Intercede with Us for the Muslim World!So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere (Lk 9:6, NIV).

When people are suffering in their bodies, they are often more open to solutions that will bring relief. Many are willing toseek out pastors for prayer, and Christian health workers find opportunities to tell of the Healer. Pray that, as Muslims seekphysical healing, God will give wisdom to these workers as they offer both physical and spiritual hope.*

Today's Prayer Requests: From Students and AlumniBENIN: A graduate writes, “I recently taught an evangelism group at our church about Islam. Pray with us that Godwill raise up people who will commit themselves to evangelizing Muslims. More and more we are seeing Islamadvance in our country. Pray for Benin, which is close to Nigeria, that the Lord will preserve us from Boko Haram.”

CAMEROON: An alumna sends a praise report from Cameroon: A church planted in the extreme north, where BokoHaram is active, is growing quickly, to 150 members in just 1 1/2 years. On 14 June, the pastor (a WAAST graduate)baptized 90 people. This and about 12 other churches have been planted through the use of the film “The GodMan,”produced by OneHope. Please pray for the spiritual growth and witness of these congregations, and that God willsustain His Church during this time of crisis.

In the NewsAfter taking control of parts of northern Iraq and Syria, on 29 June the militia group Islamic State of Iraq and theLevant declared itself an established caliphate under its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Calling itself simply theIslamic State, it demands the loyalty of all other Islamic groups and claims to supersede all other political entities.People who do not comply, be they Christians, of another faith, or even moderate Muslims, risk persecution andperhaps execution by crucifixion. This past Monday, in Syria's Aleppo region, 9 men were nailed to crosses. Let's prayfervently for believers in Iraq and Syria, who face the loss of their homes, families, and lives. May the Lord lift themup, encourage and protect them, and use them for His glory. Pray for the leaders of the new “caliphate,” that God'sSpirit would reveal himself to them and work in their hearts and minds.

World Watch List: Pray for the Persecuted**Tunisia, a North African nation that is 99.2% Muslim, ranks number 30 in the list of countries where Christians facethe most severe persecution. There are only a few hundred Muslim-background believers, who meet underground;there is a greater number of expatriate Christians, but few are evangelical. Witnessing to Muslims is illegal, butChristian programs on satellite TV and the Internet are effective means of sharing the Good News with them. Pray forour brothers and sisters here, that the Lord will encourage them and help them to grow in Him.

For Muslim Women***Please pray that Christian women in war-torn Syria and Iraq will find their strength in the Lord, who “makes my feetlike the feet of a deer, and enables me to tread on the heights” (Hab. 3:19, ESV), and that the evidence of God’sfaithfulness to them will draw their Muslim neighbors to Jesus.

Prayer Resources*Praying for Muslims: A Guide for Effective Intercession offers many insights concerning Islam and a different prayer subjecteach Friday. This week we pray for Muslims who seek healing and for those who minister to them: http://tinyurl.com/kex86bn.

**Open Doors publishes an annual list ranking the 50 nations where persecution against Christians is most severe. See the full2014 World Watch List at http://bit.ly/1mcm2fu. Click on a country on the map or list to read its profile and prayer requests.

***Muslim women need your prayers! You can join a prayer network and receive regular requests at http://sayhelloinfo.com/.

For a list of resources for prayer groups, see http://tinyurl.com/waastjumaa.

Find information and prayer requests concerning Muslims around the world at http://www.30-days.net/.

How should we pray for those imprisoned for their faith? Read http://www.elam.com/articles/How-to-pray-for-those-in-prison/.

For news updates concerning persecuted Christians, visit http://morningstarnews.org/ and http://www.releaseinternational.org/.

For prayer requests, visit http://www.opendoorsusa.org/pray/ and http://www.persecution.com/public/pray.aspx.

To help you answer Muslims' questions about Jesus and the Bible, explore http://answeringislam.org/.

Jumaa Prayer for the Muslims of Africa and beyond

West Africa Advanced School of Theology 11 July 2014