Voice of the Martyrs Asks for Prayer.. (Many Muslims coming to Christ!)

Saudi Arabia (MNN) ― Mission Network News hardly ever talks about ministry in Saudi Arabia. It's not because it's not happening. It is. But it's one of the most difficult places to be a Christian, let alone do ministry. That's what makes this next story so profound.

"Maryam" is a Saudi woman, and she's done something so unusual she's taking the internet by storm. According to Mahabat News, she is the first modern day Saudi woman to announce her faith in Jesus Christ on YouTube.

Todd Nettleton with Voice of the Martyrs is amazed. "To see a Saudi woman put her face--even though it's veiled, but to put her face on the internet and say, 'I'm not a Muslim any more. I'm a Christian now.' She basically is signing her own death warrant."

According to reports, this video has made Saudi officials extremely angry. It is to the extent that they called to take necessary measures to deal with Christian evangelism in Saudi Arabia. Nettleton says, "It's being talked about even at the highest levels of the government. [They're saying], 'Hey wait a minute, our young people are leaving Islam. They're following Christianity. We've got to put a stop to it.' And over 1 million people have already watched the video on YouTube."

Nettleton tells about his thoughts when he saw this. "The first thought I had was the incredible courage it took to do that. The second thought is just the excitement that even in Saudi Arabia, which we don't talk about it very often, God is reaching people. Muslims are having dreams and visions. They're seeing Jesus Christ, and they're coming to know Him and believe in Him."

In any western nation, this wouldn't be a big deal. In Saudi Arabia, however, "The Saudi government says Saudis are 100% Muslim. And so, she basically is renouncing that and putting a target, really, on her back."

Why is Saudi Arabia rejecting all other religions? Nettleton suggests, "The Saudi government bills themselves as the guardian of Islam's holy sites--not only to guard those sites in a security sense, but also to guard those sites spiritually and not allow Christianity to even have a foothold on the Arabian Peninsula."

Nettleton is issuing a call to prayer, especially now. "It is the middle of Ramadan. Muslims all over the Arabian Peninsula are fasting and praying and seeking God. Let us pray that they find Him, just as this lady did in a dream when Jesus came to her. Let us pray that many more Muslims will meet Jesus."

While this is a surprising story coming out of Saudi Arabia, it's not the only story in the Middle East. The Mohabat report also indicates that a Kuwaiti prince has given his heart to Christ. Nettleton isn't surprised. "You know, as we see the Gospel coming into some of these countries, it's only natural that it will reach all walks of life. So when we see political leaders or people within the royal family, obviously that's very exciting because they are in positions of influence, and they have a chance to really make a difference. So it's a hopeful sign."

What kind of work is VOM doing in Saudi Arabia? Nettleton says, "VOM is involved in several ways in work on the Arabian Peninsula, but I can't really tell you any more than that."

You can support VOM's work financially. At the very least, $60 provides 10 Bibles to Christians in this area of the world. Support them by clicking here.

"And afterward, 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.

She basically is signing her own death warrant."

The Saudis execute "blasphemers". That is anyone who denies Mohammed.

When I was there they used to publish lists of people executed in the kingdom that week. Usually several, usually for drugs or murder, but always someone for blasphemy too.

My understanding was that anyone guilty of "blasphemy" could recant up to the moment the blade fell, and be saved from death. So it occurred to me, who from a muslim background would deny Mohammed all the way to the grave?

Thats when it occurred to me that, somehow, people are being saved inside of Saudi Arabia. If all you have to do to save your life is affirm that Mohammed is the prophet, who wouldn't? Except a Christian convert. I came to the conclusion that, somehow, saudis were being saved in a place where normal evangelism is impossible, and they are being martyred for it. Every week.

Praise God for this woman’s courage and for her Gospel testimony. I have sometime thought this latest push by the jihadis was in reality a nervous reaction to the remarkable advance of the Gospel happening in many Islamic countries. They are becoming desperate, but they don’t understand Who it is they oppose.

I am reminded of something I heard many years ago on the radio. There was a Baptist minister working in Mogadishu (back in the 90’s, I believe), trying to evangelize but having no success. He started a conversation with a local Shiite imam and curiously the imam agreed to let him give a talk at the mosque, because, as he said, “my people have many problems,” so what could it hurt to hear from a Christian.

Well, the group congregated and the pastor gave his little talk, and at the end of the meeting a man carrying a little girl came up to him and said, “Can Jesus heal my daughter?” Her legs were withered and she couldn’t walk. The preacher gave the usual Baptist response, “Yes, he can, but we don’t know whether he will.” The man thanked the pastor and began walking away, but the little girl looked steadfastly at the pastor, and she began asking her father to put her down. To everyone’s amazement, he put her down and she was able to walk. Now try to imagine a mosque full of Shiite Muslims all shouting the praises of Issa (the Arabic form of “Jesus”), because that is what happened.

After this event, needless to say, the conversation intensified. Eventually, the imam himself became willing to commit publically to being a follower of Issa. At one point he told the pastor his only regret was that he was not able to back to his family in Iran and share with them his newfound faith in Christ. Not long after, the imam went missing, and the pastor was approached by some men who proudly informed him they had removed the imam to a place where the Christian message could no longer influence him, for they had sent him back to Iran. God has such a sense of humor.

All this I heard on a Christian radio station one day, and it has never left my mind, as I consider all that has happened since then. I may have my timing off, but I think this all occurred before the dreadful events of “Blackhawk Down.” It all suggests to me that we know only a tiny fraction of what is really going on in the plan of God, who is relentlessly gathering a people to Himself, even in the most Gospel-hating places on earth, and no one can stay his hand, or challenge what He is doing. He is always to be praised, even when we cannot see all that he is doing, because he has already told us, all things are working together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to His purpose. Amen.

Peace,

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