Ramadan is quickly approaching, but it will not just be a time for Muslims to celebrate their faith. Ramadan represents a season for Christians to be in deep prayer for the Muslim world, and often presents several opportunities to get conversation going.

SAT-7, a Christian satellite television service to the Middle East and North Africa, uses Ramadan as an opportunity to reach seeking Muslims with the Truth. SAT-7's David Harder says Ramadan is an important time for ministry.

"It's a religious time, but it's also a family time. And it's also a time when many people in the Arab world are truly seeking God," says Harder. "We have many stories of people who, during Ramadan, have been crying out for God to reveal himself and they have dreams of Jesus."

Having dreams and visions of Jesus is not uncommon in the Muslim world, but during a time of peaked spiritual interest, this could be vital to build upon. SAT-7 will host a number of Christian programs throughout Ramadan that expound upon who Christ is. Until Ramadan begins on August 11, SAT-7 is praying for the hearts of Muslims.

"Pray that people would be thirsty and hungry for the truth; that they would seek the truth because we know that those who hunger and thirst after righteousness will be filled," suggests Harder.

While of course the most important outreach is to Muslims during this pertinent month, SAT-7 also recognizes that Christians in the Middle East and North Africa may struggle during Ramada. "It's also an interesting time when the Christian minority has to respect what's going on around them, sometimes by law," says Harder. "It's a time when it's really obvious that they're not part of the majority of the population. So we can pray that they would be encouraged and that they would also be used, be bold, and have opportunities to talk about the hope that lies within them, and that they would do it with gentleness and respect like Scripture tells us to do."

Harder says the boldness of believers in the Middle East can be key during this time. Sometimes Christians use this time as a chance to invite Muslim friends over for a meal and to ask questions about faith.

MNN