men.

TESTIMONY:
A young, Arab family from the Levant lives in the Arabian Peninsula. They came to the “Gulf” for a better life than they could have in their home country. They wanted good jobs and to be able to provide for their children and their extended family living in difficult situations back home. They both work in jobs using their hard earned university qualifications in their home countries. They attend the expatriate Arab evangelical fellowship. They are part of a home bible study. They love the Lord and are growing in their Christian walk. They have lived their entire Christian lives in countries dominated by Muslims. This affects their view of relationships outside of the church and how they related to non-Christians.

There are hundreds of families just like them spread across the major cities of the Arabian Peninsula (AP). Last summer, they gave up their regular holiday and went to Europe on a Christian outreach to Muslim Arabs from the Gulf. They were afraid, they felt uncertain, they trusted in the Lord. They found that they had many good conversations with Arab Muslims from the Arabian Peninsula! They found that the Muslims were open to hearing about Jesus. They were excited to see God melt away their fear and bring many people into their lives.

Now, back in their work and neighborhood situations, they look for opportunities to share their lives with their Muslim neighbors – both with Gulf Arab Muslims and Arab Muslims from their home country. God has transformed them to be outreach oriented as they took that initial step of faith last summer. They are challenging other families in their circle of Christian Arabs to take the same step of faith. It is the Arab Christians living in the Arabian Peninsula that will have the greatest impact for the Gospel among the National Arab Muslims of the Arabian Peninsula. Pray that more expatriate Arab Christians living in the AP will take the step of faith to be used by God in calling Muslims of the AP to Himself.


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

July 3, 2006

"Though my father & mother leave me, the Lord will take care of me." -
Psalm 27:10

PRAISE:
We praise God for His abundant blessings on a tentmaker in our country who recently was married. He tragically lost his wife while living in the Arabian Peninsula several years ago. He and his new wife and his 3 small children are being blended into a loving community as they seek to be part of God's work in their country of service.

PETITION:
Pray for the family that just left one of the most conservative countries in the Arabian Peninsula. Their contract has been closed, they won't be able to return their country. Pray for the smooth transfer of local relationships to other workers who can continue to bear witness of the transforming grace of God.

Pray for the local woman who came to faith recently. She is facing much turmoil in her home. Much of it is from the disfunctional relationships in her family. Pray that the love of Jesus would shine through her and bring peace to her family.

Pray for the expatriate Muslim Background Believer who is seeking out work opportunities. Pray for wisdom.

Pray for the tentmakers who don't leave the region during the summer months. Pray that they would have opportunities to connect with Muslims with open hearts during these months of intense heat.

Lift up the outreaches in Switzerland, Lebanon and UK during these next 6 weeks. Tentmakers from the Arbian Peninsula have traveled to these holiday locations to meet up with AP Arabs to make friendships and share Jesus. Pray for fruit!

TESTIMONY:
"Gladys" is from a mixed religion home. Her father is a Muslim, her mother 'converted' in name only. Glady's home was filled with conflict that culminated with her parent's divorce when she was in her teens. She switched living situations often and never felt at home in either place.

Now as an adult, she has moved to the Arabian Peninsula - in a large, busy city. She is a successful business woman. She is single but would like to be married. Now in her 30's, she feels lonely and is
searching for God. About 7 years ago, a Christian woman from her same country into her life. They both lived in worked in the same foreign country. Over time, they drifted apart - mostly because Gladys moved to Europe.

They have re-acquainted themselves in the past 4 months. Gladys has noticed how peaceful her Christian friends' life is - although it is very busy with job, and children and house and other demands. Gladys just recently asked for some help from her friend - she has a biting emptiness in her life that her friend doesn't have. This led to a
warm and loving conversation about Jesus. Gladys was excited to learn about Jesus - she had seen the Passion of Christ movie but didn't understand it all. She read the latest "Code" book, but felt it was insincere and mis-truths. Her friend's life and story was so real, so warm, so evident! Gladys has watched the Jesus film recently and had many questions - mostly about the person of Jesus. She feels like God is calling her to Him.

Pray for Gladys and for the tentmaking couple who are caring for her.

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.

Today I asked some folks where I work a simple question:

What is the simplest thing you have ever learned?

Some responses:
How to breathe.
How to walk.
Language.
How to love.
How to eat.

For me, the most important/simplest thing I have learned was:
The answer to this question:

"Whose ya Daddy?"

To know God as our Father is such a joy.

He gives us breath.
Fills us with love.
Enables to speak.
Feeds us with His Word.
& Has shown us how to walk.

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

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

Written in response to someone who requested info about how to witness to Hindu's. Namely, what Hindu "bible" to read.

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Familiarity with the basic outline of Biblical history & then understanding the basic sorts of Hinduism would be MUCH MORE HELPFUL than trying to read Hindu anthologies since the Hindu "holy" book_s_ are rather extensive & encyclopedic.
Vedas.
Upanishads.
Poems, including: Bhagavad Gita. was popularized by street flower
peddlers. (A rather perverse work, actually.) ...
... These books roughly pile up like the Islamic Hadiths. Traditions
have a way of accumulating like that & becoming rather burdensome.

