For hundreds of years, towers have lined the coastlines of the Arabian Gulf where my family and I live. They kept watch over local fishing villages and warned them of invaders coming by ship.
Many of these ancient towers still stand as monuments to the local culture and religion.
But the coronavirus—an invisible new enemy—invaded quietly. No watchtower could have detected it. And in a remarkably short amount of time, it has forced historic changes upon communities here and all around the world.
The coronavirus is challenging our friends’ sacred ways of life.
For Muslims, it’s significantly impacted their religious practice and culture. Our local friends can’t visit the city of Mecca to complete the hajj, their holy pilgrimage which is one of the five pillars of Islam.
They are unable to gather for prayer at the mosque. Instead of admonishing the faithful to come to the mosque, the call to prayer—which has rung out across the Islamic world for over a millennium—now instructs people, “Pray in your homes.”
These are strange days as we watch how this silent invader, the coronavirus, is chipping away at Islamic practice. It’s challenging our friends’ sacred ways of life and culture.
It has also given us countless conversations with men and women who are desperately seeking answers, comfort, and hope.
“By God, I’m scared of the coronavirus,” a Muslim friend messaged me recently. “And there’s almost no work.”
I encouraged my friend, telling him that God’s Word tells us over and over again not to be afraid.
Pray for my fearful friend who is without Christ and without hope. Pray that as I share the Word with him, God will open his heart to believe in Jesus who calms every fear and brings peace in every storm.
- Pray for 1.8 billion Muslims who are without hope, and ask God to lead them to the truth of the Gospel.
- Ask the Lord to bless Frontiers workers’ efforts to use social media to engage people with the Word.
- Pray for workers to grow in strength and resiliency as they continue serving in Muslim communities.
Before oil flooded their shores with wealth, the peoples of the Arab Gulf eked out a living by diving for pearls.
Learn more about the history of pearl diving in the region—and join in praying that Muslims will seek the greatest treasure, Jesus Christ.
This account comes from a long-term worker. Names and places have been changed for security.
Main photo by Prasad Pillai