People Group Prayer Focus
July/August Prayer Focus
Bengali Muslims
POPULATION: 135,600,00
LANGUAGE: Bengali
RELIGIONS: Islam (99.4%), Christian (.06%)
Islam arrived in what is now Bangladesh in the early 1200s with a military attack by Muhammad Bakhtiyar Khilji. It was an early foothold of Islam in a region dominated by the local religions collectively known as Hinduism. For hundreds of years, Muslim conquerors fought for more of Bengal, all the while facing resistance by Hindu kings. As time progressed the two Bengali religious communities were divided not only by religion but by economics. Bengali Muslims gravitated to being landless laborers while the Hindus became landlords and urban specialists. Hindu speaking Bengalis live mainly in India’s adjacent state of West Bengal. There are also millions of Muslim Bengali speakers outside of Bangladesh, mainly in West Bengal. Bengalis are the largest Muslim people group in the world.
LANGUAGE: Bengali
RELIGIONS: Islam (99.4%), Christian (.06%)
Islam arrived in what is now Bangladesh in the early 1200s with a military attack by Muhammad Bakhtiyar Khilji. It was an early foothold of Islam in a region dominated by the local religions collectively known as Hinduism. For hundreds of years, Muslim conquerors fought for more of Bengal, all the while facing resistance by Hindu kings. As time progressed the two Bengali religious communities were divided not only by religion but by economics. Bengali Muslims gravitated to being landless laborers while the Hindus became landlords and urban specialists. Hindu speaking Bengalis live mainly in India’s adjacent state of West Bengal. There are also millions of Muslim Bengali speakers outside of Bangladesh, mainly in West Bengal. Bengalis are the largest Muslim people group in the world.
What Are Their Lives Like?
Bangladesh is noted for economic problems, but they have grown considerably in the 2020s. With well over 100 million Bengali Muslims in Bangladesh alone, they hold any possible profession.
Yet Bengalis face an ongoing identity crisis. They are divided across religious lines, with centuries of fighting between themselves and the Hindus.
Bangladesh is noted for economic problems, but they have grown considerably in the 2020s. With well over 100 million Bengali Muslims in Bangladesh alone, they hold any possible profession.
Yet Bengalis face an ongoing identity crisis. They are divided across religious lines, with centuries of fighting between themselves and the Hindus.
What Are Their Beliefs?
Though they are officially Sunni Muslim, Bengalis have an affinity for saints known as pirs. They believe these saints hold much spiritual power that can help one gain wealth and heal health problems. Bengali Muslims also commonly embrace Sufism. This is a mystical and emotional Islamic practice which seeks to reach a state of spiritual purity known as fitra. Sufis form themselves into orders led by spiritual teachers.
Though they are officially Sunni Muslim, Bengalis have an affinity for saints known as pirs. They believe these saints hold much spiritual power that can help one gain wealth and heal health problems. Bengali Muslims also commonly embrace Sufism. This is a mystical and emotional Islamic practice which seeks to reach a state of spiritual purity known as fitra. Sufis form themselves into orders led by spiritual teachers.
What Are Their Needs?
There is a massive harvest in the making, and Christian Bengalis are in the midst of reaching Muslims for Christ! The best things outsiders can do help ministries like GRO that are broadening the Bengali Christian's reach and equipping them with tools to disciple new believers.
There is a massive harvest in the making, and Christian Bengalis are in the midst of reaching Muslims for Christ! The best things outsiders can do help ministries like GRO that are broadening the Bengali Christian's reach and equipping them with tools to disciple new believers.
Prayer Points
Pray for the Lord of the Harvest to continue leading thousands of Bengali Muslims to the Savior of all nations.
Pray that this largest Muslim group will find the truth of the Jesus.
Pray for Muslim background Bengali disciples to make more disciples.
Pray that Bengali Muslims that are seeking truth would be led to GRO's outreach websites and be impacted by the message of the Gospel.
