A great resource that could be the ideal gift for a Muslim friend, this Christmas.
Borrow a pastor
Borrow a pastor
This is a blog from a friend of Mahabba Network. Names and details have been deliberately removed to protect the identity of those involved, but praise God - he is working in the lives of Muslims to reveal Jesus!
Can we borrow another pastor?
“What will we do now that the pastor has moved on?”
…they asked.
This was not a worried congregation but rather some church members who had boarded the roller coaster of befriending Iranian asylum seekers.
The pastor had pitched in by leading a private Bible study for them, but he was moving away.
“Can we borrow another pastor?”
…was one question that was asked.
We found another solution.
With a little coaching, the ladies started using Come Follow Me.
The participants work through the lesson on their own in English, Farsi or Arabic and then once a week they all come together to discuss, share and pray for each other.
The material does not take them off into theological puzzles or doctrinal disputes but focusses on living as followers of Christ.
If we go back to the Great Commission we find that Jesus himself put the emphasis on teaching people to obey all that he had commanded – most of which was the stuff of living.
So they started.
A retired office worker and a lady who irons clothes for a living were engaged in cross cultural discipleship.
We are all familiar with the cry that the labourers are few (Matthew 9:36-38).
“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.””
Oh, how we would love to see an army of multi-lingual, highly trained, specialist workers of proven experience turning up on our doorsteps asking what we have for them to do.
The people Jesus called that day to pray for labourers became the labourers.
The truth is that for the most part we do not need more bodies, but we need the bodies we already have to be equipped and to discover that they can do the work.
Come Follow Me is a wonderful piece of kit which enables non-experts to engage with confidence in helping new believers grow in Christ.
The next training day is in Wakefield, Yorkshire, 27 October. Maybe request one near you?
Upcoming events
Come Follow Me training day
Saturday 27 October
Wakefield
For full details, contact Flora
Regional gathering
Monday 1 December
For full details, contact Gillie
Joining the dots
Joining the dots
This is a blog from a friend of Mahabba Network. Names and details have been deliberately removed to protect the identity of those involved, but praise God - he is working in the lives of Muslims to reveal Jesus!
Reflecting on the dots
A Sunday on La Grande Jatte
In the 1880s French artist Georges Seurat introduced an art form known as pointillism. As the name suggests, Seurat used small dots, or points, of colour to create an artistic image.
Up close, his work looks like groupings of individual dots. Yet as the observer steps back, the human eye blends the dots into brightly coloured portraits or landscapes.
We can think of September as a month when we start filling the picture of our year with dots. Each day fills with greys, reds, ambers and greens, that may fill us with trepidation or excitement, and leave us feeling anywhere between exhausted or invigorated at the end of the day.
It’s only when we step back and reflect that we start to see patterns and shapes.
The picture that emerges may square up to the one we had in mind at the start. But more often, it has unexpected shades of light and dark that present us with a different image to the one we planned.
In the same way, the two on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13) were reflecting on the ‘dots’ of events that had happened over the Passover weekend in Jerusalem.
They saw only dark and sombre tones of violence and death. The picture of Jesus, as they left Jerusalem, did not square up to the picture they had planned for Jesus, the prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and the people (v. 19).
Then Jesus joins up the dots for them, bringing the light and shade of Moses and the prophets, and all the things the scriptures had been saying about the Messiah (v. 27).
As Jesus breaks the bread at home in Emmaus, they are given a moment to stand back and see the full, beautiful picture.
In the same way, our ministries may push us right up against the canvas with busy schedules, scarce resources and a lack of workers for the harvest.
We might have only our own dot and a couple surrounding in sight (and their colours might even be on the opposite side of the colour spectrum to ours). But are we perhaps forming a beautiful image together?
On 13 October, Birmingham wants to have such a day of standing back and joining the dots of those working to engage with Muslims in our city.
A place of peas
A place of peas
This is a real-life story of recent events from friends of Mahabba Network. Names and details have been deliberately removed to protect the identity of those involved, but praise God - he is working in the lives of Muslims to reveal Jesus!
Vandalism to Vegetables
About 5 years ago one of our regulars got involved in a sort of city farm project.
It is in an area of stark terraces almost entirely occupied by Bangladeshis.
The project was secular but with several white Christians heavily involved.
