ENGLISH DAY 5. SOUTHEAST ASIA 2014년 11월 28일 중보기도팀 댓글 달기 Today’s GAP 1 Chronicles 24, 25/1 Peter 5/Micah 3/Luke 12 Many people think of the Middle East when they think of Islam. But the region with the biggest Muslim population is in Southeast Asia. Of the 1.7 billion Muslims, approximately a quarter live in the Middle East and over 700 million Muslims, which is half of the World’s Muslim population, live in Asia including Southeast Asia. Abu Sayaff, an Islamist militant group located in the southern part of the Philippines, urged Germany to withdraw its support for strikes against IS and threatened to kill a German captive. Moreover, a video was released with the leader of Abu Sayaff pledging allegiance to IS. The Indonesian Institute for Conflict Research reported that “because of IS’s initiative there is a bigger probability that Indonesian extremist groups will attack foreigners.” As such, there are noticeable movements in Southeast Asia that support IS due to its radicalism expanding throughout Southeast Asia. Photo: Abu Sayaff, an Islamist militant group located in the southern part of the Philippines The reason why IS’s influence is growing quickly in Asia is because Islamic militant groups have been active in this region for a long period of time. Especially in Indonesia, the nation with the highest Muslim population of 2 billion, militant groups like Islamic Defenders Front (FPI)·Al Jama Al Islamia (JI) have a history of anti-government, terrorist attacks and are heightening tensions. These groups are Sunnis like IS and are united under the goal to establish an ‘Islamic nation that combines state and religion” and so there is a high chance that they will be linked to IS. U.S. Navy Admiral Samuel Locklear said at a press conference that “There are approximately 1000 IS followers in the Pacific region (around Southeast Asia). Also, including the countries on the Indo-Chinese peninsula, there are 10 Southeast Asian countries that are in the process of becoming a politico-economic union like the EU by 2015 called ‘ASEAN’. When this ASEAN union is built the walls between countries will be broken and so Islam from Indonesia, which has the most Muslims, Malaysia, Brunei etc. will immediately encroach on the countries of Southeast Asia. Not only this, but Cambodia, which is traditionally a Buddhist country, has instituted Islamic education in high schools through the support of Middle Eastern Islamist fundamentalists. Malaysians are confiscating bibles and Islamic groups are having nation-wide meetings where they propagate anti-Christianity, anti-conversion, and anti-apostasy, while making claims that “Christianity is threatening Islam. Malaysia is at risk because of the Christian Church.” Amidst the spread of Islam and persecution the Malaysian church is uniting and having prayer meetings daily and are repeatedly holding big scale, public prayer gatherings. In these dire situations they are not wavering and are keeping their faith, taking this as an opportunity to unite and strengthen one another. Prayer Request 1. Islam is expanding its sphere of influence all over the world as if it is a great power and is moving Islam in Southeast Asia. That power is fake and is vain. It can never rule the world. God please shine the light of truth upon the Southeast Asians who cannot discern left from right and are being dragged into darkness, and may they turn from their evil ways and come to the Cross out of repentance. 2. Though the local church looks powerless in front of the big “force” of Islam… may the church unite and raise up a heavenly gospel movement. Let they rise up anew with the authority of the church that overcomes all powers and hardships, and may they save and liberate the souls of the muslims through the Gospel of the Kingdom.
Posted on: Sat, 29 Nov 2014 12:08:37 +0000
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