Pray for the Lord of the Harvest to continue leading thousands of Bengali Muslims to the Savior of all nations.
Pray that this largest Muslim group will find the truth of the Jesus.
Pray for Muslim background Bengali disciples to make more disciples.
Pray that Bengali Muslims that are seeking truth would be led to GRO's outreach websites and be impacted by the message of the Gospel.
May/June Prayer Focus
Kulobi in Tajikistan
POPULATION: 882,000
LANGUAGE: Tajik, Russian
RELIGIONS: Islam (100%)
The Kulobi are a sub-group of the Tajik people of Tajikistan in Central Asia. Following the fall of the Soviet Union in 1990, there was a seven-year civil war in Tajikistan. Thousands of people were killed. The economy of the nation is still in recovery and refugees are returning from the surrounding countries. Tajikistan is the poorest nation in Central Asia and there are no known believers among the Kulobi.
LANGUAGE: Tajik, Russian
RELIGIONS: Islam (100%)
The Kulobi are a sub-group of the Tajik people of Tajikistan in Central Asia. Following the fall of the Soviet Union in 1990, there was a seven-year civil war in Tajikistan. Thousands of people were killed. The economy of the nation is still in recovery and refugees are returning from the surrounding countries. Tajikistan is the poorest nation in Central Asia and there are no known believers among the Kulobi.
What Are Their Lives Like?
The traditional occupation of the Kulobi was animal husbandry and agriculture. They raised goat, sheep, cattle and camels in a semi-nomadic lifestyle. In the short summers, they grew barley, wheat, fruit, and vegetables. Even today many Kuboli live in cities in the winter and return to the countryside in the summer to grow their crops for the year.
What Are Their Beliefs?
The Kulobi like other Tajiks are Sunni Muslim, the largest denomination in Islam. Many Kulobi also practice elements of folk religion. They believe that spirits inhabit the objects of nature. These spirits must be appeased or they can bring disaster upon the people.
The traditional occupation of the Kulobi was animal husbandry and agriculture. They raised goat, sheep, cattle and camels in a semi-nomadic lifestyle. In the short summers, they grew barley, wheat, fruit, and vegetables. Even today many Kuboli live in cities in the winter and return to the countryside in the summer to grow their crops for the year.
What Are Their Beliefs?
The Kulobi like other Tajiks are Sunni Muslim, the largest denomination in Islam. Many Kulobi also practice elements of folk religion. They believe that spirits inhabit the objects of nature. These spirits must be appeased or they can bring disaster upon the people.
What Are Their Needs?
The Kulobi need to see that only Jesus Christ can forgive their sins and grant them eternal life The Kulobi are a proud people and pride can often prevent people from coming to Christ. Rural Kulobi would benefit by access to modern medicine and ways to improve their farming techniques and the health of their animals.
The Kulobi need to see that only Jesus Christ can forgive their sins and grant them eternal life The Kulobi are a proud people and pride can often prevent people from coming to Christ. Rural Kulobi would benefit by access to modern medicine and ways to improve their farming techniques and the health of their animals.
Prayer Points:
Ask God to raise up long-term missionaries who will go to Tajikistan and share Christ with Kulobi.
Pray that the Holy Spirit will give vision for outreach and a genuine burden for the Kulobi to believers who live in this region.
Ask God to raise up a disciple making movement among the Kulobi in this decade.
Pray that the Kulobi people find GRO's Russian outreach website and are compelled to follow Jesus.
Ask God to raise up long-term missionaries who will go to Tajikistan and share Christ with Kulobi.
Pray that the Holy Spirit will give vision for outreach and a genuine burden for the Kulobi to believers who live in this region.
Ask God to raise up a disciple making movement among the Kulobi in this decade.
Pray that the Kulobi people find GRO's Russian outreach website and are compelled to follow Jesus.
