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A Call to Prayer During Ramadan

A Call to Prayer During Ramadan

Editorial Note: In this post, Pastor Jason Read equips us to pray in fervent and informed ways for our Muslim neighbors and for Muslims among the Riau Melayu during the month of Ramadan. The Riau Melayu are the strategic focus of our prayers and labor as a church for God’s name among the nations. In 2023, Ramadan takes place from Wednesday, March 22, through Friday, April 21.

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According to Muslim tradition, in the year 610 Allah began a twenty-three year process of dictating the Quran to Muhammad. The essence of the story is that Muhammad, in his quest for knowledge of Allah, repeatedly visited a cave near the city of Mecca for times of solitude. During one of those visits, Allah sent an angel to begin the dictation. That first visit came in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, Ramadan.

Within the revelations from Allah came the five core pillars, or principles, of Islam: Shahada (faith), Salah (prayer), Zakat (almsgiving), Sawm (fasting), and Hajj (pilgrimage). Each practice must be completed by all Muslims throughout their lifetime. During the month of Ramadan, in commemoration of the giving of the Quran, Muslims fast as a means of devotion to Allah and to gain self-control over their human desires.

Ramadan moves each year because the Islamic calendar is based on cycles of the moon, rather than movement of the sun. Beginning with the sighting of the new moon, Muslims will fast from food and drink, among other things, during the sunlight hours. The fast ends each evening with an iftar, the fast-breaking evening meal. This is generally a very social meal, with Muslims inviting one another into their homes for a communal meal. During the month, many people will attempt to read through the entire Quran. The goal of this piety and self-restraint is a greater consciousness of Allah (taqwa).

In adherence to Islam, the Riau Melayu, some two million people spread across thousands of islands, will likewise be fasting in hopes of gaining favor with Allah. In 2021, the members of Heritage committed together to focus our global missions efforts in the direction of the Riau Melayu. We’re praying that Riau Melayu Muslims would become Riau Melayu Christians. We’re praying that God would establish local churches with indigenous leaders, gathering those believers according to his Word for the sake of his glory.

Praying for Muslims During Ramadan

During the month of Ramadan, would you consider praying each day for the Riau Melayu or a Muslim you might know? As they focus their attention on obedience to Allah, let’s pray that the Word of God would increase, multiplying the number of disciples obedient to the true faith (Acts 6:7). Below are a few prompts to get you started.

  • Read Psalm 63. Pray that God would create in them a hunger and thirst to know the true God.
  • Read 2 Corinthians 5:21. Pray that God would reveal to them their sin and their need for the righteousness found in Christ alone.
  • Read Hebrews 1:1-4. Pray they would know the supremacy of Christ who is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature.
  • Read 1 Peter 2:24. Pray they would soon know the truth, that Christ bore our sins in his body on the cross.
  • Read 2 Corinthians 5:18-20. Pray for our missionaries among the Riau Melayu. Ask God to give opportunities for conversations about God and the Bible.
  • Read Luke 24:27. Pray that Riau Melayu Muslims would read the Bible with our missionaries and discover the truth of Christ.
  • Read Acts 1:8. Pray that God would embolden us by the power of the Holy Spirit to share the good news of Jesus Christ with our Muslim friends.
  • Read Revelation 5:9-14. Praise God for the work he is doing to gather for himself worshippers too numerous to count from every tribe, language, people and nation.

Learning About Islam During Ramadan

Ramadan might also be a time during which you intentionally learn more about God’s global mission or the challenge of reaching Muslims with the gospel. Below are a few book ideas for reading during Ramadan.

Many of us have Muslim neighbors and co-workers right here in Greenville. The month of Ramadan presents an easy opportunity for you to ask them about their faith and practices. Ask what Ramadan means to them. Ask about family history or traditions. They might even invite you to join them for an iftar. Some of those conversations are great moments to ask, “May I share with you what I believe about Jesus?” Remember, you are an “ambassador for Christ” (2Cor. 5:20), so love your neighbor well by building a friendship and seeking opportunities to proclaim the hope of Christ.

Good News From a Good God

In Acts 4, the religious leaders were “greatly annoyed because [John and Peter] were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead” (Acts 4:2). It’s no small thing to be an ambassador for Christ. Rather than shrink back at the enormity of the task or the threat of persecution, John and Peter delighted in God’s promises and they prayed. Out of their prayers, the Spirit empowered them to “speak the word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:31).

Praying for Muslims to know Christ and seeking opportunities to speak truth may seem too large of a task for you. Perhaps you don’t know enough to make a winsome appeal. Perhaps you’re worried about having all the right answers. Like the Apostles, remember God’s promises and pray for boldness. There is good news from our good God for the humble ambassador. “We are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us” (2Cor. 5:20). God is the one making the appeal. Christ is the one who redeems. The Spirit is the one who gives new life. The impossible burden of conversion does not rest upon your shoulders. Rather, God makes his appeal, through us, as we boldly pray and proclaim the hope of our Savior.

