Day 24 -Prayer Guide Page - Swat Valley

Swat Valley, sometimes referred to as the "Switzerland of Pakistan," is nestled in the Hindu-Kush Mountains of Pakistan's Northwest Frontiers Province. Swat is a traditional Pushtun homeland, a cradle of Pushtun culture which remained an independent kingdom until after the formation of Pakistan. Ancient and modern clash in Swat, where subsistence farmers with beards like Mohammed farm in the shadow of new cell-phone towers. But while modernity is gradually arriving, there is still very little light of the gospel in Swat -Swatis are still 100% Muslim.

Swati Pushtun men practice a very conservative brand of Islam, and public opinion favors strict observance of Sharia law nearly as rigorously as by their cousins, the Taliban. Pushtun women customarily follow folk practices including divination and talking with jinn, which is in fact spirit channeling. The spiritual condition of the valley is dark indeed. And yet many young people desire a more modern life and are eager for friendship with visitors.

 There is currently no known evangelistic outreach focusing on the Swat Valley, and significant logistical obstacles to overcome to establish a church there. But vision-casting visitors have found that there are hearts open to learning more about Jesus.

 

Pray that:  

• God will raise up a team of church planters to go to Swat, and give them robust strategies and open the doors for His work to be established there.
• God will pour out His Spirit in hearts throughout the Swat Valley to prepare the way for the hearing of His word.
• God will establish national and local leaders who will promote peace and policies which permit workers to enter the country and the valley.

 

Numbers 13:2 Send some men to explore the land.