January 1998
Having just returned from a trip to parts of the Muslim
world, many impressions are still very fresh, but only one
sound has come home with me. That sound is the five-
times daily call to prayer. Muslims pray.
As we begin a new year of prayer together, it is with a spe¬
cial opportunity. This year’s annual Muslim month of prayer,
Ramadan, begins on New Year’s Eve and continues through
Jan. 29. During Ramadan, Muslims fast and seek God, asking
Him to reveal Himself to them. As believers are moved with
compassion for Muslims, we also pray daily throughout
Ramadan, asking that He answer their prayers by revealing
Himself to them in Jesus, the Savior.
This year to help us in this focus, we have prepared a new
Thirty Days Prayer for Muslims guide. It is yours, free for the
asking. You should have received this Global PrayerGram in
December. Would you stop right now and call (800) 866-3621
and request your prayer guide? We will mail it to you so that you
can begin this new year with vital prayer. Also, we’ll be glad to
provide you free extra copies for your church or prayer group.
The apostle Paul asked his prayer partners in Colossae to
pray “that God may open up to us a door for the word, so that
we may speak forth the mystery of Christ.” Missionaries to the
Muslims of the world would ask the same of us today.
Randy Sprinkle, Director
International Prayer Strategy Office
1 NICARAGUA (Central America). Preparations for the
January 1998 nationwide crusade, “Jesus Christ Loves You,”
is already reaping results. In September, 14 people in San Gregorio
made professions of faith and were baptized. Thank you for pray¬
ing, and please continue lifting this crusade up to the Lord as
housing, meals, transportation and translation needs are worked
out for the volunteers who will be coming from Texas and Georgia.
ALBANIA (southern Europe). Please pray that Baptist
representative Lawrence Duhon will be able to balance his time
well as he tries to finish up a Theological Education by Extension
(TEE) writing assignment in the next few months.
2 KENYA (eastern Africa). In northern Kenya, east of Lake
Turkana, lies Maralal, a small rural town in the midst of the
land of the Samburu tribe. The Samburu are dependent upon cattle
and live mainly off the products of their herds. Agricultural mis¬
sionary Jerry Pullen came to Maralal earlier this month and taught
in a government high school for a week. Pray that the students
who learned better methods of caring for their cows also will
learn about Jesus. Missionaries Don and Mary Alice Dolifka live
and work with these largely unreached peoples. They ask you to
pray for the Samburu church leaders, that God will help them to
grow in their walk with Christ. Pray, too, that the training center
being built in this area will become an effective tool for training
leaders as they study the Bible.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (island southeast of Cuba).
Pray that the work in La Vega, particularly the Los Robles
Mission, will continue to grow and become a positive influence
in the community. A new pastor of the La Vega church will soon
be ordained. Pray for missionaries Kirk and Karen Bullington as
they work with this pastor while also being involved in medical
and music ministries.
RUSSIA (between eastern Europe and Asia). Baptist rep¬
resentative Carol Spann is beginning a Bible study for women in
her neighborhood. Pray for good attendance and for salvation for
those who do come, and pray for Carol’s ability to communicate
effectively in Russian.
GERMANY (central Europe). Baptist representative
Celeste Brubaker teaches two English-as-a-Second-Language
(ESL) classes. The one that began in September is a continuation
of the class that met in the spring. The one that is just beginning
is for unemployed people. Pray that Celeste will have opportuni¬
ties to witness of God’s love and that the people will be open and
receptive to the gospel.
COLOMBIA (northwestern South America). Give thanks
to the Lord for the leadership team of the Central Association Wom¬
en’s Department in Colombia for two years of faithful work and
ministry. Please pray for the nomination and election of a new
leadership team to lead in the 1998-1999 term.
INDIA (south Asia). Give thanks to God for a meeting that
was held in the village of Yadala. A village leader canceled
the meeting at first because he was opposed to it. After a believer
spoke with him, he not only allowed the meeting to go on, but he
also traveled to Bangalore to assure those planning the meeting
that things would go smoothly. He even attended the meeting him¬
self, along with many other village leaders! Five people made deci¬
sions, and regular meetings will take place in Yadala from now on.
BARBADOS (eastern Caribbean Sea). Pray for a volun¬
teer to come, help update and catalog the library at Barbados
Baptist College.
PHILIPPINES (southeast Asia). Ask God to give wisdom
to Baptist representative Bill Hyde as he develops pastoral
leadership training to be taught throughout central and southern
Mindanao.
TURKEY (between Black Sea and Syria). A grenade was
thrown into a Christian bookstand in the city of Gaziantep during
