(Voice of the Persecuted) You’re invited to join us on Sunday, April 16, 2023, in a prayer conference call for the persecuted church hosted by Persecution Watch.
WHAT DOES ISLAM LOOK LIKE IN THE USA?
The first Muslims in America were most likely African slaves owned by 16th century European explorers. In the 18th century, Thomas Jefferson campaigned in Virginia for freedom of religion not just for Christians, but for Muslims, Jews, and even “pagans.”
Other Muslims came to America from the Middle East in the late 1800s and early 1900s for economic reasons, often settling in the Midwest. The Ford Motor Company employed many at its various factories. In the 1950s Muslims came from Palestine, Iraq, and Egypt, and later on others arrived from Africa and Asia. In recent years Muslim refugees have come to America seeking safety and security.
There were an estimated 3.45 million Muslims in the US in 2017, about 1% of the total population. That number grows by roughly 100,000 per year, mostly because Muslims tend to have more children, not because people are converting to Islam. Most Muslims in America are Sunni, but they are very diverse in their language and cultural backgrounds.
A specific and separate expression of Islam in the African-American community, known as the Nation of Islam, is a controversial combination of Islamic theology and issues related to racism and civil rights. Its most notable leaders have been Malcolm X and Louis Farrakhan. In 2017, only 3% of US-born African Americans identified with the Nation of Islam; the majority of Black Muslims would consider themselves Sunni.
WHAT ARE MUSLIMS’ GREATEST STRUGGLES IN THE USA?
Surprisingly, Muslims and Christians in America care about many of the same things: getting a job, putting food on the table, and making life better for their kids. They also share some of the same struggles: how to live morally in a secular culture, how to live faithfully at home and at work, and how to protect their kids from harmful situations and negative influences.
However, especially since September 11, 2001, Muslims perceive that many Americans view them suspiciously, assuming that every Muslim is anti-American. In a 2017 study, 25% of Muslims in the US said that discrimination, racism, and prejudice were the biggest problems they face.
WHAT IS GOD DOING AMONG MUSLIMS IN THE USA?
The numbers are not overwhelming, but Muslims are coming to faith in Jesus in America. God often uses three things in particular to lead men and women to himself: access to the Bible, friendships with Christians, and positive experiences with local evangelical churches.
However, while access to Christians and Christian resources is often available in America, social pressure on Muslims to remain in their communities and resist exposure to other faiths runs deep. Often Muslims who come to faith in Jesus in America experience struggles similar to what they would face in their home countries, starting with the loss of family and friends.
While some American Christians embrace welcoming and befriending Muslim neighbors, many others are afraid. Exciting opportunities abound for believers in America to love Muslims and share the Gospel with those who have likely never encountered it before.
Together let us watch and pray along with the Prayercast Team.
PRAYER POINTS
- Pray for dissatisfaction with America’s prosperity to initiate spiritual searching.
- Pray for the lonely and brokenhearted to find healing, hope, and love in Jesus.
- Pray for deep friendships with believers who will lovingly lead them to Christ.
The Lord’s servant,
Nadia Dybvik, Persecution Watch Prayer Conference Call Leader
Prayer Conference Call Details
Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday
From any location on your phone
USA Time Zone:
9:00 PM Eastern
8:00 PM Central
7:00 PM Mountain
6:00 PM Pacific
Call in number: (667) 770-1476
Access Code: 281207#
MOBILE APP: Free Conference Call HD also provides a quick and easy way for you to dial into conference calls without having to remember the dial-in credentials. Save all of your conference call dial-in numbers and access codes using this free app. With the Free Conference Call HD you can instantly dial into a conference call via 3G/4G data network and or regular mobile carrier. Google Play link or App Store – iTunes
If you are experiencing any difficulties joining the call, please let us know.
What is Persecution Watch?
moved by the Holy Spirit to pray, we too must continue to serve those suffering persecution by lifting them up to the Lord through prayer.
On occasion, persecuted brothers and sisters have been invited on the conference call to share the trials they are facing. The team serves to encourage them by washing their feet in Spirit led prayer. Time is often reserved for those on the call to ask questions. We believe this helps to gain a better understanding of the situation that persecuted Christians endure in their specific nations. Q&A also helps us to focus our prayers based on their current needs.
Persecution Watch also hosts callers who want to pray united from other nations. If your heart is perplexed by the sufferings of our persecuted brothers and sisters, you no longer need to pray alone.
We welcome all who desire to pray for the persecuted church and consider it a joy to pray together with you. If you are new to the call and cannot find your voice, listen in and pray silently or on mute. We are grateful and thank the Lord for bringing us all together to pray in agreement for our persecuted family in Christ. We can all be prayer warriors on this call!
God bless and protect you in your faithfulness to serve.
Lois Kanalos, Founder, Voice of the Persecuted, Nadia Dybvik, Persecution Watch Prayer Call Leader and the Persecution Watch Prayer Team
NOTE: Please fill out the form in the sign-up link below to be included in our distribution list to receive urgent prayer requests, prayer points, notification of special prayer events and special guest speakers.
Note to Voice of the Persecuted (VOP) readers: The Persecution Watch prayer team is also the prayer team of Voice of the Persecuted. SIGN UP today.
VOICE OF THE PERSECUTED 