The Persecuted Church

South Asia

"These are marks of grace," A. explained, referring to his blind eye and the scar on his forehead. "I could have died in the attack on the church."

After his wounds had healed, A. explained to his small South Asian congregation, "God is using these things - the attacks, the bombs, the machine gun first - to purify and renew us, His Church. He is calling us to reach out to the Muslims around us. Will we listen, or does God have to do something more?"

As we have recently remembered the World Trade Center and Pentagon tragedies of Sept. 11, recommit yourselves to faithful intercession for Muslims. Pray particularly for young Muslim men living in impoverished, hopeless situations to hear of God's love for them. Pray that they will reject the temptation to become terrorists, choosing instead the abundant life found only in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Also, pray for Muslim fundamentalists to have life-transforming encounters with Jesus Christ like that experienced by Saul, the terrorist targeting Christians, on the road to Damascus.

Praying Beyond the Wall of Islam