Posted on 12/26/2006 11:14:44 AM PST by 2banana
RECORD NUMBER OF EX-MUSLIMS CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR: A spiritual revolution underway in Mideast
More Muslims converted to faith in Jesus Christ over the past decade than at any other time in human history. A spiritual revolution is underway throughout North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia. As a result, a record number of ex-Muslims are celebrating Christmas this year, despite intense persecution, arrests, assassinations, and widespread church bombings.
During the writing of Epicenter, my wife and kids and I lived in the Mideast for three months. During that time, I had the privilege of interviewing more than three dozen Arab and Iranian pastors and evangelical leaders throughout the region. The picture they paint is one of Christianity being dramatically resurrected in the region of its birth. A snapshot:
Iraq: more than 5,000 new Muslim converts to Christianity have been identified since the end of major combat operations, with 14 new churches opened in Baghdad, and dozens of new churches opened in Kurdistan, some of which have 500 to 800 members. Also, more than 1 million Bibles shipped into the country since 2003, and pastors report Iraqis are snatching them up so fast they constantly need more Bibles. [Update: Iraqi Christians Celebrate Christmas, 12/25]
Egypt: some reports say 1 million Egyptians have trusted Christ over the past decade or so. The Egyptian Bible Society told me they used to sell about 3,000 copies of the JESUS film a year in the early 1990s. But last year they sold 600,000 copies, plus 750,000 copies of the Bible on tape (in Arabic) and about a half million copies of the Arabic New Testament. "Egyptians are increasingly hungry for God's Word," an Egyptian Christian leader told me. Last Christmas, I had the privilege of visiting the largest Christian congregation in the Middle East, which meets in an enormous cave on the outskirts of Cairo. Some 10,000 believers worship there every weekend. A prayer conference the church held in May 2005 drew some 20,000 believers.
Afghanistan: only 17 Muslim converts to Christianity before 9/11/01, but now more than 10,000. Dozens of baptisms every week.
Kazakstan: only 3 known Christians in 1990, but now more than 15,000.
Uzbekistan: no known Christians in 1990, but now more than 30,000.
Sudan: more than 1 million Sudanese have converted to Christianity just since 2000, and some 5 million have become Christians since the early 1990s, despite a radical Islamic regime and an on-going genocide that has killed more than 200,000. Seminaries are being held in caves to train pastors to shepherd the huge numbers of people coming to Christ. Why such a dramatic spiritual awakening? "People have seen real Islam, and they want Jesus instead," one Sudanese evangelical leader told me.
Iran: in 1979, there were only 500 known Muslim converts to Christianity, but today Iranian pastors and evangelical leaders tell me there are more than 1 million Iranian believers in Jesus Christ, most of whom meet in underground house churches. [Update: Iranian authorities arrest 8 leaders of house church movement.]
December 2001, Sheikh Ahmad al Qataani, a leading Saudi cleric, appeared on a live interview on Aljazeera satellite television to confirm that, sure enough, Muslims were turning to Jesus in alarming numbers. "In every hour, 667 Muslims convert to Christianity," Al Qataani warned. "Every day, 16,000 Muslims convert to Christianity. Every year, 6 million Muslims convert to Christianity."
Stunned, the interviewer interrupted the cleric. "Hold on! Let me clarify. Do we have six million converting from Islam to Christianity?" Al Qataani repeated his assertion. "Every year," the cleric confirmed, adding, "a tragedy has happened."
One of the most dramatic developments is that many Muslims -- including Shiites in Iran and Iraq -- are seeing dreams and visions of Jesus and thus coming into churches explaining that they have already converted and now need a Bible and guidance on how to follow Jesus. I describe a number of these stories in the book. Having just returned from three weeks in the Mideast, I have heard many more, and will be sharing some of them in the new year. This is in fulfillment of Biblical prophecy. The Hebrew Prophet Joel told us that "in the last days, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days....And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved." (Joel 2:28-32)
Bottom line: It's not being reported by the mainstream media, but the God of the Bible is moving powerfully and dramatically throughout the Muslim world. The number of Arab and Iranian Christians is surging despite wars, rumors of wars, and terrible persecution. [To see the Top Ten List of countries that are persecuting Christians, please click here.] These fellow brothers and sisters now need our fervent prayers and our practical help as they seek to reach epicenter with the love and forgiveness of Jesus in 2007.
http://joelrosenberg.blogspot.com/2006/12/record-number-of-ex-muslims-celebrate.html
They should stay underground for the sake of their safety.
I believe this. The Lord works in mysterious ways.
These are REAL Christians, facing death every day for their faith in God. Our pathetic and despicable enemies in the the USA (the virulently anti-Christian ACLU, the democrat party, and their lame media) should strike no fear in our hearts, in comparison.
anybody in our so called best-friend-country ?
saudi-arabia ?
