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Mar 28
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Day 29 – Pray for the Hadjarai in Chad

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The ethnic groups of the Guera region of Chad are called “Hadjarai” which means “people of the mountains.” More than 550,000 Hadjarai, who speak 25 different languages, live in this hilly area in the centre of the country. The climate is dry and hot, with a rainy season from June to September. There is significant poverty, with most people in the villages living from agriculture and livestock farming.

The majority of the population in the Guera region are Muslim, though traditional African religions are also practiced. In almost every ethnic group, however, there are also up to approximately 5% Christians, and two language groups (Kenga and Guergiko) are comprised of around 30% Christians.

None of the Hadjarai languages have a complete Bible, though four have a New Testament with a fifth, Dadjo, becoming available this year. Because more than half their population have not learned to read and write, literacy work has been important, as well as creative ways to share the gospel through the creative arts.

Sharon rehearsed a theatre play with a group of Chadians about the death and resurrection of Jesus. It was performed on Good Friday in a large square in Mongo, a major city in the Hadjarai region. Around 200 adults and children watched, crowding close to the actors to see what happened to Jesus. A Muslim who was filming the crucifixion scene asked a friend next to him if Jesus Christ was really whipped and nailed like that. His friend didn’t know, so he said he wanted to get to the bottom of it. Two Muslim women found the torture of Jesus very moving. One said she could hardly believe it and wanted to know more.

How Can We Pray?

  • Pray for translation and literacy work in all the Hadjarai languages.
  • Pray for creative ways to share the gospel with the not-yet-literate.
  • For peace and stability in Chad.
Mar 26
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Day 27 – Pray for Muslims During The Night Of Power

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A few years ago, on a previous Night of Power, two believers in Turkey were walking and praying along the seafront in Istanbul, asking God to speak to Turkish Muslims that night. Ahead, they overheard an agitated couple having a video phone conversation with one of their mothers: No, anne (mother) still no baby. But tonight is the Night of Power and we will be praying all night for a miracle.”

Laylat al-Qadr, the “Night of Power” or “Night of Destiny” is one of the most sacred events in the Islamic calendar. Believed to be the night when the Qur’an was sent into the world and its first verses revealed to Muhammad, Muslims believe that prayers and good deeds done on this night are of greater value than those done in a thousand months. Some trust in the words of Muhammad when he said, “Whoever stands (in prayer) during the Night of Power out of belief and seeking reward, his previous sins are forgiven.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 1901) Many Muslims spend the night praying for forgiveness of sins and reciting the Qur’an.

The exact night of Laylat al-Qadr is debated by Islamic scholars, as it is believed to occur on any of the odd numbered days in the last ten days of Ramadan. In order to be found faithful on the actual night, some Muslims will observe i’tikaf (seclusion) during the last ten days in order to focus on reflection, prayer and to avoid involvement in worldly affairs.

Mar 16
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Day 17 – Pray for Muslims and Believers in Uzbekistan

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During Ramadan, we are taking time every day to pray for different people groups in the Muslim world. Please join us! Follow us @the_global_mission on Instagram for daily reminders. These stories and prayers are taken from World Prayer Guides. You can purchase a printable PDF of “30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World” from their website. 

Some years ago, Gulnora visited an Uzbek village. “The mullah proudly showed me the new mosque and probably expected criticism from me as a Christian. But I praised the mosque and said that I hoped that God’s word would be preached there. He was surprised, and when I gave him a copy of the New Testament in Uzbek he took it, touched it with his lips and forehead and finally held it close to his heart. A group of men had gathered around us and when they saw how the mullah received the New Testament with such honor, they also wanted books, but unfortunately I did not have any more with me.”

“Recently I travelled back to the same village,” she said. “The mullah had heard about my arrival and came towards me on the road. While still far off, he called out: “My daughter! You’ve returned at last! Do you remember that when you were here last time you gave me the New Testament in Uzbek? I am so grateful to you! Now I know every Friday what to read in our mosque, and I have a holy book which shows the way to God in my language. The other books that I have I could not understand, but this one helps me to prepare my sermons and give hope to those who listen!”

HOW CAN WE PRAY?

  • For an increase of freedom of religion in Uzbekistan.
  • For safety, growth, and spiritual maturity for those in underground house churches.
  • That local pastors would be taught by the Holy Spirit and lead their flocks to withstand persecution.
Mar 06
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Day 7 – Pray For The Dendi

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During Ramadan, we are praying each day for different groups in the Muslim world. We would love for you follow along with us on the blog and on social media @the_global_mission. Here is today’s story.

The Dendi in northern Benin

Benin in West Africa is not a Muslim country, but the Dendi in the north of the country are 99.93 % Muslim. They number about 310,000 people. Among them are only very few Christians. There is no church where Dendi is spoken.

Most Dendi follow a form of folk Islam, mixing elements of orthodox Islam with their traditional rites and religious practices. The Marabouts, religious teachers or holy men, teach Islam as well as ancient customs and are healers and contact persons to the spirit world.

The rural steppe areas of Northern Benin are home for most Dendi. The structures of families and villages are very fundamental for their life in this region, making it unthinkable for seekers to break out of this system in order to follow Christ. That’s why finding ways to spread the Gospel and establish fellowships of believers within these structures is so important.

The New Testament and some audio and video materials are available in the Dendi language, but most are unaware of their availability. In the summer of 2024, 140 evangelists swarmed the city of Djougou, where tens of thousands of Dendi live. With many of them from neighboring people groups, they worked in different quarters of the city every day for three weeks. They wanted to find houses of peace, preach Christ to the people there and leave one of 2,000 SD-cards with audio files of Biblical books.

How Can We Pray?

  • Pray that the distributed SD cards would be listened to again and again and would cause people to believe in the Messiah.
  • That the Dendi would see that Jesus has power over the spirit world.
  • Pray that 1000 Dendi would be baptized and 100 home churches established.
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