The
date was October 29, 1974. My brother and I were in Houston's Astrodome
along with 50,000 others, there to watch a closed circuit telecast of
Muhammad Ali's fight with George Foreman. Even though Houston was
Foreman's hometown, ninety percent of the crowd chanted "Ali! Ali! Ali!"
through the entire fight.
Such was the global celebrity of Muhammad Ali. As the world knows, Ali
died last Friday at the age of 74. Testimonials about his life and
significance made global headlines across the weekend. Born Cassius
Clay, he converted to the Nation of Islam in the early 1960s and to
Sunni Islam in 1975. He was perhaps the most famous American convert to
Islam in our nation's history. (For more on Ali, see Nick Pitts's
The Fight and Faith of Muhammad Ali.)
As many as
20,000 Americans convert to Islam every year. However,
it is estimated
that seventy-five percent of new Muslim converts in the U.S. leave
Islam within five years. Meanwhile, more Muslims are coming to Christ
than ever before, many after seeing visions and dreams of Jesus. (For
more, see my friend Tom Doyle's excellent book,
Dreams and Visions.)
Muslim authorities in Indonesia
are warning
that two million Muslims in their country convert to Christianity every
year. At this rate, the world's largest Muslim nation will be mostly
Christian by 2035. Over six million Muslims in Africa
convert to Christianity every year. More Muslims around the world have become Christians in the last fifteen years than in the previous fifteen centuries.
Here's how you can help.
Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, began last night.
According to Muslims, the Prophet Muhammad received the first of his
revelations from the angel Gabriel on the seventeenth day of this month
in the year AD 610.
As a result, observant Muslims mark this event each year by fasting
during the entire month. From sunup to sundown, they abstain from food,
drink, smoking, and sexual relations. They believe that spiritual
rewards for good deeds are multiplied during this month, so they are
especially focusing on prayer and worship.
That's where we come in.
It is imperative that Christians pray for Muslims during these days when
they are most open to God. Missionaries to the Muslim world report
miraculous movements of God's Spirit during these weeks.
That's why I urge you to join me in praying every day this month for Muslims to encounter Christ in visions and dreams. (The
30 Days of Prayer
guide is an excellent resource.) Ask God to help you build
relationships with Muslims in your community so you can show them his
love in yours. Pray for those on the front lines of Muslim evangelism
around the world and for the protection and spiritual growth of Muslims
who have come to Christ.
Our Father wants us not to fear Muslims but to love them and to
intercede for them every day. He intends for the world to be "filled
with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea"
(Habakkuk 2:14). His Spirit is working powerfully to bring Muslims to
Jesus.
Will you partner with him in prayer today?
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar