Day 4

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:16-19

Kazakhstan is nearly the size of Western Europe, yet has only 16 million inhabitants. Of those, 9 million are Kazakhs, whose religion has traditionally been folk Islam. In 1990 there were hardly any Kazakh Christians, but now they number over 10,000! The meet in over 40 Kazak-speaking congregations. The Church is especially growing among young people.

Kazakhs have been nominally Sunni Muslims since 1043, but theres is a folk Islam strongly influenced by animistic practices. An Islamist movement is being fulled by Muslim missionaries and money from Iran, Turkey and Arab countries. There were 60 mosques in 1991; nine years later there were 5,000. Christianity is still viewed as the religion of the Russian oppressors.

Kazakhstan's cultural and religious diversity may make this land the most open and strategic for evangelizing Central Asian non-Christian peoples. Some Uzbeks and Uighurs in Kazakhstan are turning to Christ.

We can PRAY:

*Pray for the Church to take root among new believers

*Pray the gospel might be shared in the listeners language,in the many towns and villages of this land.

*Pray against corruption, prostitution and crime that are present everywhere.

*Pray for translators that they would soon have the entire Bible in their native language.


If you know some Muslim friends, here are some things to remember during this time:

1. Try to visit them in the evenings rather than during the day. If you visit in the day they will insist that you eat and drink, even though they will not, and it is a bit awkward for both parities.

2. Invite them to your house during Ramadan to break fast together after sunset.

3. Keep in mind that visiting and sharing meals is more appropriate toward the end of the month. Ramadan starts out rather somber and ends up more festive.

4. Be ready to tell you Muslim friends what you believe about fasting. They will probably ask you, so do your research ahead of time and lean what the Injeel (bible) says about fasting. (see Isaiah 58:6-12)

5. Challenge you Muslim friends to read the "4 Holy Books" (Torah, Psalms, Gospels, Koran). Every good Muslim tries to read through the Koran beginning to end during Ramadan. The Koran also commands Muslims to read these other Holy Books. Do some research and find one (Bible) for them in their own language.

6. Pray! Intercede for Muslims throughout this month. May the Holy Spirit move and work among them in this time of spiritual devotion, radically changing hearts and revealing Jesus to them in a powerful way.

Information taken from 30 Days Muslim Prayer Focus Frontiers Edition and Operation World