“…. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the downtrodden will be freed from their oppressors…” Luke 4:18
I recently met with an Iraqi Shiite muslim woman in Jordan … let’s call her Rana. She is in her 30’s and has a young daughter. She seems to be estranged from her husband… who is still living inside Iraq. She became a Christ follower last year after a couple of elderly Catholic ladies befriended her and her daughter and told them about Jesus. She is deeply in love with Jesus now and has become quite bold in sharing about Jesus with her extended family. She told me something fascinating.
She said that for Muslim women inside Iraq to become Christ followers is very difficult. (This is not the fascinating part … that is coming.) She said that there are layers of barriers upon women in terms of making their own spiritual decisions. She said that if a woman wanted to leave Islam and follow Jesus that she would first have to fear her husband’s response. Then, if she could get beyond him, she would fear her father and brothers. If she could get beyond them, she would have to escape the pressure of the tribe (extended family). If it were possible to get beyond them, then she would have to fear the government. She said that it just seems like a hopeless and impossible decision to make.
However, (here is the fascinating part) she said that if there were not these layers upon layers of control upon Muslims (women and men); she felt that 75% of Muslims would leave Islam and either become Christ followers or Atheists.
Would you pause for just a moment right now and pray for Rana and her daughter? Would you also join me in praying for the millions of ‘would –be- Ranas ‘inside Iraq?
We have a weekly prayer highlight update that is changed each week (on Sundays). New articles should be added every few weeks. Look for a few new ones in two weeks.
The information from Rana is indeed fascinating! I’m so thankful for people like you who are obedient to God’s call to the Ramas and their families.
These women are in the prayers of Women’s Ministries International around the world, we will not forget!
The Lord is using all of you for His glory!
Blessings,
SJF