Noteworthy

September 27, 2021

On Tuesday, September 21, at least two noteworthy things happened on the global stage. 

Sudan's transitional government foiled an attempted coup led by supporters of ousted Islamist President Omar al-Bashir, arresting the instigators.

President Abdul Fattah Al Sisi of Egypt addressed the United Nations, decrying terrorism and saying that national actions and international cooperation are needed to tackle factors that push individuals toward terrorism, including "countering...takfiri and extremist ideologies". (A takfiri is a Muslim who declares another Muslim to be apostate.)

Why should we in the West take note of these events?

At various times in their shared history, Sudan and Egypt were considered one nation. If they were counted together today, they'd be the second largest land mass in Africa (2.9 million square km) and second most populous (140 million people). Both are Muslim-majority nations working toward securing international-standard human rights for their people. Sudan's Minister of Religious Affairs is charged with promoting equitable justice between Muslims and Christians. For example, the Secretary General of Sudan issued a declaration in spring of this year that Sudan would observe the day of Jesus' resurrection. Egypt is the intellectual centre of Islam in the Middle East, where the Muslim Brotherhood was birthed and matured. In Islam, apostasy is considered a crime against God. For President Al Sisi to confront Islam's apostasy law in an international setting is huge!

In Egypt and Sudan, Muslim-led governments are promoting changes from within that make it easier to be Christian and to share the Gospel. Changing deep-seated mindsets is definitely a process, but the trajectory is positive. Mainstream media have noted that the ascendancy of the Taliban in Afghanistan will inspire other jihadi movements globally. Let us take note of the ways the Holy Spirit is working in Egypt and Sudan - ways that will also impact the world, applaud Him for that work and pray for its fullness to be accomplished. 

Let's pray!

Lord of lords and King of kings, Your ways are higher than ours and your thoughts are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:9). Sometimes we would like You to instantly, magically answer our prayers, but You often choose painstaking and costly processes. We bow to Your higher ways and give You glory.

Thank You for working through the governments of Egypt and Sudan to improve the human rights of Christians and facilitate the sharing of the Good News. Protect these initiatives. Protect and bless the governments and their officials as they continue on this path. We speak to the gates of these and other nations saying, "Lift up your heads, you gates, be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in" (Psalm 24:7)!

We thank You for Christians in these nations who have held on to their faith despite heavy trials. We pray for them to come out from under the oppression they've been living under that has divided, subjected and intimidated them. "May the God of hope fill [them] with all joy and peace as [they] trust in Him, so that [they] may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" (Romans 15:13).

We join in "the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb:
“Great and marvelous are Your deeds,
    Lord God Almighty.
Just and true are Your ways,
    King of the nations.
Who will not fear You, Lord,
    and bring glory to Your name?
For You alone are holy.
All nations will come
    and worship before You,
for Your righteous acts have been revealed.”
(Revelation 15:3-4)


About Leslie

Leslie knows by faith and experience that our heavenly Father puts His prayers in our hearts and then listens to our hearts’ cry as we pray them back to Him. We hear God, and God hears us.

Subscribe Prayer Resources Prayer Letters

Pray for Your Mosque Community

Monthly Prayer Focus
Mosque communities are often the target of hate and racism, but we are called to love. Perhaps the most loving thing we can do is to pray. Use this monthly blog to help inspire prayers of love and compassion for those who call your neighbourhood mosque their home.
Monthly Prayer Guide Newest R
View all

No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin or his background or his religion.

Nelson Mandela

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength and all your mind. And your neighbor as yourself.

Jesus