Many of you are aware that the City Council of Hamtramck, MI has passed an ordinance that allows mosques to issue the traditional Islamic call to prayer over city loudspeakers. Barbara Yoder, who is the Michigan state coordinator for SPN, has provided the following information and prayer focus. We have also received a posting from the Tampa, FL area in which it was stated that Tampa is perhaps the southern gateway of Islam. Obviously there are likely many other gateways that provide opportunity for the entrance of this force. Once precedence is set regardless of the size of the gateway or Islamic community, it will be easier for other communities to follow. Please join with us and with those in the state of Michigan to guard our nation.
Thank you,
Martha Lucia
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Dear Pastors and Intercessors:
Background of Immediate Call To Prayer
Detroit Metropolitan area is the major gateway for Islam in the nation. Within the metropolitan area are 5 major gates for Islamic people of varying national origin, from Middle Eastern nations to Africa. What is allowed legally in Detroit and Dearborn relative to Islam will affect the whole nation. The cities of Dearborn and Hamtramck (a city of 23,000 people tucked inside the city limits of Detroit, within 2 miles of downtown Detroit, and historically a Polish community) have made critical decisions over the past few weeks in the following areas:
1) Hamtramck has approved the Islamic call to prayer to released five times a day over city loudspeakers and
2) Dearborn has agreed to consider making two Islamic holy days official city holidays.
These issues have drawn national attention and would set a precedent others would follow.
In Hamtramck, the Bangladeshi al-Islah mosque petitioned the City Council to allow mosques to issue the traditional Islamic call to prayer over city loudspeakers. The Council unanimously passed this ordinance and it will take effect May 26. Mayor Tom Jankowski has 20 days to veto this ordinance. This issue is even more significant because leaders of the cities surrounding Hamtramck (Detroit and Highland Park) were contacted over this matter and gave their approval for the call to prayer. If this ordinance is not vetoed, we could quickly see other cities in Michigan and the nation adapt a similar ordinance further opening the door to Islam.
Dearborn is home to the largest concentration of Arabs outside of the Middle East. The American Muslim Society on April 6, asked Dearborn's City Council to authorize two Islamic holy days as official city holidays. Currently, the legal department of the City of Dearborn is considering this request. If this ordinance passes, the city of Dearborn could set the example for national policy in recognizing the holy days of a non-Christian minority.
We are asking you to mobilize prayer, and to pray now for this matter. Suzi Armstrong has written the following briefing. Utilize the guideline provided to pray for both Hamtramck and Dearborn Michigan. Without serious, intentional, and concerted prayer over this matter, nothing will happen and we will find ourselves overtaken in the tangled maze of jungle haunted by lions. See Jer 12:5 in the AMPLIFIED Bible.
[But the Lord rebukes Jeremiah's impatience, saying] If you have raced with men on foot and they have tired you out, then how can you compete with horses? And if [you take to flight] in a land of peace where you feel secure, then what will you do [when you tread the tangled maze of jungle haunted by lions] in the swelling and flooding of the Jordan?
Barbara J. Yoder, State SPN Coordinator
Update -- Hamtramck vote on Islamic call to prayer
The enemy is pushing to open door in Hamtramck that would allow the Islamic Mosques to release the call to prayer over loudspeakers throughout the city. On April 22, the Hamtramck City Council unanimously approved a change to the city's noise ordinance that would allow loudspeakers to carry the call to prayer in Arabic five times a day. Last night, the City Council set guidelines for this ordinance and announced it will take effect May 26. Mayor Tom Jankowski has 20 days to veto this ordinance if he chooses to do so.
Many Hamtramck Christians have been vocalizing their opposition to this ordinance change. "It is not my God. My God is Jesus Christ," Caroline Zarski, 81, said. Petitions opposing this ordinance have circulated through out the city. Believers everywhere need to join with the cry of Christians in Hamtramck who do not want the Islamic call to prayer broadcast in their city. Hamtramck is a small incorporated city inside the city limits of Detroit. Hamtramck is a gate to Detroit and Detroit a gate to the nation. We must fight the battle at the gate!
It is critical that we do not allow the atmosphere to be saturated with the sound of the Islamic call to prayer. Let's not give the enemy a foothold to our region and nation through Hamtramck. It is a "sound" that will gather but not in a way that will bring glory to God our Father through Jesus Christ. It will gather people around a demonic altar of worship which will ultimately affect our entire nation. Ps 89:15 says, "Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! They walk, O LORD, in the light of Your countenance (in the light and favor of Your countenance).
Dearborn, Michigan already has established the Islamic call to prayer in its city. Now Dearborn could open another door in our nation by being the first city to establish Islamic city holidays. The City Council’s legal department is reviewing a petition from the American Muslim Society requesting that two holy days be established as city holidays.
PRAYER FOCUS
- Psa 18:1-3 I love You, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, In whom I will take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise; So shall I be saved from my enemies.
Worship the Lord. Declare that His name is above every other name. Declare that He is the Deliverer, He is the Shield and strong-hold for Hamtramck. Declare that the Pharoah spirit will not captivate the city of Hamtramck and Dearborn.
- Psa 18:4-6 The cords of death entangle me [Hamtramck], the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me [Hamtramck]. The cords of the grave coiled around me [Hamtramck]; the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called to the LORD, I cried to my God for help; from his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears.
Cry out with those in Hamtramck. Cry out for the cords of death and destruction to be broken. Cry out for the Lord who is strong and mighty, mighty in battle, Lord Saboath is His name. Declare that Hamtramck and Dearborn will be a gate of righteousness to Detroit and the nation.
- Psa 18:13-14 The LORD thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded. He shot his arrows and scattered the enemies, great bolts of lightning and routed them.
Declare that the voice of the Lord is over Hamtramck and Dearborn. Declare that our God is a covenant making and keeping God; that we are His covenant people, and as His covenant people we ask Him to shoot His arrows to scatter the enemy. Ask God to release warring angels against the enemy.
- Psa 18:16-18 He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the LORD was my support.
Declare that Hamtramck and Dearborn will be rescued from its enemy. Declare that the door the enemy opened through the City Council be shut and locked. Pray for the heart of the mayors of Hamtramck and Dearborn, that they be turned toward God Almighty. Declare that these ordinances be canceled (vetoed).