Ethiopia

Is Ethiopia a Christian nation or a Muslim nation? According to the CIA Factbook Ethiopia is 35% Christian and 50% Muslim. Other sources put the Christian population at 61% and Muslims 35%. As much as 12% of the population are considered Animist who believe that spirits inhabit animals and other objects to give them life or govern their existence. These last three numbers add up to a statistical impossibility of 108%. The larger number (61%) more than likely comes from grouping other non-Muslim views into the Christian category.

Ethiopia is the only pre-colonial Christian country of Sub-Sahara Africa, and is the oldest independent country in Africa with over 2000 years of independence. However, Ethiopia is more Christian in name than in true Biblical practice. The Christian population is primarily made up of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. Much of what they practice is very similar to the non-effectual doctrines of the Catholic Church, while other aspects of Christian life are based on superstition and tradition. For instance, many Christians pray to various saints, including Mary, for divine protection and blessing. Many others resort to the wearing of amulets and charms to ward off evil spirits.

For hundreds of years there has been a tug-a-war between Christians and Muslims who tend to divide into regions. In recent weeks Ethiopia entered Mogadishu, the capitol of Somalia to aid the recognized government in driving the Somalia Islamic Courts Council out. The SICC is supported by Al-Qaida. Both groups are for the total overthrow of all of Somalia, Ethiopia and the rest of the world by radical Islam.

In the past the Christian population has acted with the same selfish ambition that their fundamentalist Muslim counterparts are famous for. Unfortunately Christianity has a history of “spreading the gospel” through violence just as Muslims use violence to gain control and impose Islam. Many Ethiopian Christians are still stuck in the past concerning their religion. With little true Christian faith, love and enlightenment, Ethiopia is doomed to fall to Islam rather than to raise the country to a level of spirituality that would glorify Jesus Christ.

According to Ezekiel 38:5 Ethiopia will be among those nations who join Gog in the “pre-Daniel’s seventieth week” attack of Israel which is thwarted by God. The future of Ethiopia is clouded by this prophecy, but that does not mean that all Ethiopians will be lost. Pray for the people of Ethiopia that God would send the winds of revival to all those who have hearts to know God. Pray that revival will sweep the land.

One way to reach the country of Ethiopia for Christ is to reach Ethiopians in this country. The Ethiopian Evangelical Church of Washington D.C. Is doing just that. It is a vibrant Christ centered church where the word of God is preached, and healing services are held on Wednesday nights. If you know any Ethiopians personally send them to EEChurch.org. No matter where they are in the world, it may be the first step towards a new understanding of God and a new life in Christ.

The following is the lead off for a story that ran in the February 2003 addition of Charisma magazine.

“Revival in Ethiopia Rooted in Unique National Missionary Movement

Ethiopians are being trained to evangelize their own country

amid a belief that they stand in the way of an Islamic takeover

Revival is sweeping Ethiopia as missionaries carry the gospel to a people devastated by drought, famine and war. Evangelical church leaders in Ethiopia report that the gospel has been preached to at least 1.2 million people in the last six years, resulting in 50,000 conversions to Christianity and 500 new churches.

This move is primarily the work of national missionaries who have been trained and sent out through a partnership of the Evangelical Churches Fellowship of Ethiopia (ECFE) - which represents 97 percent of the Protestant churches in the country - and Accelerating International Mission Strategies (AIMS), a Virginia-based organization.

"It's been encouraging to see the Ethiopian leaders mobilizing their churches and owning the missionary task," said Howard Foltz, founder and president of AIMS.”

You can view the complete story at http://www.aims.org/news/articles/ethiopia-charisma03.html Pray for all parties and individuals involved.

Saudi Arabia

Did you know that the Saudi religious police are being retrained in tolerance. The enforcers of Sharia Law who roam the streets of Saudi Arabia making sure that everyone is living according to the dictates of Islam are now being trained to show some tolerance and look the other way when it comes to foreign visitors. The ones who make sure that men and women do not commingle unless they are married, that shops are closed during Friday prayers and that no other anti-Islamic activities are conducted in public or private must now embrace foreign travelers in order to encourage non-Muslim travel and sightseeing to the country. Why? Money.

