The Arabian Peninsula Partnership
The Gospel for every person and a church for every people in the Arabian Peninsula amongst indigenous peoples
09 December 2015
BELIEVERS, PERSECUTION, AND MARRIAGE
Many Gulf Muslims transformed by Jesus are persecuted by their own family and suffer complete loss of their families and community. In anguish, they turn to the local church community expecting to enter a community of believers. However, they are often met with suspicion and an unwelcome spirit. Combined with their family abandonment, this often results in stunted growth or complete destruction of new faith in the inexperienced believer. Pray that the believing church in all countries would welcome them, come alongside them (despite the risk), encourage their growth, and provide the family and community the new believer desires. Pray for more believers to be willing to live in Muslim countries and walk alongside these fledgling believers (despite the risk), and pray for more Gulf Arabic discipleship materials like literature, TV and online media to be available in the places where there are no people on the ground.
Single Gulf Muslims transformed by Christ are earnestly seeking husbands and wives who are also transformed. But they face fierce opposition from their families who often have a Muslim spouse already chosen for the match. How do they turn down the proposed match and still uphold family honour and cultural traditions in the community? Pray for these young people to find the right spouse from the believing community (which can be difficult as well) and get family permission for marriage. Pray also that their families will welcome, accept and come to love not only their own transformed child, but the new person in their child's life.