Religions of NAME

Islam: Sharing the Truth

Three Muslim Background Believers (MBBs) were interviewed before approximately 35 missionaries having a heart for Muslim evangelism. At the end of a four hour interview, the MBBs were asked by a mission's leader, "What is the role of missionaries among Muslims? How can we help reach them with the gospel?" Abdul Aziz gave this insightful reply, "If you can come, come. If you cannot come, send somebody. If you cannot send somebody, write us a letter of encouragement."

What a concise and wonderful summary of the life of the Apostle Paul in the book of Acts as he went among the unreached peoples of his day! Perhaps within Abdul Aziz's statement is to be found some effective keys to reaching Muslims globally?

"If you can come, come."

First of all, commit to God your desire to see Muslims come to Jesus. Witness, generally, is not accidental. It is intentional. As the nations come to the Western world, discover where Muslims live, their family needs, their fears, and ambitions. Visit them in their homes, have them in your home and break bread together. Read the book Encountering the World of Islam with your family and ministry team. Fall in love with Muslims! Show sincere interest in their religion and the cultures from which they come. While perhaps being involved in an ESL-type of ministry, make real attempts to learn their heart language. As you learn to pray "with" missionaries and missions to Muslims more than "for" missionaries and lost people, perhaps you might consider:

  • Coming and giving your life as a short-term worker or long-term missionary among a Muslim, unreached people group. Volunteer missions have a lot of appeal and benefit, but reaching Muslims requires a long-term commitment.
  • Involve your family in reaching Muslims as "families reaching families". This can be a very effective outreach model. Allow Muslims to look into your home, your marriage, and the raising of your children.
  • Know what the Bible says about your faith and familiarize yourself with the Qur'an, Muslims' holy book. Don't argue about the books or western values; simply be a bold, positive witness. Read The Camel by Kevin Greeson, using this book as a quick bridge that moves Muslims from the Qur'an to the Bible.
  • Allow Muslims to observe you in your devotional life and worshipping as a family. Be quick to bring Muslims into your home and slow in bringing them into a Western church building. The first builds witness and the latter often precipitates persecution upon the Muslim seeker and family – even in the USA!

"If you cannot come, send someone."

Not everyone is called to become a cross-cultural missionary in another country. Yet we are all called in becoming an Acts 1:8 follower of Christ from Jerusalem, to Judea, Samaria and into all the people groups of the world. If God has called you to invest the majority of your life in your "Jerusalem," there are still myriad ways to be an effective partner in reaching Muslims globally.

  • Assist your church in developing an Acts 1:8 approach to the Nations. Do not rest until all peoples, including Muslims, have had an opportunity to hear, understand and believe in the gospel of Jesus the Christ. Recognize that for faith to rapidly multiply among Muslims they will often need to be gathered into family-based house churches.
  • Raise Muslim awareness in your church. Help your fellow church members not to view Muslims as the enemy but as those persons for whom Christ died.
  • Challenge women to travel cross culturally, using their homes and children to impact Muslim women. Also, pray for more single men to obediently go to the Muslim world, as there are seven single women missionaries to each single man!
  • Give sacrificially to missions and missionaries who have been called to minister among Muslims. Give special attention to supporting career missionaries and ministries that focus on getting the Bible in oral and literate forms within Islam. Broad seed-sowing is vital in the process of Muslims coming to Jesus.
  • Pray that God will call your pastor and staff members, your church colleagues, and your children to career missions among Muslims. Determine to send the very best from your church to impact Islam and reach Muslims.
  • Go often on short-term mission trips to encourage missionaries and assist them in building a corporate witness among Muslims of all age groups. Take your family!

"If you cannot send someone, write us a letter."

Whatever you attempt, stay connected with the Nations. Pray intelligently, read widely, and witness to your neighbor as you desire to see missionaries witness to the Muslims in their midst. As you make friends with Muslims, e-mail them often and especially as they return to their country of origin.

  • Fervently pray that God will send Muslims dreams and visions that serve as a wake up call, pointing them toward Jesus.
  • Pray through the Muslim world with your family, your church staff and your Sunday school classes.
  • Correspond regularly with workers on the field, expressing your love for them and for local Muslim Background Believers. DO NOT try to write letters directly to Muslim Background Believers as this often leads to persecution for them. If you do write or e-mail, keep your words encouraging without using overt religious terms.
  • Most Muslim Background Believers suffer from persecution, often from within their own family. Pray for their obedience to witness, especially to their family. Pray that they will stay among their Muslim peoples and not immigrate to a "Christian" country.
  • Be aware that there are followers of Christ in all Muslim countries. Never fail to lift them before the Lord. Word WILL get back to them that they are not forgotten and that they are loved and prayed for.

One pastor and leader who understands the command from God to reach the Nations, suggests that every church needs those who:

  • Send missionaries to the Nations
  • Go as career or long term missionaries
  • Mobilize resources and,
  • Welcome the Nations in their midst; their homes, communities, and schools.

Start from your front door, look through the Nations, and live such a life of witness wherever you are so as to be an encouragement to Muslim Background Believers and missionaries to Muslims throughout the world.

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