Jason arose from his bedside in the hotel, his knees stiff from kneeling. He had saved money for three years in order to realize this once-in-a-lifetime vacation to a place marketed as a breathtaking tropical paradise with pure white beaches, vibrant blue seas, incredible coral reefs, and glorious sunsets… but the “holiday” was now over.
Why had the holiday ended? Wasn’t he still one week away from the office back in London? Still in the equatorial sun near the Arabian Sea? Yes, but the holiday had ended for Jason once he no longer saw only the surface of this idyllic destination found on tourism web sites and travel blogs. Instead, he saw a different picture, a different narrative.
Jason’s holiday had ended when he became drawn into two weeks of discovery and prayer for a population of 400,000 unreached Muslims living in an isolated country of 200 islands and many more coral atolls and reefs. Jason had learned about the “underside” of this country: one of the highest divorce rates in the world; widespread practice of child abuse; a people oppressed by rising crime and gang activity; and pervasive abuse of heroin and other drugs by Island teens escaping their boredom and hopelessness. He had met a people whose worldview is shaped by Muslim faith fused with belief in powerful spirits, trapping them in bondage to fear of curses and vain attempts to appease unseen powers affecting their daily lives, people who have no freedom to practice any faith but Islam – all others are illegal.
Jason’s life had changed when he met one who didn’t believe as others did; that man had to remain nameless and faceless in his country or risk his very life because he follows Jesus! That’s when Jason’s “holiday” ended and his life began.
Pray for the Island People
- With practically no access to the witness of Jesus within these hundreds of isolated islands, a divine miracle is needed to bring hope, salvation and transformation to this people group. Will you pray for The Island People of South Asia?
- Pray for divinely-orchestrated opportunities (Acts 16:25-34). May God intervene to cause Islanders to encounter the Christ of the Gospels and experience the miracle of his forgiveness and transforming power in their lives.
- Pray for those few who follow Jesus at the risk of severe punishment and death (Hebrews 11:36-38a). May they know God calls them by name, and in their isolation may they hear the voice of God reassuring them that he is always with them (Deut. 31:6,8; Joshua 1:5).
- Pray on behalf of those in authority in this island nation (1 Timothy 2:1-4), that they may cease attempts to silence the Good News. Pray that Christians will be allowed to live there without suppression, worship freely, and be a witness that blesses the country.
- Pray for personal transformation (Romans 12:1,2). May those involved in the occult, drug abuse and violent acts experience the life-altering power of God in the fruit of the Spirit and the Living Word.
- Pray for more workers (Luke 10:2). May more of Jesus’ disciples join those who are praying for and engaging with Island peoples.