What is God Doing in Saudi Arabia?

Saudi Arabia

Population: 23.6 million

Capital:    Riyadh

People Groups:  45

Main Religion: Islam 93%

All Christians:   4%

       (mostly foreigners)

 

Links to Testimonies of Muslims in Saudi Arabia who have become Christians: DESERT SON:  http://www.geocities.com/desertson1/whyenglish.htm A BROTHER:  http://www.answering-islam.org/Testimonies/saudi.html   Links to testimonies of Muslims who found Christ through Dreams and Visions: http://isaalmasih.net/isa/malay-mecca.html

A few days after 9/11, I sat in the Cairo living room of an Egyptian follower of Christ. When prayer time came, he got on his knees and began to plead for God's mercy over his land, where Jesus once found sanctuary when Joseph and Mary fled Herod. The follower fully expected the Egyptian church to suffer in the days to come -- partly from the renewed surge of Muslim extremism, partly because of the increasing boldness of believers in Christ. He prayed for believers, but mostly he prayed for the tens of millions of Egyptian Muslims seeking a shepherd. "Extend Your mercy, O Father," he said over and over, as tears mingled with sweat on his cheeks. "Extend Your mercy." God is answering that prayer in many ways, not only in Egypt but throughout the Muslim world. He is revealing Himself through dreams and visions, through the lives of His followers, through His Word as hungry souls seek it out. No one should be surprised about the runaway success of "The Passion of the Christ," now playing to sold-out theater crowds in places like Egypt, Syria, Qatar, Lebanon and Jordan (and on pirated DVDs in Yemeni and Afghan street markets). "It has beaten all records," said the film's Middle East distributor, as quoted in the Christian Science Monitor. "It's more popular than 'Titanic' and the James Bond films." Governments in some Muslim countries are allowing the film to play because of what they assume to be its anti-Semitic message. Many Muslims may be attending the movie for the same reason. When they get there, however, they see a Jesus they've never seen before: a Jesus who loves and forgives despite His terrible sufferings, a Jesus who offers the mercy and salvation of God to anyone who will embrace it.  International Missions Board, June 2004

The Mel Gibson film, “The Passion of the Christ” is so popular here that they have been canceling the other films to show 'The Passion' in all the theatres at the cinema complex. I took a friend on the second night. The film was running in all three theatres. I would estimate that well over 50% of the people in the theatre were local Muslims including women completely veiled. You could see how this film had impacted everyone. On the second day, several of the local newspapers had the advertisement for the film on the frontpage. It appears that even Saudi Arabia is getting a chance to see the film, albeit through pirated DVD's. There are no movie theatres in Saudi Arabia anyway. God knows what He's doing. I was just reminded what the Apostle Paul writes: "It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so in love. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way (e.g. pirated DVDs) the true Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice". (Philippians 1:15-18). The release was very timely. The killing of Palestinian Hamas leader Sheikh Ahmad Yassin happened the morning after the film was released. The Arab response has been a whole new wave of hatred for the Jews, which was illustrated in a large public demonstration/march yesterday. At a time when the urge for Muslims to hate has been renewed, the Lord has brought 'The Passion' telling them - 'No, love your enemies! Forgive them!' The contrast is staggering. [Note Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat watched 'The Passion of the Christ' at a private screening in the West Bank city of Ramallah, and made a positive statement about it.] Just today a couple of local women asked me, "Do you have the New Testament in Arabic? Me and all my friends want to read it!" Another asked about where to get the Arabic Bible on the internet. This has never happened! The film is generating so much interest in Jesus and the Scriptures. Every Christian we are talking to seems to have a story of two just like this one. May it continue to increase. There have been several articles in the paper, all positive and surprisingly silent in terms of emphasizing the Islamic belief that Jesus did not die on the cross. People are talking about wanting to go and see it. Pray that many would watch this movie and that it would spark an interest and hunger to know more of Jesus and the Bible. Pray that hearts would be drawn by the love of Jesus. Pray that believers would make the most of this opportunity to talk with their friends, to be available for those who will be impacted by what they see.    Joel News International, March 2004

A week after he was deported from Saudi Arabia, Eritrean Christian  Girmaye Ambaye confirmed that he had been banned from returning to the Muslim country for the next five years. Ambaye, 42, had been jailed in Jeddah since March when he was arrested for witnessing about his Christian faith to Muslims. He is the 13th member of an Ethiopian-Eritrean Christian congregation to be jailed and deported from the Saudi port city over the past two years. Ambaye estimated he had explained the gospel to 600 cell-mates during the 20 weeks he spent in a crowded group cell at the detention centre, and that 42 of the prisoners indicated to him that they had decided to become Christians. Upon his arrival in Asmara, Eritrean immigration authorities took him into custody, interrogated him and confiscated his identity card and passport before releasing him. Ambaye said he did not know what he would do now that he has returned to Eritrea where he left 15 years ago to find work as a tailor in Saudi Arabia. "I will rest first, and then I will see what the Lord will show me," he said.  Compass, August 2003