A simple Bible study that both gives an overview of Hinduism & answers
from the Bible. Prayer & meditating on the Biblical passages would
help in applying the significance of the Truth to conversations with
the doctor:
http://www.biblestudylessons.com/cgi-bin/gospel_way/hinduism.php

This site gives historical background on Christianity in India that may help understand how to reach the doctor better, understanding the barriers that are present:
http://www.hindubooks.org/sudheer_birodkar/hindu_history/christianity.html

I would highly recommend works by Stanley Jones who reached out to
Hindus (& others) in India. His biography, "Song of Ascents" has some
excellent material: keep a keen sense of humor & follow the Holy
Spirit's lead.

Books available @
http://www.christianbook.com/

Sharing Your Faith With a Hindu
By: Madasamy Thirumalai

To learn about what Hinduism is:
Responses to 101 Questions on Hinduism
By: John Renard

Hinduism, TM and Hare Krishna
- Zondervan Guide to Cults & Religious Movements Series
By: J. Isamu Yamamoto, James Bjornstad, Kurt Van Gorden

Some other divisions within Hinduism I did not see on the site above:
Different yogas / works / disciplines:
- Intellectual: Brainpower. Meditation. This sort of stuff is popular
in modern "academic" medicine & they even put on shows for people
demonstrating the ability to control brainwaves.
- Rituals & recitations: Elaborated in & enscribed in the the Vedas,
etc.
- Work: Traditionally, according to caste.
- Excercise: Sort of like the Islamic salat at the mosque & the American
workout at a gym or Chinese movements before work.)

Castes (partly job description in traditional society, partly limiting
opportunities for the "underlings" of today):
Priestly, Warrior, Workers, Farmers, Outcastes (Tribal Groups &
Christians have traditionally been put here in India. Ghandi endorsed
this approach when he helped set up "modern" India ... thus, he
actually set the course for contemporary persecution.)

- There are local demons that are worshiped in small shrines. (Tended
by a family member if it is for a family or a priest if it is for the
village.)
- Major events at the junctures of rivers in India. (Millions of
people.)
- Various holidays. (Some of which become orgiastic opportunities to
draw people in using Balaam's methodology.)
- Idolatry is typically a central feature & would need to be addressed,
even with most M.D.'s in the USA. Love of money, for example.

Hinduism is actually more like a nationalistic religion centered in
India, for most folk, though places influenced by India (Nepal,
Pakistan & Bangladesh, and Bali also has some Hindu-type temples.) It
is a very degraded & degrading religion, more so than Islam in some
ways.

The advice Paul gives the Galatians in chapter 6 seems rather relevant:
be careful not to fall into the same sin yourself in seeking to pull
them out. The "Galatians" were from a similar background as Hindus:
pagan idolatry.

Pray, pray, pray. Honest love & patient pursuit of the Great Physician tend to be a solid witness to Hindu doctors. Don't give up. Jesus is Lord. Hinduism will fall.

Also, there are some linguistically & culturally appropriate Christian films that were produced by Indians.

Peace in Christ,
Mert

Muslims try to refashion their religion at times. But the underlying issues remain. These are the shortcomings that I see, they are needs that cannot be met with Islam:

integrity (beyond one's own capacity)
faith (beyond theory)
holiness (beyond discipline)
hope (beyond terminal illness)
truth (beyond mere tolerance)
love (beyond family ties)

Jesus alone is able to save. He alone died on the cross for Muslims. Mohammed is dead. His kingdom is not eternal. At best, it lasts up to the grave side ... & then there is no hope! If you are a muslim, repent of your false peace. If you are a follower of Jesus, proclaim the peace!

Practical advice cannot always fulfill permanent aspirations.
Pacifism cannot quell the wrath of God.

I have found the following statement to have results when talking to
Muslims locally who ask if I am a muslim:

If you mean that I believe in one God, yes.
If you mean that I am submitted to Him, yes, I lay down my arms before
the name of Lord Jesus, the Messiah.
But I do not recognize Muhammed as a prophet.

.. One man who tried to engage in a battle ended up leaving the
workplace because he could no longer face his hypocrisy. ... Another
had his eyes opened.

Thank you for lifting up the prayers we send out. Please remember that the requests we send out do not only reflect those related to our team, but the requests also include ones that we have received from other teams across the land. The purpose of the sharing the requests among the various teams is to strengthen our unity in prayer and to witness what God is doing across the land, & not just in our cities.

Please lift these requests up:
* God seems to be moving workers around in various areas. Several workers will be leaving the kingdom 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 there. Ask God to send more workers for the harvest.

* A couple worker in one region will not have their contract renewed. I have copied their requests below. "We will probably have to leave too, but in the [early fall] of this year. There have been complaints against our activities and we had to move out of the community to the compound. We heard already that there are no intentions to renew the contract, but Allah akbar (God is greater) if He wants us to stay, maybe in another city than He will. We're not looking forward to having to apply for a job again and move again. Please pray for this whole situation."