Elder and Deacon Nominees 2022

As part of our Family Meeting on Sunday, March 27, at 4:30 p.m., Members will affirm Elders and Deacons for 2022-23. Nominees are listed below and a sample ballot is available for your review.

Elder Nominees

Travis Fleshman

Testimony: I grew up in a Christian home and was baptized around the age of five. When I was eleven, I attended a Christian camp, and was convicted of my sin. I repented and embraced the gospel. After years of wrestling, I was baptized as a believer, and have continued to grow since. My wife and I have been married for fifteen years and have four wonderful children. We continue to pursue God both individually and as a family, anticipating the day when we will finally be with Him.

Ministry Involvement:

  • Elder
  • Elder Vice Chairman, elect
  • Former Shepherding Group Leader
  • Elective Teacher
  • Former Preschool Teacher

John Gardner

Testimony: I was saved while in elementary school and have grown in the grace and knowledge of our Lord since then. My wife, Deanna, and I have been attending HBC for 33 years. I am a retired law enforcement officer and currently self-employed.

Ministry Involvement:

  • Elder
  • Shepherding Group Leader
  • Elective Teacher
  • Safety Team Coordinator
  • Former Deacon
  • Former Impact Leader

Pete Hansen

Testimony: I grew up in the great Pacific Northwest. I graduated from Bob Jones University in the early 1980s, and have spent my career as a filmmaker and video producer. My wife Shelley and I have four grown children, and we have been at HBC for 23 years. A godly heritage runs deep in both sides of my family. My parents loved and lived Christ, so much so that I desired and accepted Him as my Savior when I was six years old. Spiritual growth and sanctification thus have been lifelong endeavors, and God continues, both through amazing providences and painful circumstances, to develop Christlikeness in me through His mercy-rich work.

Ministry Involvement:

  • Elder
  • Shepherding Group Leader
  • Elective Teacher
  • Global Outreach Team
  • Music Team
  • Host Ministry
  • Former Deacon

Kevin Johnson

Testimony: I had the privilege of being born and raised in a Christian home. As a young child I heard the Gospel and put my trust in Christ as my Savior. In my early teen years I had some doubts but gained assurance and know today that my faith in Jesus’ obedience to His Father on my behalf will result in eternal life in heaven.

Ministry Involvement:

  • Elder
  • Elder Chairman, elect
  • Former Children’s Worship Teacher
  • Elective Teacher
  • Personnel Committee
  • Finance Committee
  • Global Outreach Team
  • Shepherding Group Participant and Former Leader
  • Former Deacon Chairman

Dan Rundle

Testimony: By God’s grace I was born to Christian parents and came to Christ at a young age. I’m thankful for the influence of the AWANA ministry throughout my childhood which helped saturate my mind with Scripture. There are many times in my life when God has used difficulty to reveal my idols and deepen my dependence on Him. I’m amazed and humbled by His sustaining grace. Throughout my life He has grown my love for the church—it truly is a gift of grace to live in community with other Christians. Susan and I have been married for almost 17 years and have way too much fun with our four kids.

Ministry Involvement:

  • Elder
  • Elective Teacher
  • Personnel Committee
  • Shepherding Group Leader
  • Former Deacon

Deacon Nominees

Milton Ashley

Testimony: I was born into a Christian family. I attended church since birth and heard the gospel for as long I as I can remember. My father was a pastor for most of my growing up years. One Sunday evening when I was quite young my mother led me to the Lord before we left to walk to church. We waited a few years for baptism because my parents wanted to be sure that I understood what it meant. They wanted it to be my public profession (not theirs for me), and I appreciate that. I have been involved in Christian education as a teacher and as an administrator since graduating from college. Currently I work at the BJU Press.

Ministry Involvement:

  • Deacon
  • Shepherding Group Leader
  • Facilities Committee
  • Host Ministry
  • Men’s Ministries Team
  • Offering Counting Team

Brian Burch

Testimony: I was saved as a child. God blessed me with Godly parents and an education with a biblical worldview. By His grace, I have had the honor of serving the Lord and others in many ways and situations over the years. As I have grown in Christ, the two seemingly simple commandments found in Mark 12:30-31 to love God and to love others as yourself have become increasingly rich and deep to me.

