Crisis in the Arab World - How to Pray!
Join a Day of Prayer for the Middle East on March 4th. Information to be posted here shortly, or email middleeast@ywam.org for a prayer pack.
This year is seeing unprecedented upheaval in the Arab World. From the Jasmine revolution in Tunisia, to massive street protests in Egypt, and political demonstrations in Jordan and Yemen; South Sudan's vote for independence and the ongoing struggle in Iraq. Each of these are huge news stories on their own. Put them all together and it's almost impossible to keep up with how the region is changing.
So, what is truly happening here?
A bit of background.
The Arab world is by far the least democratic of any region in the world. Virtually all states are ruled by authoritarian rulers.
Some of these rulers, such as King Abdullah of Jordan and King Mohammed of Morocco, are more peaceful and moderate. Others, for example Colonel Gadaffi of Libya or President Omar Bashir of Sudan, are much less so.
Some allow a higher level of religious freedom, including Bashar Al Asad of Syria. And there are those who strongly oppress Christian gatherings such as King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia.
Some rulers use their oil wealth to make their people fabulously rich, like the Emirs of Kuwait, UAE and Qatar. Others leave them desperately poor, like Ali Abdullah Saleh in Yemen.
Yet all have a few things in common.
- they are all rulers for life (only Lebanon has elections that actually determine who leads the country, and even Lebanon is in deep crisis)
- all maintain strong internal security (secret police) forces with wide ranging powers to detain, interrogate and do even worse things to their people
- all maintain control over all forms of local media (TV, radio, newspapers and the internet)
- all tolerate little dissent or open discussion
- all have giant photographs of themselves hung all over their kingdoms
What's changing?
In our ever-shrinking world of communications, change happens faster than it ever has. Education, travel, satellite TV and the internet mean that information can no longer be controlled by governments.
High birth rates and better health care have led to huge youth population bulges, putting added strain on the region's weaknesses and adding to the voices opposing the current rulers.
Educated young people have become increasingly dissatisfied with their governments – significant price rises for food, lack of jobs, and little say in how their countries are run have pushed these young people to the edge.
Finally, desperation is overcoming fear and young people are taking to the streets demanding change.
What can we expect?
This is a tricky question. Here are a few “educated guesses” of what will take place in the region sooner rather than later.
The domino effect will likely continue:
- First Tunisia, now Egypt.
- Protests in Yemen, Jordan and Sudan show that these young people also are dissatisfied. Change may come quickly or slowly, peacefully or violently, but few doubt that change will come.
- The ability of Saudi Arabia and the richer Gulf States to throw cash at their citizens will probably keep them placated a little longer, but even there the cry for freedom is gaining it's voice.
Looking at the region over a longer period, some things we can expect include:
- Just like in Eastern Europe 20 years ago, getting rid of an oppressive regime will bring an initial rush of euphoria, uncontrolled emotional excitement and celebration.
- Disillusionment will quickly set in as people realize the hard cold truth that even their new government can't deliver instantly on their demands.
- Even if desired freedoms and wealth are won, you don’t have to hang around any western city for long to realize that freedom and wealth on their own don't produce happiness and life.
How to pray:
In these uncertain times we can fix our eyes on the One who is always certain. Here are some areas you can join with us in praying for this great region:
- That these upheavals will continue to bring new levels of openness in the people of the Arab world.
- Some people will see more 'Islam' as the answer (many older Arab rulers wear only a thin veneer of Islam, and fundamentalist Muslim groups have often been strongly oppressed). Pray that in their religious devotion, their eyes and hearts will be opened to the truth about Issa (Jesus), one of their favorite prophets
- Others will see becoming more like the West as the great answer. Pray that we can present Jesus clearly in a way that differentiates the gospel from Western culture.Many others will just be confused and scared. An Arabic proverb says “Better 1000 years of tyranny than 1 day of anarchy”. But the young people are yearning for something much more than just stable tyranny.
This is the time when people's hearts are likely to be most open. So rather than waiting till it all settles down, this may be the critical moment for us to pour our hearts, our prayers and our presence in to the Arab World.
Please join us as we look forward with excitement and anticipation at what God is doing with these people whom He dearly loves.
For more information and regular prayer updates about YWAM's work in the Arab world write to :
- North Africa – contact the North Africa regional office : LT@GoSahara.org
- The Middle East (including the Arabian Peninsula) – contact the Middle East Regional Office: mero@ywam.org
- The Arabian Peninsula specifically – contact the Gulf Coordination Office : gulfco@galacticomm.org
- For a specific nation write to nation's-name@ywam.org (eg: kuwait@ywam.org)