Besides the millions of "guest workers?"
The end of islam is the beginning of peace.
I really think that a very aggressive campaign to convert the mind numbed zombies to Christianity would be very effective.
I've never said or posted this before, so please forgive me. Could this be ALL BUSH's FAULT for bringing the issue of fanatical Islam to the forefront?
The ones with half-way awakened minds are frequently young students in this country. I'm praying that thousands of home school families will "adopt" Muslim countries, study their languages, and invite students from those nations into their homes for meals and conversation practice.
I imagine this form of outreach would also be of interest to freepers. Make friends. Show impressionable young Muslims the side of American life that Hollywood denies -- love of family, love of God, love of outsiders.
Saudi Arabia bans churches, but I know a former Muslim, who saw Jesus in the floor of his mosque, and Jesus was calling to him . So what are they going to do about this? Pray for the latter rain to fall upon us all!
Stunned, the interviewer interrupted the cleric. "Hold on! Let me clarify. Do we have six million converting from Islam to Christianity?" Al Qataani repeated his assertion. "Every year," the cleric confirmed, adding, "a tragedy has happened."
Sorry, I tend not to believe this. I think a realistic trend would be from Islam to a secular “what have you done for me lately” Islam. Even this shift would be met by a lot of family and societal pressure.
Of course. Halliburton already has the contract locked up to build the cathedrals and churches. They're just waiting for the go-ahead from the Pope and Cheney.
Exciting! Tell them do they want to raise their children in hatred and death, or in love and forgiveness.
"I hope it is true"
I remember reading a story on Arab News about "Why the Love Affair With America? Arabs Need to Come Up With Their Own Dream" which was a joke, given the extremely repressive, elitist and hierarchical nature of some Islamic countries. I then read you comments (which are in contrast with this post).
Here are some points you may want to hit:
Saudi Arabia - Conversion by a Muslim to another religion is punishable by death. Bibles are illegal. Churches are illegal. It is punishable by death for a non-mulsim to enter the "holy" muslim cities of Medina and Mecca.
Yemen - Bans proselytizing by non-Muslims and forbids conversions. The Government does not allow the building of new non-Muslim places of worship.
Kuwait - Registration and licensing of religious groups. Members of religions not sanctioned in the Koran may not build places of worship. Prohibits organized religious education for religions other than Islam.
Egypt - Islam is the official state religion and primary source of legislation. Accordingly, religious practices that conflict with Islamic law are prohibited. Muslims may face legal problems if they convert to another faith. Requires non-Muslims to obtain what is now a presidential decree to build a place of worship.
Algeria - The law prohibits public assembly for purposes of practicing a faith other than Islam. Non-Islamic proselytizing is illegal, and the Government restricts the importation of non-Islamic literature for distribution.
Jordan - Has the death penalty for any Muslim selling land to a Jew.
Sudan - Conversion by a Muslim to another religion is punishable by death.
Pakistan - Conversion by a Muslim to another religion is punishable by death. Bans proselytizing by non-Muslims. Christians regularly put in prison for charges of blasphemy. Islam is the state religion, and in a court of law the testimony of a Christian carries less weight than that of a Muslim. Section 295(c) of the Penal Code calls for a death sentence for anyone who defiles the name of the Prophet Muhammad and requires the testimony of four Muslims for a conviction. This fosters an environment in which Muslims can feel free to use intimidation and violence against religious minorities for personal gain.
Qatar - Islamic instruction is compulsory in public schools. The government regulates the publication, importation, and distribution of non-Islamic religious literature. The government continues to prohibit proselytizing of Muslims by non-Muslims.
Malaysia - Under Malaysian law, any convert to Christianity must apply to a shariah (Muslim law) court to legally renounce Islam. Many Christians prefer to remain silent converts rather than take their battle to the shariah courts, where apostasy or conversion out of Islam is punishable by whipping, fines, imprisonment and--in the most extreme application--death.
The Maldives - In the island paradise visited by tens of thousands of tourists each year, Christianity is simply not tolerated. While local Christians – said to number around 300 out of a total population of 300,000 – do get together to worship, they do so at the risk of imprisonment or worse if discovered by the Muslim authorities. Bibles are banned, and tourists can be arrested for trying to bring them into the country.
And the list goes on...
Kind Regards,
2banana
Yet Mohammedan sources release the same information about Western "infidels" embracing the Cult of the Pedophile.
Good point! However, having many Muslim friends, I'd say the "Christian values" are allowed to exist within an "Islamic frame" in an Islamic country. Therefore, most are very good people at a family/friend/community level while living within a "Christian Frame" (America/Europe). But, their "leaders" have failed them, and thus they seek a better existence (the other post). Well........and then there was Rome........I'll share your optimism and hope for the best!
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