Population: 720,000
Hub: Tanzania
Religion: Islam
Christians: 0.00%
Hub: Tanzania
Religion: Islam
Christians: 0.00%
Resources: NT, JF
Engaged: Yes
Workers Needed: 15
Annual Deaths: 6,000
Engaged: Yes
Workers Needed: 15
Annual Deaths: 6,000
Description: The Shirazi are a Muslim sub-group of the Swahili people-cluster which are believed to descend from intermarriage between Persians and Bantu peoples along the eastern coast of Africa. They are the majority people on the island of Zanzibar, off the coast of Tanzania.
Prayer Points:
• Zanzibar was a center of the slave trade controlled by Arabian Muslims and many of the Shirazi are the descendants of slaves. Pray that they might find in Christ both spiritual freedom and healing from this historic injustice.
• There is still today great conflict between the minority Arabs, which control the land and economy of Zanzibar, and the majority Shirazi who have been marginalized in their own land. Pray that this conflict might lead the peoples of Zanzibar to seek the prince of peace who alone can bridge this divide.
• The Shirazi have a high regard for Persians, from whom they descend and have a shared cultural heritage. Pray that God might raise up missionaries from the emerging Persian church to reach out to the Shirazi and show them how faith in Jesus completes their spiritual journey to know God.
A Prayer: Heavenly Father, your word says that the islands will look to the One you will send for salvation. May this promise be fulfilled among the Shirazi of Zanzibar through the proclamation of the gospel.
Every year 6,000 Shirazi die without Christ, many of whom never hear the gospel in their lifetime. Let's do something to change that.
Prayer Points:
• Zanzibar was a center of the slave trade controlled by Arabian Muslims and many of the Shirazi are the descendants of slaves. Pray that they might find in Christ both spiritual freedom and healing from this historic injustice.
• There is still today great conflict between the minority Arabs, which control the land and economy of Zanzibar, and the majority Shirazi who have been marginalized in their own land. Pray that this conflict might lead the peoples of Zanzibar to seek the prince of peace who alone can bridge this divide.
• The Shirazi have a high regard for Persians, from whom they descend and have a shared cultural heritage. Pray that God might raise up missionaries from the emerging Persian church to reach out to the Shirazi and show them how faith in Jesus completes their spiritual journey to know God.
A Prayer: Heavenly Father, your word says that the islands will look to the One you will send for salvation. May this promise be fulfilled among the Shirazi of Zanzibar through the proclamation of the gospel.
Every year 6,000 Shirazi die without Christ, many of whom never hear the gospel in their lifetime. Let's do something to change that.