Ramadan – a time for 'intense' Mideast prayer

Violence erupting in Iraq and Syria as the jihadist group ISIS declares an Islamic state is "annihilating Middle Eastern Christians," the director of Islamic studies at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary said.

The insurgent group sweeping across Iraq and Syria and taking control of provinces announced June 29 it had established a caliphate, an Islamic state led by a religious and political leader -- in this case, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

As ISIS, which stands for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, continues its terror-fueled advance, Southern's J. Scott Bridger said the Muslim holy month of Ramadan -- which began June 28 -- is a timely reminder to pray for both Christians persecuted in the violent struggle and Muslims who participate in the annual observance.

"Oftentimes movements of Muslims to faith in Christ have come out of these intense times of prayer and reflection," said Bridger, who advises Christians to adopt a Muslim people group during Ramadan for prayer by their churches.

"We need to raise our voices much louder on behalf of Middle Eastern Christian communities that have basically existed for 2,000 years," Bridger said. "You have Christians in this whole area that are basically being exterminated." Keep reading