Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) is an Emirate in the northern tip of the UAE, located only 60 miles from Iran – across the Gulf of Oman. At the present time there are only seven evangelical buildings on the whole of the Arabian Peninsula. Only last year the chief religious leader in Saudi Arabia said that there should be no Christian churches on the peninsula and, since there is currently no English-speaking congregation in RAK, many Christians who live there travel to Dubai – 65 miles away – to attend church. Many Christians in RAK have simply given up gathering together at all.
But God has opened a door; in 2012 Josh Manley – a graduate of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary – planted RAK Church in Ras Al Khaimah, meeting in the Al Hamra Convention Centre. Nearly 100 attended the first service. What makes this work different is that the ruler of RAK, Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, bravely granted land for an evangelical church building in the middle of this Muslim region.
The mission of RAK Evangelical Church seeks to be a display of God’s glory among the northern emirates. The vision includes the building of both a church and a regional ministry training centre to be a hub for evangelical ministry throughout the region.
Source: Christian Press; RAK Church
BIBLE STUDY: Isaiah 45:1-3
PRAISE: God for this open door of ministry. Pray blessing on the Emir and that many may know Jesus.