{"id":6100,"date":"2022-11-16T15:40:00","date_gmt":"2022-11-16T15:40:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/opendoorsuk.org\/?p=6100"},"modified":"2024-02-14T09:42:16","modified_gmt":"2024-02-14T09:42:16","slug":"qatar-world-cup","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/connect.opendoorsuk.org\/ireland\/blog\/news\/latest-news\/qatar-world-cup\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cWe\u2019re expecting a big move of the Holy Spirit during the World Cup\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n \n\n

As the eyes of the world turn towards Qatar for the men\u2019s FIFA World Cup \u2013 arguably the biggest sports tournament in the world \u2013 Christians in the host nation are expectant at what God might do, despite the threat of persecution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
God is revealing Himself to people in Qatar through\u00a0dreams, visions and healings \u2013 and there is the expectation that this will continue during the World Cup<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Christians in Qatar are inviting the global church to join with them in praying for a move of the Holy Spirit during the World Cup. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The country is number 18<\/a> on the World Watch List and one of seven participating countries that are on the World Watch List. The others are Iran, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Tunisia, Mexico and Cameroon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Foreign Christians in the host nation can gather freely, although space is limited and there are some restrictions. During the pandemic, all 157 church buildings were closed. Since then, 61 have reopened, with many others still closed due to a revision of meeting guidelines by the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, Qatari believers \u2013 who are very small in number \u2013 are forbidden from having their own churches or even entering a church. Converts can face extreme pressure from their family and community, and there can be legal difficulties and loss of citizen status since Qatar doesn\u2019t officially recognise conversion from Islam.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

\n\t\t <\/iframe>\n\t\t <\/div>\n\n\n\n

God is on the move through dreams, miracles and healings <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

But despite the costs that can come with following Jesus, the church in Qatar is growing \u2013 and there is the expectation that it will continue to do so during the World Cup.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re expecting a big move of the Holy Spirit during the World Cup,\u201d says the leader of a church for migrant workers and foreign nationals. \u201cOur main focus in our prayers is that God will touch the nationals here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

\n

“We already see the move of the Holy Spirit in Qatar…”\r\n<\/p> CHURCH LEADER<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe already see the move of the Holy Spirit in Qatar,\u201d he continues. \u201cGod is visiting people in their dreams. God is doing miracles. God is doing healings among the Qatari people.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These observations are echoed by another church leader, called Gabr. \u201cGod is doing miracles in this land,\u201d he says. \u201cI can witness over years and years. God is visiting in dreams without any missionaries coming to this land. And because of the fear of the people, they cannot share the gospel openly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pray while they play<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Bishop Beda S. Robles thinks the tournament \u2018will be very good for Qatar, a big opportunity for this nation\u2019. He is chairman of the Evangelical Churches Alliance Qatar (ECAQ), a recognised network of more than 90 expatriate church communities in Qatar. Most are Filipino but it also includes Nepalese, Indian and African groups. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe as Christians are praying that this will be a victorious event,\u201d he says. \u201cMany of us will be serving as volunteers at the event. We pray for Qatar, we pray for the World Cup, we hope that Christians around the world will stand with us in prayer, too.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decision to host the World Cup in Qatar has drawn much criticism. Those living in the country have already seen welcome developments. \u201cWe have seen positive changes in social justice in this country,\u201d says a Christian woman. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, more progress is needed. \u201cPray that God will bring changes,\u201d says Daniel*, who oversees Open Doors work in the Arabian Peninsula. \u201cPray that Qatar will grow towards more respect for diversity, that the country will be a place where locals and foreigners can live like Christ wants them to live, with no fear for repercussions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA golden opportunity\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI believe that we have a golden opportunity during the World Cup,\u201d adds the leader of a church for migrant workers and foreign nationals. \u201cI hope that the name of the Lord will be magnified during the event. Pray that fear will vanish, and that people will speak openly. We believe that more miracles will happen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

*Name changed for security reasons <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":6101,"parent":8268,"menu_order":0,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":""},"categories":[36],"tags":[121],"class_list":["post-6100","news","type-news","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest-news","tag-qatar"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n\u201cWe\u2019re expecting a big move of the Holy Spirit during the World Cup\u201d - Open Doors Ireland<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"\u201cWe\u2019re expecting a big move of the Holy Spirit during the World Cup\u201d\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" 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