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6. W O R L D :
SUPPORT FOR MUSLIM PRAYER MONTH CONTINUES TO GROW
AS MANY AS ten million people are expected to take part in the fifth annual global month of prayer for the Muslim world, which begins in January.
Five hundred thousand copies of a daily guide for the 30 Days Muslim Prayer Focus are being produced, with Swahili and Chinese versions among the newest of 27 translations available.
Greek and Russian Orthodox churches are among the latest to participate in the event, which has drawn ever-widening support from denominations and missionary organizations since it was launched by Youth With A Mission.
Coinciding with the Islamic holy month of Ramadan as "an act of identification", the next 30 Days event starts on January 10 and ends on February 8, with the guide highlighting different countries, people groups and issues for prayer each day. A separate children's edition is also available.
The month-long prayer focus was established to encourage Christians around the world to pray more seriously for the billion people of the Islamic world, most of whom have never heard the gospel.
"We have heard wonderful individual testimonies of Muslims who have come to Christ over the years, but by far the greatest impact of the event so far has been in growing awareness of and concern for the Islamic world in the Church," said 30 Days international coordinator Kim Greig. "Together with that has been increased faith that Muslims can be reached for Christ."
The last 30 Days event, earlier this year, saw around five million people take part, with "somewhere probably between seven and ten million" likely to join in next time, said Greig.
Participants are being encouraged to fast at some stage during the month, which sees Muslims abstain from all food and drink between sunrise and sunset. "We are not suggesting they observe Ramadan in the way Muslims do," said Greig. "Praying for the Muslim world during Ramadan is very different from observing the Muslim holy month itself.
"Fasting adds intensity to our prayers... We do not do it to convince or persuade God, but rather to identify with his broken heart, and with his desire for all of mankind to know him."
Now an independent ministry, the 30 Days project has been endorsed by many groups, including Campus Crusade for Christ, Operation Mobilization, and the AD2000 and Beyond movement.
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