Welcome to Forest

2. La Oasis4. Hammams

6. Mosques in Forest8. Corner Shops and Bakeries

10. The Abbey12. Parks and Meeting Places

14. Town Hall

Prayer Map

As you begin to walk up and down the streets of Forest, you are greeted with open windows, corner shops and children playing in the street. It is an average neighborhood, filled with ordinary people. But, among the average and normal, there exists a very

special ministry center. Giving many locals the chance to practice their English and access to the internet, La Oasis is a warm and welcoming ministry to reach out to the people of Forest.

Pray that the Northern Africans in the neighborhood will be drawn to the ministry. Pray that they will receive love and be led by the Spirit to engage themselves into a deeper community.

La Oasis

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Upon entering a hamman, one who isn’t familiar with a public bath may be taken back. At first, one might expert to feel a sense of awkwardness or discomfort, but contrary to such an assumption, Hammams are one of the few

places people can really cut loose and relax. For the women, the hammam is like the salon of the culture. It’s one of the only places where they can talk freely. Along with getting cleaned up from a day’s hard work, a hammam is a cultural place to catch up on the latest gossip.

Pray that while being outwardly cleansed, they would realize that they need inward cleansing as well. Pray that instead of gossip being shared, that the gospel would be shared.

Hammams

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Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. -Psalm 51:7

Mosques are meeting places for Muslims, where they can recite prayers and participate in religious practices. This is the only Mosque in Forest. Separated from the men, Muslim women must take a separate entrance into the mosque. They are not allowed the same full measure of faith that the men can achieve.

Pray that they would truly desire to seek God, not just adhere to cultural tradition. Pray that they would question the Imam, the leader of the Mosque.

Ibnou Massaoud Mosque

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After a long day of work, it is an extremely common practice for a man to spend an hour or two having coffee. Small shops are on nearly every street corner. Northern Africans stop by to pick up fresh break on nearly a daily basis. Many of these shops are owned and run by Northern Africans. They rely on the income from their shops to sustain their families.

Pray that these shops would become a place of worship, where people can discuss Jesus and the Gospel. Pray the field workers would have the opportunities to start spiritual conversations in these places.

Corner Shopsand Markets

Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

-Isaiah 40:31

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The AbbeySeveral centuries ago, nuns walked the ground of this symbol of Belgium’s spiritual strength. Travelers would house themselves and use the nearby Cathedral as a place of worship. Now, as one walks the same paths of the ancient devotees, teenagers and tourists are company. Spirituality is weak in Belgium, and much like these ancient buildings, is in need of a spiritual resurrection.

Pray that the spirituality of this area will be resurrected and that God will move people through the nearby church.

Parks and Meeting Places

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After a school day in Forest, North African mothers and children can be seen gathering around the nearest park. A bare, green field is suddenly filled with colorful head coverings and laughing children. It is yet another place where they are able to strengthen their community by interacting with other families.

Pray that community will be formed and that Brothers and Sisters of Christ will bond together. Pray that Christ will be the center of conversations.

Town HallOn any average day in Brussels, immigrants from the surrounding tribes and tongues can be observed attempting to gain legal access to the country. Just down the street, you can meet a Moroccan or Turkish store clerk, struggling to keep his fruit stand open. Tales of success are scarce due to poor assimilation into Belgian culture. Rampant racism and high cost of living make it difficult for foreigners to make a living.

Pray that the Belgian Government would take kindly to the immigrant peoples. Pray that Arab, African and Muslim relations would grow throughout the European Union.

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