March/April's Prayer Focus
All Muslims
March and April are the months Ramadan falls in this year. Ramadan is a time when Muslims fast and abstain from pleasures during the day light hours. Many during this time are seeking a spiritual fulfillment that can only be found in Christ. Below is a short list of ways you can be praying for Muslims during Ramadan.
Ways to Pray
- Pray for that Christ will be revealed as Lord and Savior through dreams, visions, and His people.
- Pray for new Muslim-background believers as they respond with boldness to questions and scrutiny for not participating in Ramadan festivities.
- Pray that as Muslims are in a state of seeking they would be led by the Holy Spirit to our Outreach Websites and encounter the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
January/February's Prayer Focus
Tunisian Arabs
POPULATION: 10,917,000
LANGUAGE: Arabic, Tunisian Spoken
RELIGIONS: Islam (99%), Christian (.>1%)
In the first few centuries after Christ, Christianity spread throughout North Africa. A strong church was established in present-day Tunisia despite intense persecution from the Romans. Ancient baptisteries and sites of martyrdom can be found among the ruins. However, disunity, factions, and a failure to translate the Bible into the local languages weakened the church. When Arab invaders arrived in the 7th century an empty shell of a church was all that existed. Islam spread rapidly and the Christian roots of the people were forgotten.
What Are Their Lives Like?
Agriculture, phosphate mining, and tourism dominate Tunisia's economy. What was once known as Rome's "bread basket" still produces delicious fruits, vegetables, and grains. Most farmers employ primitive farming methods. At the same time cell phones, Internet, and Facebook are changing the way Tunisians interact with and view the world.
What Are Their Beliefs?
Virtually all Tunisian Arabs are Muslim. While many are nominal Muslims, Islam heavily influences every aspect of Tunisian culture. They believe in jinn, spirits according to Muslim legend, capable of exercising influence over people. Witchcraft and worship at shrines are practiced and produce bondage and strong spiritual darkness.
What Are Their Needs?
In recent years, Christian media (websites, TV, and radio programs) has generated a great interest in Christianity. Following the recent revolution, unprecedented access to the Gospel has produced a great need for more workers (nationals and foreigners alike) to meet with those who are seeking to know more about Jesus.
Agriculture, phosphate mining, and tourism dominate Tunisia's economy. What was once known as Rome's "bread basket" still produces delicious fruits, vegetables, and grains. Most farmers employ primitive farming methods. At the same time cell phones, Internet, and Facebook are changing the way Tunisians interact with and view the world.
What Are Their Beliefs?
Virtually all Tunisian Arabs are Muslim. While many are nominal Muslims, Islam heavily influences every aspect of Tunisian culture. They believe in jinn, spirits according to Muslim legend, capable of exercising influence over people. Witchcraft and worship at shrines are practiced and produce bondage and strong spiritual darkness.
What Are Their Needs?
In recent years, Christian media (websites, TV, and radio programs) has generated a great interest in Christianity. Following the recent revolution, unprecedented access to the Gospel has produced a great need for more workers (nationals and foreigners alike) to meet with those who are seeking to know more about Jesus.
Prayer Points
Ask God to strengthen, encourage, and protect the small number of Tunisian Arab believers.
Pray for completion of Bible translation in this people group's primary language.
Pray for Tunisian Arabs to become aware of their spiritual bankruptcy before God.
Pray for dreams and visions that will open Arab eyes and show them that Jesus is the only way to God.
Pray that God would guide them to websites that will make the Gospel clear to them.
Also pray that God will use the work of Global Radio Outreach to reach this unreached people group.
Ask God to strengthen, encourage, and protect the small number of Tunisian Arab believers.
Pray for completion of Bible translation in this people group's primary language.
Pray for Tunisian Arabs to become aware of their spiritual bankruptcy before God.
Pray for dreams and visions that will open Arab eyes and show them that Jesus is the only way to God.
Pray that God would guide them to websites that will make the Gospel clear to them.
Also pray that God will use the work of Global Radio Outreach to reach this unreached people group.
The map and information in these prayer focuses are courtesy of The Joshua Project