Month: March 2014 - Pray For Qatar

The world’s richest nation suffers from first world problems: one study indicates half the country’s adults are obese and at least 17% suffer from diabetes. In America, often assumed to be the fattest, only 33% of adults are obese and 8% are diabetic. Diabetes is developing a decade younger than average, which is pushing up rates of illnesses like hypertension, partial paralysis, heart disease, and blindness. Experts predict by 2015 73% of Qatari women and 69% of Qatari men will be obese. Why? Qatar is full of fast food chains. Outdoor activities aren’t encouraged. Qatar is hot: average summer highs are a humid…

Churches and believers are present in Qatar in small numbers. While the government does not, for the most part, restrict foreigners’ private religious practices, they do restrict sharing of one’s faith in an effort to convert Muslims to Christianity. In other parts of the Arab world, disillusioned Muslims are wandering into churches to ask the spiritual questions heavy on their hearts. There is often fear: believers fear sharing openly because it might lead to discovery, job loss, and eviction from the country; churches and communities of believers fear trouble from the government and threats from the seeker’s family members. Some…

Many think the ocean is captivating. But the desert can have its own quixotic beauty: in some places, sands can create a melodious roar described as a symphony. Traveller Marco Polo said it created “the sounds of all kinds of musical instruments,” named by others as the combination of a double bass, trombone, didgeridoo and low-flying airplane. Qatar contains one of about 30 singing sand dunes on Earth. The singing sound is created by wind passing over dunes, or by walking in the sand. The grains at singing sand dunes are small and round and similar in diameter, and contain…

Throughout the world and the history of missions, language is a barrier that missionaries have had to overcome. Missionaries can share the Gospel in their own language, or even a common language, but those they are trying to reach are going to be more receptive and have greater depth of understanding when the Gospel is shared in their mother tongue. . In Qatar, this presents a unique challenge. Because Qataris make up only about 15% of the national population, English has become the lingua franca for most businesses and educational venues. Qataris often know English well, and use it daily…

Read Kumar’s profile. God, You see this man who had to choose between difficult options. He chose a life far from family because the alternative was unemployment and inability to provide for them. We pray for Kumar and others like him who work under demanding conditions and often dangerous circumstances. We ask for Your protection and provision – give him nourishing food, health, and safety. We pray for honest and fair employers, people of conscience and conviction, who would give him the money promised for his labor. We thank You for giving Kumar community with other laborers. Be lifted high among…