After 25 years of strenuous labor and little fruit, Dr. Zwemer, the first missionary of his time to work among the Islamic peoples of Arabia, was invited to speak at an evangelistic conference in England. He began with this story:
“Master we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word, I will let down the net. And when they had this done, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net broke. And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink (Luke 5:5-7, KJV).”
Dr. Zwemer explained that he had labored “all night” in the Muslim world, and could count, on his fingers, the number of Muslims that had put their faith in Jesus. He went on to say that he was confident, with faithful obedience to Christ’s command, that there would be a time when so many Muslims would come to Christ, that there would not be enough room in churches to hold them. When the people listening asked Dr. Zwemer what they could do, he answered, “Pray!”
Today, we are living on the brink of the “Age of Broken Nets.” Movements of Muslim people groups to Jesus are happening all around the world. According to leading researcher and Muslim Ministry expert David Garrison, more Muslims have turned to follow Jesus in the last 50 years than in the previous 1300 years*.
It is no coincidence that also within these decades, there has been a great increase in global prayer initiatives. Tools like the “30 Days Muslim World Prayer Guide” have been used during Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting, for the past 30 years. Other global prayer initiatives have enlisted Jesus followers across the planet to pray every Friday at noon, while Muslims gather for services at mosques. There is no small link between the movement of God and the prayers of his people. Psalm 2:8 says, “Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the Earth your possession.” Jesus says it too: “Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete” (John 16:24 emphasis added).
By faith, SEND International is asking the Lord of the Harvest to mobilize 40+ workers to full-time Muslim ministry in the next two years. We are taking Jesus at his word, letting down our nets, and “beckoning to our partners in the other ship, that they should come and help us.” Begin asking the Lord of the Harvest now, how you can pray for the Muslim world, how you should respond to the need, and how you can engage with Muslims around you. May the stories and prayer requests in our SEND Hope and Light E-newsletter be an informative and helpful resource to you as you follow Jesus.
*Encountering the World of Islam, p.439
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