* This couple also has a family member dealing with the increasing effects of cancer. "His mom was diagnosed with intestinal cancer a few years ago, which was untreatable. She did very good without pain until now, but now the pain and more complaints are coming, so we think she is entering a stage which will go downwards. You can pray for her and Chris' dad, but also for the surrounding family, that we can all support them (even from a far distant in our case)."

* This couple is also expecting the birth of their 3rd child in March. Pray that the Lord blesses this family in a special way as the birth approaches. Pray for the mother and the new life she help bring into the world.

* A Ch. couple working here for the Lord have a relationship with a local couple who are seeking the Lord. It has been some time since the two couples have been able to meet together. Pray that God would supply an opportunity for these two couples to meet together. Ask God to move in the hearts of the seekers and prepare them to hear the Gospel.

* Many workers across the country are involved in learning Arabic. Pray that God help them to acquire the language they need to minister here in the kingdom.

* Ba. is a poor local man whom a worker has been reaching out to. Pray that the worker would have wisdom to know how to minister and witness to this man. Language is a barrier. Pray that God would provide a way for these men to communicate about Him.

* Ab. is a local believer who is growing in his faith. He is looking to immigrate to another country. Pray that God would give him wisdom to discern His will. Pray for the worker who is ministering to this brother that he would be able to provide wise counsel.

* A worker will soon share with A-A again. Pray that he would be open to the Gospel and that God would speak through the worker.

* Os.: Pray that the worker would have the opportunity to meet with him again and that Osama would have a desire and interest for the Gospel.

* Pray for At. and the worker who is ministering to him. The worker will
take another worker with him for the next meeting. Pray that God would move in a mighty way through these workers and in the heart of Ateea.

* Another couple (D&K) will not have their contract extended & it seems thus far that the Lord is leading them to leave this summer. Pray that they are able to discern His will for their lives and that they remain obedient to His call. "We still feel very much called to the people of this country. Pray that God would show us how and where to minister to them. It seems as though many changes lay ahead for us as a family. Please keep us in your prayers."

PRAISES! PRAISE! PRAISE!

Last month you were asked to pray for a worker who had given 9 people christian materials at Christmas time. The request was specific to her work situation that there would not be any backlash. The worker reported that her work situation has been fine and no negative actions from the gifts. Pray that God would open the hearts of those 9 people to receive Jesus.

Praise the Lord that He is good all the time! That His mercies are new
every morning and that He is faithful in all circumstances.

We pray that God blesses you in your work for His Kingdom. Thank you for
lifting up these requests and blessing others with your prayers.

"You are the light of the world." - Jesus (see Matthew 5)

PRAISE:
Praise the Lord that a worker in the region who has been fighting cancer is making significant progress. He is still in need of prayer, but all the medical people involved in his case are encouraged by his progress.

Praise the Lord for several tentmaking families that have recently given birth to children in their countries of service. All of the children and mums are healthy. We rejoice in the hope of new life and trust that God’s hand will be on these special children.

PETITION:
Please pray for B, a local believer who has been away from the faith for a while. He now has shown a desire to return to following Jesus. Praise God! Pray that he continues to grow and that the Evil One will not have a hand in his life.

Pray for an ex-pat Arab Muslim lady who has shown great interest in the things of God. She is reading the Bible and wants to find out more about Jesus. She will be given the Jesus film audio later this week. Please pray that the Holy Spirit will give her understanding and a revelation of Himself.

Lift up a young family in our country. Their ability to stay and minister is in jeopardy. A religious officer retrieved some religious material that they had distributed. They have been placed under close watch. Pray that they would be able to continue to do the work God has for them and to protect their contacts.

Join us as we ask God to provide the teachers for a special training school that has been started by an international coalition of mission agencies in the central region of our country. The institute has the potential to touch the lives of thousands of National Muslim men and women. Pray that governmental approval will be granted in the near future.

Pray for some Muslim background believers who were arrested several months back. They have since been released by their government but are continually harassed by the religious police at home and in the workplace. Pray that these men will not become discouraged. Pray that they would keep on growing in their walk with Jesus.

TESTIMONY:
A middle aged woman on our team has recently been in a very challenging situation. She was visiting with one of her National Muslim neighbors when a man burst into the ladies majlis (meeting room) and pointed an angry finger at our friend. He was very rude and abrupt and said some very unpleasant things about Christianity and the Bible. Our friend, “R”, was stunned by such a violent verbal attack and said little. After he left the ladies of the household continued their friendly visit.

Time passed until again “R” was visiting her friend when again this aggressive man burst into the room to degrade Christianity and the Bible more vehemently that the previous time. This time “R” was ready with a few concise words that could be planted in his mind to make him take step back and assess his life and behavior. After his most recent tirade, “R” made a few comments that challenged the angry man’s statements.

Eventually, this angry man asked for a Bible. Today, he reads his Bible everyday and always has questions for “R” when she comes over to meet with his sisters and aunts. Praise the Lord for His powerful word. May it bring salvation to the household of Ahmed.

<>< <>< <>< <>< <><
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.

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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