BBC News Online: World: Middle East
Link to article, click here Monday, 9 April, 2001, 15:27 GMT 16:27 UK
Dubai arrests US missionaries
By Julia Wheeler in Dubai
Three American missionaries could face up to 10 years in prison in the United Arab Emirates after being arrested in Dubai and accused of promoting Christianity.
UAE federal law states that anyone abusing Islam, or calling Muslims to other religions, faces between five and 10 years in prison
They are believed to have travelled to Dubai after answering an advertisement placed by a radical Christian group based in the US state of Arizona. The three men are understood to have volunteered for missionary work through Frontiers, a US-based organization that specifically aims to convert Muslims to Christianity.
The group advertises for likely candidates and expects each missionary to pay a share of their costs.
Mission
The advertisement which brought the three to Dubai - one of the seven states that make up the UAE - did not mention where in the Middle East the missionaries would travel.
But it encouraged prospective applicants to "join a small team to distribute strategic materials and to make new friends".
It described the mission's destination as a country with "little real access to the Gospel".
Each participant was expected to pay $3,200 for the two-week mission to the Emirates.
The three men were arrested in the centre of Dubai, allegedly distributing Christian literature on one of the main thoroughfares.
The group also works by befriending Muslims and using what it describes as "aggressive friendship evangelism" to convert them to Christianity.
Its members are expected to be willing to be deported or imprisoned. The UAE is an Islamic State which allows Christians to worship freely.
There are churches in several Emirates which cater to the large numbers of Christian expatriates from the West and Asia.
Despite Dubai's cosmopolitan image, lively nightlife and thriving tourism industry, the culture and traditions of the Emirates are still very much based around Islam.
UAE federal law states that anyone abusing Islam, or calling Muslims to other religions, faces between five and 10 years in prison.
Saudi Arabia – Twelve Christian prisoners have been deported since January. However, many of them are without jobs in their home countries. Most of them have families to support. Three Ethiopian Christians who received 80 lashes with a steel cable continue to suffer from some health problems.
Prayer Points: Pray that the Lord would provide jobs for these Christian men and heal them from any physical affliction. Also, ask that God would open doors for these men to tell their story so that Saudi government policies against Christians would be revealed.
What can anyone say about those that have the courage and faith to go to the Arab Nations X?
Acts 5
18 And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. 19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, 20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life........We have a God that is in charge..He opens doors and sets the prisoners free. So eithor God wil be glorified in the prison and preached there or God will be glorified in the miracles ...Thanks for the post!