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Muslim WorldDue to serious security concerns involving Global Teams work among Muslims, we will provide here a more general description of the Muslim world and our history and goals there. GeographyWhile normally assumed to be a "religion of the Middle East", Islam in fact is the majority religion in many countries through North Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and East Asia. There are growing numbers of Muslims in almost every major city of the world. PopulationMuslims make up approximately one fifth of the worlds population. The largest Muslim countries are not Arab countries but are in fact Indonesia, Northern India, and Pakistan. There are large minority populations of Muslims in China and Malaysia and growing populations of Muslims in sub-saharan Africa. Political StatusNations with a majority population of Muslims exhibit a variety of political forms and structures including more secular democracies as well as nations governed by strict adherence to Islamic law. ReligionThe two major types of Islam are Sunni and Shia Islam. Beliefs center on the Oneness of God (Allah), the Prophethood of Muhammad, the Quran, and the Traditions (or Sunnah) of the life and teaching of Muhammad. Muslim religious life is centered around five major "pillars of faith": the confession of faith (that God is God and that Muhammad is His Prophet); the five times per day prayers (Salat); the pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj); fasting in the month of Ramadan; and the giving of alms (zakat). Ministry HistoryGlobal Teams began to work in the Muslim world in 1991. Since that time a movement of Muslims to faith in Jesus Christ has emerged in one particular Muslim country. In this movement Muslims from several language groups have come to faith and the work has grown to the point that over 100 of the disciples from the work are now in leadership training and many lead small groups of disciples themselves. Other aspects of this work include bible translation, small business development, and educational organizations. Elsewhere in the Muslim world Global Teams is conducting research on new approaches to new unreached Muslim peoples, helping churches in the USA to reach out to Muslim friends, and more. Field Goals
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Within Asia &
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