Ministry Involvement:

  • Deacon
  • Director of Technology
  • Shepherding Group Co-Leader
  • Facilities Committee
  • Impact Technology Team

Doug Goldstrom

Testimony: I was born and raised in a Christian home. My parents were and still are both great examples of living for Christ and pursuing a walk with Him. Because of this influence I accepted Christ around the age of five. As time went on, I struggled with doubts and fear and prayed many more times for Christ to save me. In 1986 I entered the sixth grade and through my teacher and several messages from Pastor Conley, I realized I needed to be sure of my salvation. Since putting my faith in Christ at that time, Christ has erased all doubts of my salvation and my love for Him and desire to know Him continue to grow. I have been a child of God for the past 35 years and have attended Heritage for 38 years. I was baptized on October 26, 2014 to publicly display my salvation and desire and commitment to serve the Lord.

Ministry Involvement:

  • Deacon
  • Finance Committee
  • Host Ministry 
  • Offering Counting Team
  • Shepherding Group Participant

John Grove

I was blessed to grow up in a godly Christian home and learn at an early age what Christ had done for me on the cross. At the age of 5, I accepted Christ as my Savior after a Sunday school lesson on heaven and hell, and subsequently talking with my parents that afternoon about my need for salvation. Later in life I struggled with doubts about my conversion, and God made it clear to me that my doubts were not because I wasn’t a believer, but because I had been living with hidden sin in my life. After making things right, confessing my sin to God, and getting counsel from my parents and pastor, God gave me the peace that comes with being reconciled to Him. After college, I met my wife Amber while working at Red Cliff Bible Camp in Pinedale, Wyoming. In 2015 I moved to Greenville, got married, and started attending HBC.

Ministry Involvement:

  • Deacon
  • Facilities Committee
  • Technology Team
  • Sunday Facilities Assistant
  • Shepherding Group Participant

Jim McQuaid

Testimony: I wasn’t  blessed with salvation at an early age like many Christians. My family raised me Catholic, believing in God and attending church every Sunday. Fast forward about 25 years later; God blessed me with a devout Christian lady to be my wife. I didn’t even imagine that God was beginning to bring me to Himself, and that He wouldn’t cease His pursuit of me. When my wife developed serious health problems and wasn’t able to drive to church, I began taking her and staying for the service. Several years later, I had a real wake-up call when I had surgery. Several months later at a Christmas service, I accepted Christ as my Savior. I have been an active member of Heritage for 16 years and have grown in my relationship with Christ. Another of my goals has been to welcome guests and the church family on Sundays, to pray for them, and strive to meet their needs.

Ministry Involvement:

  • Deacon
  • Benevolence Committee
  • Shepherding Group Participant
  • Host Ministry
  • Technology Team Assistant

Peter Selby

I was saved at the age of 4.  My parents had the opportunity to lead me and my older brother to Jesus on the same evening after we’d both heard several Sunday school lessons about salvation. While I don’t remember all of the details of that day, my assurance is in the promises of Jesus Christ that He has saved me by grace through faith alone–not in any specific details of anything I did that day, or even in my complete comprehension of the gospel at that time. I was blessed to be raised in a Christian home. We began attending HBC in 1990 where I had the privilege of hearing the Word under Pastor Conley, then Danny Brooks, and now Trent Hunter. Now a family of four, we are excited about the continued opportunities for growth at HBC.

Ministry Involvement:

  • Deacon
  • Shepherding Group Participant and Former Leader
  • Host Ministry
  • Offering Counting Team
  • Nursery Ministry
Let’s Sing! “Jesus, Your Mercy”

Let’s Sing! “Jesus, Your Mercy”

We have about 160 songs in a catalogue we’ve curated for singing on Sunday morning. Each song old and new is a unique mingling of poetry and melody. Yet even the new songs that we sing are about same old things, and we sing them in order to do same old things.

This past week we introduced a new song, “Jesus, Your Mercy,” which we’ll sing again this Sunday. This song is a prayer to our merciful Lord, a song to help us confess our sin and rejoice in our assurance rooted in the mercy of God. Meditate these words and wear yourself into the tune ahead of Sunday. 

Lyrics

1. Jesus, Your mercy is all my plea
I have no defense, my guilt runs too deep
The best of my works pierced Your hands and Your feet
Jesus, Your mercy is all my plea

2. Jesus, Your mercy is all my boast
The goodness I claim, the grounds of my hope
Whatever I lack it’s still what I need most
Jesus, Your mercy is all my boast

Chorus
Praise the King who bore my sin
Took my place when I stood condemned
Oh how good You’ve always been to me
I will sing of Your mercy

3. Jesus, Your mercy is all my rest
When fears weigh me down and enemies press
A comfort I cling to in life and in death
Jesus Your mercy is all my rest

4. Jesus, your mercy is all my joy
Forever I’ll lift my heart and my voice
To sing of a treasure no pow’r can destroy
Jesus, your mercy is all my joy

Bob Kauflin, Jordan Kauflin, Nathan Stiff © 2019 Sovereign Grace Worship

 

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