Saudi Arabia is the birth place of Islam. Muhammad spent most of his time between Mecca and Medina which are now considered the two most holiest cities of Islam. Medina is the birth city of Muhammad and the Tomb of Muhammad is located inside Masjid-e-Nabavi or The Mosque of The Prophet which sits adjacent to his birth place. It is considered the second most holy sight. Mecca is where the center of Islamic worship is centered. Muslims are told to face towards Mecca when they pray, and it is the destination of all able bodied Muslims who are required to make at least one pilgrimage there in their lifetime. The main attraction in Mecca is the Kaaba located within the Sacred Mosque. The Kaaba, meaning cube in reference to its shape, is constructed of dark granite blocks and is said by Muslims to be built by Abraham. Muhammad attacked the city of Mecca, which was given over to paganism and polytheistic worship in 630 A.D.. After securing the city and removing all traces of pagan worship he dedicated the Kaaba as the main center of worship for the newly invented religion of Islam. The Kaaba itself is an empty building except for cloth embroidered with Islamic text that hangs from the walls.

Mecca and Medina are both off limits to non-Muslims, however, much of the rest of the country is being opened up to foreign travelers for business and sightseeing.

Saudi Arabia is the largest oil exporter in the world with 25% of the worlds known reserves. Oil revenues of about $150 billion a year account for roughly half of the kingdoms Gross Domestic Product. This number is both staggering and a bit lackluster when compared to ExxonMobil’s 2005 profit of $36 billion on revenues of $371 billion, which surpasses Saudi Arabia’s entire GDP of $346 billion for 2005. The disparity can be explained by the fact that ExxonMobil refines the oil and sells multiple product lines, primarily Gasoline, into a very healthy U.S. market, while Saudi Arabia is simply selling the raw material and has a very undeveloped economy beyond extracting and exporting oil.

So why does a country that is awash in oil money and prosperity need tourism dollars? Saudi Arabia suffers modern problems just like any other country in the world. Saudi Arabia is a harsh dry desert environment. Buried beneath the sands along side the oil reserves is a dwindling aquifer, which is the primary source of potable water. And despite outward signs of prosperity that define the kingdom to the rest of the world, the unemployment rate of Saudi Arabia is pegged between 13 and 25 percent. Despite these numbers the country must import labor to get the skills they need for the jobs that are available. Life expectancy in Saudi Arabia is pretty high for this part of the world, and the religion is about 100% Muslim. We all know what happens when young men have too much time on their hands because of unemployment, and if you consider that the current labor force is long lived, and then add in the effects of radical Islam, the kingdom has a problem, which they are beginning to address.

Tourism is just one way to bring in new sources of income and investment. If travel and tourism increases then building of new shops and hotels will increase, creating new opportunities for the young and unskilled.

On the flip side, Saudi Arabia is trying to send 10,000 students to the U.S. for college, and that does not include the many thousands who go into other countries for study.

Does Saudi Arabia have an ulterior motive in any of this? Surely the spread of Islam is among the considerations of all of this cross border openness. Even with the no trespassing signs on Mecca and Medina, if Saudi Arabia can get non-Muslims into the country they have a chance at proselytizing them. If they can get the best and the brightest out into the rest of the world there is a chance that they will be able to convert others on foreign soil. Saudi Arabia has been a leading investor in spreading Wahhabi Islam in the past and it would be naive to think that they have just given up on their desires. By sending students out and allowing others in they accomplish multiple goals. The spread of Islam, the growth of their economy and they get the advantage of gaining technical insight from the best universities and foreign workers to help them deal with their problems.

As Christians all of this taken in total means two things. First of all, we have an unparalleled opportunity to reach Muslims not only in our own countries, but in the birthplace of Islam also. As Saudis come to this country for study or tourism we have the openness to share the truth and love of Jesus Christ. Much of the revival that takes place in the Middle East comes through those who have been touched by God while living abroad and they return to share the new life they have gained with family and friends. As travelers to Saudi Arabia we are a bit more restricted. Although the religious police are being trained to be more sensitive to the foibles of foreigners they are still very unsympathetic to evangelistic Christianity. Preaching from the street corner or grabbing any stranger and witnessing to them could result in jail time or worse. However, God is always able to make opportunities with individuals who have open and searching hearts.

