Day 5: Garibou (Talibé) Boys of West Africa
Series: 30 Days of Prayer for Muslims and Christians – 2016 Ramadan
Presented in American Sign Language, no voice interpretation.
Link: http://vimeo.com/170051651

Written Transcript:

In West Africa, there is a group called Garibou or Talibé boys who are victims of child exploitation. With historical roots as a method to train boys in Islamic values and memorization of the Qur’an, Garibou or Talibé boys are victims of child exploitation, trafficking and slavery. They are found in population centers of Mali, Senegal, Burkina Faso, or Guinea-Bissau.

The Garibou are boys sent by their parents for training in the Qur’an with a master or marabout. They are expected to memorize the entire Qur’an in Arabic by the age of 19, daily beg for food and money (quotas must be given to marabout) so that the virtues of patience, humility, suffering and good behavior can be developed, and work for farmers during the planting seasons.

If they fail to meet quota or memorize the Qur’an in Arabic, they face the threat of physical, sexual, and verbal abuse by other people. They are often hit by cars while begging for food and money. Serious or chronic illness are often untreated.

Child trafficking is also common. At least 100,000 children are affected by this phenomenon and governments are often powerless to stop this from happening.

The boys are deprived from their childhood and, if they escape their marabout, they often live on the street often against their own choice.

– Pray that Western Africa governments would enforce laws to protect the boys from various crimes.

– While formerly for educational purposes, the Qur’anic training system is about financial gain for greedy marabouts. Pray that justice will be served for those who are taking advantage of the boys or that their hearts would be convicted of the evil they have been involved in “in the name of Allah.”

– Pray for advocates who are providing a safe place where boys can receive shelter, medical care, nutrition, love and education, and also speaking out for the rights of those boys.

Sources: http://www.30daysprayer.com; http://www.irinnews.org/report/99809/scant-progress-senegal’s-talibé-problem; http://www.mtholyoke.edu/~ndiay22k/classweb/worldpolitics/images/2498115-3514718.jpg; https://www.hrw.org/news/2010/04/15/senegal-boys-many-quranic-schools-suffer-severe-abuse; http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2013/dec/26/fatal-fire-again-highlights-senegal-child-beggary/

Day 4: West Africa
Series: 30 Days of Prayer for Muslims and Christians – 2016 Ramadan
Presented in American Sign Language, no voice interpretation.
Link: http://vimeo.com/169926514#at=0

Written Transcript:

In the region of West Africa, there are three people groups vying for lasting influence: Christians in the North and Muslims in the south, with various African tribal religion in the middle. There are 18 nations with 514 Muslim people groups. Out of about 335 million people, there are 105 million Muslims. For many West Africans who are neither Christians nor Muslims, there is a practical question they always ask: “What religion is powerful enough to protect me from the spiritual forces around me?”

Many Muslim-background believers speak of how Christians have made lasting impact in the region of West Africa. They live out the Gospel in everyday life by pursuing equality for all humans by, for instance, establishing schools and orphanages, and participate in community development projects. Many converts from Muslim religion will also comment that they come to faith in Jesus Christ because there is a translation of the Bible in their local language, in contrast to the Qur’an which is written in Arabic language. Many Muslims also talk about encountering Christ through answered prayers, drams and reading Scripture. After they discovered the living Lord, they cannot ignore him and are willing to give their lives to Christ.

– Pray for the emerging movements to Christ in West Africa, that they will grow deep and strong in their newfound faith.

– Pray for protection from evil forces represented in Boko Haram, syncretistic religion, and social injustice.

– There are about 100 million West African Muslims with more than 514 distinct ethnolinguistic people groups; pray that they will become aware of the reality of Christ in this region of Africa.

Sources: http://www.30daysprayer.com; www.wikipedia.com (for West Africa map)

Day 3: Mauritania
Series: 30 Days of Prayer for Muslims and Christians – 2016 Ramadan
Presented in American Sign Language, no voice interpretation.
Link: http://vimeo.com/169922991

Written Transcript:

Mauritania, a country about three times as big as Germany and made up mainly of desert. Many people groups such as Arabs, Berbers and African people are living in this area. In 1920, Mauritania became a French republic and gained independence from France in 1960 as an Islamic country. Nowadays, the majority of the population are adherents of Islam and observe Islamic law more carefully than before. Partially because of social issues related to poverty, corruption, slavery, injustice, drought, etc., and also because of the Islamic jihad, this seems to be the only solution. Many do practice nomadic lifestyle.

The population of Mauritania is almost 100% Sunni Muslim and there are only a few Christians.

– Pray that this former normadic people will find their way to Jesus.

– Pray for those believers whom God has called to demonstrate His love among the people of Mauritania

– Pray that new believers will grow strong in their faith and in courage to share it

Source: http://www.30daysprayer.com; www.wikipedia.com (for Mauritania country map)

Day 2: North Africa
Series: 30 Days of Prayer for Muslims and Christians – 2016 Ramadan
Presented in American Sign Language, no voice interpretation.
Link: http://vimeo.com/169743019

Written Transcript:
North Africa was the vibrant homeland of Christianity for centuries before Islamic armies rolled across its shores and subjugated the population in the seventh century. Islamic sharia slowly choked the existing Christian communities, leaving one of the most concentrated Islamic populations in the House of Islam. Today North Africa’s 100 million Muslims constitute 98-100 percent of the population in Mauritania, Western Sahara, Morocco, Algeria, Tinisia, and Libya.

In spite of Arab conquest and dominion of the African population, there remains at least 19 distinct Berber people groups in North Africa, with 30-40 million speakers of Berber languages. The appearance of new Christian churches in North Africa means that many people are committing allegiance to Christ who laid down His life as the Good Shepherd.

1) Pray that the emerging Christian movements in North Africa will endure despite government efforts at Arabization and Islamization.

2) Pray that new Berber translations of the gospel will awaken the faith of North Africa’s indigenous Berber populations.

3) Scripture translation, radio and satellite television, and indigenous witness are contributing to a rediscovery of the new yet ancient faith of Christianity in North Africa. Pray for the workers who produce these messages.

Source: http://www.30daysprayer.com

Day 1: New Ways, New Movement
Series: 30 Days of Prayer for Muslims and Christians – 2016 Ramadan
Presented in American Sign Language, no voice interpretation.
Link: http://vimeo.com/169743018

Written Transcript:
Today is the first day of Ramadan, and millions of Muslims throughout the world are fasting from sunup to sunset. The history of Islam is chronicled by religious holy war and military conquest called jihad largely motivated by desire to spread Islam and to protest against real and perceived injustices. Christians on the other hand are less inclined to view conquest as an appropriate way to spread Christianity since Jesus told them to “love your enemies” (Matt. 5:44).

Today, Christians are engaging Muslims as individuals who, like us, are lost without a Savior. Rather than conquest and dominion, we are seeking to win hearts and minds to a Savior who offers us an eternal kingdom, the Kingdom of God. It is not our religion that offers salvation to Muslims; it is our relationship with Lord Jesus Christ! Muslims are prompted to surrender their lives to a new faith not because of our religion, politics, economy, or civilization; rather, it is our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

1) Pray that Christians will resist the temptation to imitate the Islamic model of military advance, conquest, and conversion (Zechariah 4:6)

2) Pray that Christians will follow the supreme example of Jesus who, though “being in very nature God … made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant” (Philippians 2:6-7)

3) Pray that we will stop following failed strategies of the past, but rather lift up the person of Jesus Christ who is fully able to draw all men, including Muslims, to himself.

4) Pray that God will draw out Muslim people to become His disciples.

Source: http://www.30daysprayer.com