Calling Christians Worldwide to Pray for our world’s Muslim
Neighbors during their month of Ramadan
Colorado Springs, CO, May 2016 — Muslims around the world are getting ready for the annual Ramadan, Islam’s holiest month. In 2016 it occurs from June 6 to July 5.
Christians are gearing up as well for the 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World, an international movement that began in 1993. Millions of Christians worldwide, and from many denominations, have regularly participated in this concerted prayer effort for Muslims coinciding annually with the month of Ramadan, a time of the year when Muslims are much more deeply aware of spiritual matters.
Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, is a time when Muslims are supposed to practice self-restraint by fasting (abstaining from food and drink and other physical needs) during daylight hours. It is also a time to strengthen ties with family, friends and neighbors, and do away with evil actions and thoughts. Muslims hope that as a result God will be more inclined to hear their prayers.
WorldChristian.com is the North American coordinator of the annual 30 Days prayer focus designed to raise awareness and encourage new initiatives to reach out to Muslims—around the world and across the street—with more understanding, and with faith, hope and the love of Christ.
When 30 Days started, Islam was not a daily news item; much has changed since the 9/11 attacks. News of radical terror groups now invade our news channels every day. But there is another story, an even greater story that is unfolding across the Muslim world today.
Mission strategist and author David Garrison says: “We are in the midst of the greatest turning of Muslims to Christ in 14 centuries of Muslim-Christian interaction. More than 80% of all the Muslim movements to Christ in history have occurred in the past two to three decades, a time period that coincides with the modern prayer movement for Muslims. At the heart of this modern prayer movement is ’30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World.'” His book “A Wind in the House of Islam” and a DVD, “In the House of Islam” are available from www.WorldChristian.com.
Each year WorldChristian.com produces a new full-color 30 Days prayer guide booklet, available in adult and kids versions (tens of thousands of booklets are ordered from throughout North America; and beyond that, several dozen language editions are produced and distributed in other parts of the world). Each day focuses on a specific issue or area of the Islamic world. As you read and pray through it, you’ll gain a better understanding of Muslims.
North American coordinator Paul Filidis adds that praying, “expands our ability to love. As you pray for people, you can’t help but get God’s perspective, and His heart for them, which is very different from the fear, anger or even hate that is so easily incited when only focusing on the actions of extremists.”
