Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, organizers said. ‘Pray for Iran’, an initiative of Iranian churches, told BosNewsLife that December 29 was an important date for the prayers as it was ‘Arafat day’, when Muslim pilgrims move toward the plain of Arafat, after having been to Mecca.
They also go to Mina, a small uninhabited village east of the city, where Islam teaches that Allah will answer the prayers and pardon the sins of those who stand at Arafat.
"So hopeful pilgrims spend their time in meditation, seeking forgiveness of sins, and considering the course of their lives," said ‘Pray for Iran’, which also launched website www.prayforiran.org.
"Many Christians in Muslim countries pray at this strategic time that the Lord will open the eyes of multitudes of Muslims to know that God so loved the world that He sent his Son as the ultimate sacrifice. [Through His Son] we can all know forgiveness of sins and receive eternal life."
‘Pray for Iran’ said it also urges churches around the world to pray for Muslims.” During this month the Festival of Sacrifice and the Day of Arafat ate especially important days even for those who do not travel on pilgrimage," ‘Pray for Iran’ said.
"We believe it is important for Christians to pray for the multitudes of people who go to fulfill their religious duties. Many go because they are longing for forgiveness of sins and because they are desperate to please God."
The initiative comes at a time when human rights groups and churches have expressed concerns over what they say is increased pressure by religious police and other security forces on Christians in predominantly Islamic countries such as Iran and Saudi Arabia.
In recent months and years Christians have reportedly been jailed, tortured and in some cases killed because of their faith in these nations, according to human rights investigators. (With BosNewsLife reporting and reports from Iran).
