Previously one governorate, the Al Batinah coastal region was divided into North and South in 2011. The name of this region comes from the Arabic root b-t--n, بطن, which refers to the interior, inside, internal, or stomach. It also can mean hidden--the opposite of ظهر / Adh-Dhahira (revealed, manifest) region on the other side of the Hajar mountains. Al Batinah North (pop. 784,681) is a fertile zone between the mountains and the sea, dotted with date plantations and fishing villages. The capital of this region is Sohar, which once was the ancient capital of Oman and a thriving producer of copper for thousands of years. Sohar currently is a leading industrial and commercial center in the nation with a major port. Sohar also was the site of the manifestation of the 2011 Arab Spring in Oman. It is rumored that the Apostle Thomas stopped here along his travels to India, and there once was a thriving church in Sohar, large and important enough to send its bishop to the Nicaean Council in 325 AD.

We want what is hidden to become manifest in this region!  And we want to see Him raise up His Body here once again, as in the ancient days! May what God did in Genesis 26 happen again in this region--that the wells of the ancient church here, long stopped up, would be dug up and flow once again!

18 And Isaac dug again the wells of water that had been dug in the days of Abraham his father, which the Philistines had stopped up... 24 And the LORD appeared to him the same night and said, "I am the God of Abraham your father. Fear not, for I am with you and will bless you and multiply your offspring for my servant Abraham's sake." 25 So he built an altar there and called upon the name of the LORD and pitched his tent there. And there Isaac's servants dug a well.

• Although there has been a steady amount of Harvest Laborers in Sohar over the years, there seems to be a lot of turnover. Pray for longevity, established relationships and increased opportunities to share.
• There are a handful of local believers in this region. Pray for their protection, maturity, unity, boldness, and multiplication. 

Worship with us!: Do It Again by Elevation. May the Lord’s faithfulness be made manifest once again in Al Batinah North!  

Matthew 18:14 Focus—‘Your Father in heaven does not want one of these little ones to be lost.’ 

Please bring these towns and villages before the Father:

Ar-Ruwaydat, Al-Khaboura district, Al-Batinah North region. Population: 178

Al-Qilayah, Al-Khaboura district, Al-Batinah North region. Population: 166

Hayl al-Rasah, Al-Khaboura district, Al-Batinah North region. Population: 135

Halhal, Al-Khaboura district, Al-Batinah North region. Population: 134

Al-Harjah, Al-Khaboura district, Al-Batinah North region. Population: 133