Second, as I observe these types of things it is just another reminder that we are not at that critical end times juncture yet. There is still time and much work to do. Rather than a complete hardening and isolation of countries like Saudi Arabia there is, at the very least, a slight softening and openness, even if it is born out of an uneasy willingness to admit their vulnerability and a humility in seeking the aid in what others can provide.

We need to pray for that softer part of the Saudi and Muslim heart that God would reach in and change their lives as He points them to the sacrifice for all sin, Jesus Christ. Pray that God would open the avenues of contact and that their would always be willing and obedient Christians positioned to act out and speak the love of Christ. Ask God what your part is.

The time is now! Eventually the more hardline elements of Saudi Arabia and other countries will turn the Middle East into an Islamic hate machine which will attempt to destroy anything that is not Islamic.

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Millions of dollars a year are moving from Saudi Arabia to Iraq to finance the Sunni insurgency. The official word from the Saudi government is that it is not happening. The government has taken steps to shut down, or at the very least drive underground any collection and distribution of funds for the Iraqi insurgency, but it continues. Many individuals have been arrested and interviewed concerning their part in the smuggling process. Most are truckers or pilgrims who are forced to carry cash from Saudi Arabia to specified addresses in Iraq with a death threat hanging over them if they do not comply. Please pray that God would help coalition forces and the Iraqi government foil these attempts.

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The U.S. has placed sanctions on three official Syrian institutions for their part in the development and export of biological and chemical weapons which fall under the designation of weapons of mass destruction. Any assets held within U.S. are being frozen. Syria is also developing missles for the delivery of these WMD’s. The institutions involved are the Higher Institute of Applied Science and Technology, Electronics Institute, and the National Standards and Calibration Laboratory.

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A new direction in Iraq. The November election is viewed by many as a repudiation of the Bush administration’s policies on Iraq. Despite many close races and a backlash against corruption which was evident in both parties, Republicans paid the price for being the ruling party. However, Iraq could end up being the biggest loser of all if Democrats do follow a cut and run strategy. Many in the Democratic leadership prefer a rapid withdrawal of U.S. troops regardless of the fallout in Iraq. Others are calling for simply defunding the deployment. While others prefer dialogue with Iran, Syria and any others who are funding and supporting the violence in Iraq in order to model Iraq after their own militant Islamic ideals.

Regardless of who has the ultimate control of Iraq’s future the final outcome is one where Iraq will become the ultimate destination of conspicuous consumption and extravagant living. For the Babylon of Revelation 18 to prosper and become the desired berth for sea going merchant ships, there has to be enough security and freedom of movement for the rich of this world to venture within it’s borders. Before the end of time those nations who are opposing any U.S. involvement in Iraq right now will succeed as a group in destroying Babylon, again, as per the prophecy of Revelation 18.

Most Americans have no idea what is at stake in Iraq. Many look at the deaths of U.S. military personnel and say the price is to high. They look at the ongoing nature of the war and conclude that we are not winning, or that it is unwinnable. The truth is that our continued involvement in Iraq, Afghanistan and the rest of the Middle East region is causing a destabilizing effect on the “war of terror” that is being waged by Islamic fundamentalist against free societies. Our involvement there is not what has moved them against us. From the time of Muhammad Islam has been moving towards world domination. The advent of modern technology­TV, cell phones, the internet, weapons technology, etc.­has just made it easier for fundamentalist to come together, be more productive and influence the world at large by shaping public opinion.

Pulling out won’t change the final outcome. Our presence has already caused a trickle effect of freedom. In some cases that freedom means salvation through Jesus Christ. Our being there is a down payment on the delay of World War Three. WW3 would surely come much sooner if we were not there to slow the momentum of hatred and terror. At the same time our presence infuriates those who hate us and motivates them to redouble their efforts. It is my conviction that God had a hand in drawing the U.S. into Iraq for the good of all mankind, His lost sheep in particular. Eventually Satan will use all that was intended for good to cause evil, but God’s ultimate plan will prevail. That plan is to save millions.

There may never be a total peace in Iraq, but pray for success in stabilizing the country nonetheless.

Until next time, live in peace, and as Jesus would say, “Fear not!”

Mike