Christians within the Arabian Peninsula
have great
vision for what God can do in their countries
In one Arabian Peninsula country
Christian leaders of different nationalities met together in preparation far the
Global Consultation of World Evangelization (GCOWE 95) in Seoul, Korea. They reviewed
the present realities and current trends of their region, dreaming/visualizing by faith
where God would want the church to be by December 31, 2000. They summarized their vision
for the Arabian Peninsula this way:
- Key verses: Isaiah 42:8-12 'I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory
to another or my praise to idols. See, the former things have taken place, and new things
I declare: before they spring into being I announce them to you. Sing to the LORD a new
song, his praise from the ends of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that
is in it, you islands, and all who live in them. Let the desert and its towns raise
their voices; let the settlements where Kedar lives rejoice. Let the people of Sela
sing for jog; let them shout from the mountaintops. Let them give glory to the LORD
and proclaim his praise in the islands."
- Mission Statement: Our Mission as a body of believers in this country is to
live a holy life of prayer, dedication and love before God, in order to encourage our
brothers and sisters and to love and reach the unreached people amoung whom we live.
- Evangelistic Outreach: A church planting movement for every people and major
tribe in the Peninsula. The gospel available to every person in the Peninsula. A
church united and zealous for reaching the unreached both in and outside the
Peninsula. ("My dream is that the Christians in the Peninsula will love the people
of the Peninsula)" "My dream is to see a church started for every tribe." "My
dream is to see people reach out to every villiage.")
- Cities: A regular gathering of church leaders in each of the major cities,
and an outreach to each of the major people groups overseen by a united church in
each of the main cities.
Kuwait
Kuwait is wedged in the desert between Iraq and Saudi Arabia, at the northwest end of the
Arabian Gulf. There are no rivers and rain is light. In the quest for drinking water, the
world's largest desalination plants were built in Kuwait in 1950. A former British
protectorate, Kuwait gained independance in 1961, and since 1992 an Emir has controlled
cabinet in the newly re-established parliment. Sunni Islam is the state religion. Immigrant
religious minorities are permitted some worship facilities. Expatriate Christians gained
recognition for thier prayer and relief aid during and after the 1990 Iraqi occupation.
Frustrating restrictions imposed on Christian gatherings have since been eased.
|
- God's Word and Literature: The Bible available in the language of every
person. ("My dream is that the Lord will extend to the Arabian Peninsula a special
measure of grace and mery to receive a Gospel message without resistance or
deception of Satan." "My dream is that every mall will have a bookstore selling
Bibles.")
- Mobilization of Women: We seek to mobilize and equip women who will target
each of the above-mentioned unreached people goups. ("My dream is that the women
of the Arabian Peninsula have liberty in Christ.")
| Populations Local vs Foreign by Country
|
| Country | Total Pop. | Locals | % Locals | Expatriates | % Expat.
|
| UAE | 2,666,000 | 660,000 | 24.76% | 2,006,000 | 75.24%
|
| Qatar | 568,000 | 167,000 | 29.40% | 401,000 | 70.60%
|
| Kuwait | 1,778,000 | 728,000 | 40.94% | 1,050,000 | 59.06%
|
| Bahrain | 594,000 | 367,000 | 61.78% | 227,000 | 38.22%
|
| Saudi Arabia | 19,385,000 | 13,624,000 | 70.28% | 5,761,000 | 29.72%
|
| Oman | 2,216,000 | 1,606,000 | 72.47% | 610,000 | 27.53%
|
| Yemen | 16,102,000 | 15,620,000 | 97.01% | 482,000 | 2.99%
|
| Totals | 43,309,000 | 32,772,000 | 75.67% | 10,537,000 | 24.33%
|
| Christians | | | | 421,000 | 4.00%
|
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