Day 8

The Sultanate of Oman is the northeast part of the Arabian Penisula. Most of the population lives along the coastal lowland, where mnay are involved in fishing and tourism. Major products include petroleum, dates citrus fruit, incense and mineral oil.

Oman is one of the hottest countries in the world with temperatures often reaching 130 degrees F. It was an extremely poor country until oil was discovered there in 1964. The Omani Arab make up 58% of Oman's total population. Over one and a half million other Omani Arabs live in other areas of the Middle East and East Africa. The Omani are set apart from other ethnic groups by their unique use of the Southeast Asian Colloquial Arabic language and by their culture. They have a reputation for begin excessively generous and polite, while remaining impersonal.

The Omani Arab live in extended family units. Their society is patriarchal, or male-dominated. The men do not abuse this authority because they believe that their families should obey them out of respect, rather than fear. Also, there are clearly defined roles for both men and women. The men work outside in the fields while women work in the homes. Men and women often eat separately and never pray together. While men worship at mosques, women attend ceremonies conducted at home. Most marriages are pre-arranged by the parents.

The Omani standard is to accept others on their terms. For example, they view anything less than excessive generosity as rudeness. Sunnis are welcomed by the Ibadis with Sunni greetings. Even Christians are tolerated as long as they are not Muslim converts.

The Omani of Oman remain less than one percent Christian. Prayer is the key to effectively penetrating this unreached people with the Gospel.

We can Pray:

*Pray that God will provide contacts, strategies, and wisdom for any missions agencies that are currently targeting the Omani Arab of Oman.

*Ask the Lord to strengthen, encourage, and protect the Omani Arab Christians.

*Pray that God will give these believers opportunities to share the love of Christ with their own people.

*Take authority over the spiritual principalities and powers that are keeping the Omani Arab bound.

*Ask God to raise up prayer teams who will begin to break up the soil through worship and intercession.

*Pray that strong local churches will be planted among the Omani Arab.

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