TREND 1 – Islamic Struggles

A multi-dimensional struggle is taking place throughout the Muslim world. 

• Islamic fundamentalists claim that only a return to fundamentalist Islam as a religious, legal and political system can fix the problems (including corruption and backwardness) in the Muslim world and restore Islam's ascendancy, dominance and 'glory'. Throughout the Muslim world, Islamic fundamentalists are to various degrees engaged in a struggle to take authority and power from 'secular' Muslim nationalists. Once in power, they will turn their struggle into one to expand Islamic rule regionally and across the globe. The disillusioned Muslim masses, having been let down by socialism and nationalism, are turning in large numbers to Islamism (political Islam) and fundamentalism which is virulently anti-Semitic and anti-Christian. This is causing ordinary Muslims to become radicalised, intolerant and increasingly violent.
• Sunnis and Shiites are competing for local political authority in Iraq and Lebanon and leadership of the Muslim world, regionally and globally.  
• Al Qaeda and HezbAllah work their way into weak, lawless and chaotic environments to piggyback on any cause (Islamist or political) they can use to advance their own agendas. They are frequently sponsored by Islamist states such as Saudi Arabia and Iran.
• Amidst this chaos and disappointment, greater numbers of Muslims are now hearing the gospel message and meeting Christians. This is thanks to international travel – Muslims travelling out and Christians travelling in – and borderless information sources such as radio, satellite and the Internet. Historically few Muslims have converted to Christianity, so the rate at which Muslims are coming to Christ now marks a wonderful new trend. A few courageous 'trailblazers' have put their lives on the line to demand their right to freedom of religion. This of course generates heated debate and violent resistance from Islamic fundamentalists.

TREND 2 – East Asian Church Growth and Dynamism

Despite persecution and repression, the East Asian Church is growing and dynamic. The exception is Christ's beloved Church in North Korea where the isolation, persecution and repression has been so intense over the past 54 years that it is little more than a traumatised 'bruised reed' in need of the protective hand of the Father and a 'smouldering wick' in need of the breath of the Spirit. (Isaiah 42:3).

The most significant nation in the region is China where the dynamism of the 130-million-strong Chinese Church is phenomenal. Society is wanting change and many people, even senior Communist Party members, are coming to be see that economic reform, in the absence of ethics and without social and political reform, tends to generate both wealth and widespread corruption. Calls have started coming from every level and area of society for 'cultural transformation' and for openness. There is even public acknowledgement that religion, specifically Christianity, can assist with the formation of a 'harmonious society'. China is a state in transition. As it changes, Vietnam, Laos and North Korea – all totalitarian states where, as in China, Christians are persecuted and imprisoned – will be affected.

TREND 3 – Religious Nationalism

In newly independent emerging democracies, aspiring political leaders and power-brokers are finding that appealing to the majority religion is a winner. Political ambition is driving the rise in religious nationalism and the consequent persecution of religious minorities in many countries around the world.

In India the Hindu nationalist Barantya Janata Party (BJP) is presently conducting a strategic and highly successful national campaign in preparation for India's next federal elections in 2009. The BJP strategy involves Hinduising the tribal animist masses of India with religious conversions that translate into political conversions. Simultaneously the BJP is dragnetting the Hindu vote by spearheading a assault against what they claim is the greatest threat to Indian national identity and security – the 'Christian missionary'. During 2007 persecution increased in frequency and intensity and is now spread across the nation. We must pray for 2008 to be a year of awakening and redirection so the trend will be reversed, as  the BJP's strategy is so successful they may well be on track to win the 2009 federal election with the majority they need to be able to establish India as a Hindu State.