When we met to pray, we heard tales of plastic tunnels being vandalised and project personnel being threatened.
All we could do was pray.
The other evening, I went to the site for a prayer meeting.
The gate was open. There were no high fences, no barbed wire, no security measures of any kind.
Some Asian teenagers sitting on the benches greeted us politely.
The project is highly valued by the community. Members of many families use the project. They grow vegetables. Children come to learn about nature.
It is a place of peace and harmony. God has answered prayer.
Your turn
Have you been touched by this story? If so, you can play your part.
Share the amazing news of God moving among Muslim with your friends via e-mail or social media, using the links below
Support Mahabba in its work to equip everyday Christians to build relationships and share Jesus with Muslims
Lost, asleep & on the wrong path
God is moving among Muslims
This is a real-life story of recent events from friends of Mahabba Network. Names and details have been deliberately removed to protect the identity of those involved, but praise God - he is working in the lives of Muslims to reveal Jesus!
Lost, asleep & on the wrong path
Hello everyone, I was born in Iran. I thank God that he hasn’t left me lost and asleep on the wrong path. From childhood I was brought up as a strict Shia Muslim however I always felt weak. I used to pray and worship but I wasn’t able to reach God in the way I wanted to.
I was always looking for a God of love and friendship and so finally I decided to look for God in another way. For this reason I started looking into Sufi Islam. I felt I was lost and I was looking to find the right way. Many times I went to Sufi meetings however I was still not satisfied.
When I had a problem with my job, I decided to go into a church and light a candle. After a few days, the problem was solved. A short time later, when a different problem arose, I had to leave my country.
When I arrived in England, I got to know some new Iranian Christian friends and I got a lot of information from them. Little by little, I began to feel that following Jesus was a better way and understand that Christianity is a complete way to reach God, until God accepted me and I came to faith in Jesus.
I understood that all my life I had been following the wrong way and that there was no other way than following Jesus to reach the God of love because all the other ways put distance between me and God. However, following Jesus enabled me to become a friend of God. Now I am a son of God and he has become my Father – I’m not a slave of God.
The teachings of Jesus have taught me about life and how to live in love. He taught me how to relate to people around me, who I used to think were my enemies, and be at peace with them; how to live in freedom and help others to live freely too; how to find when Satan was working against me; how to put to death my selfish pride; that God is a God of love we can relate to, not a God of fear.
He answered my childlike questions and gave me a new outlook. Through my words, those who oppose the Gospel can understand and get to know God, whether they’ve had information before or not. The Lord’s return is near and he has given us a great responsibility to go and make disciples of all the nations, in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Lord Jesus, I confess that I’m a sinner. I know I cannot attain salvation and become righteous through my own power or good works. I believe you were killed on the cross for my sins, were buried in the grave and after three days you rose again from the dead.
I believe that you’re alive and have the authority to forgive my sins and count me righteous before you. I surrender my whole heart and life to you. Thank you for hearing my prayer, Amen.
Your turn
Have you been touched by this story? If so, you can play your part.
- Share the amazing news of God moving among Muslim with your friends via e-mail or social media, using the links below
- Support Mahabba in its work to equip everyday Christians to build relationships and share Jesus with Muslims
Hope & healing
God is moving among Muslims
This is a real-life story of recent events from one of the local Mahabba groups in the Network. Names and details have been deliberately removed to protect the identity of those involved, but praise God - he is working in the lives of Muslims to reveal Jesus!
Our contact in a church in London, tells us what happened...
Hope & healing
About 75 people came to our church event for people of other faith backgrounds. It was lovely to see about fifteen Muslim women there in their hijabs. Other less religious Muslims were also there and many Hindus. All invited by Christian friends.
The whole evening was very enjoyable and peaceful. People stayed for a long time even though we were very challenging in plainly sharing the Gospel with them, but in a gracious way.
We began with refreshments, and a fun quiz. This was followed by a free halal and vegetarian meal. After this we gave the quiz results and prizes.
We then gave a fifty minute presentation on the theme of hope. People listened attentively to someone from a Muslim background sharing his testimony of coming to faith, boldly and lovingly.
There was a short talk on the reasons for our Christian hope. This was followed by an invitation for prayer for healing. Two healing testimonies were shared, one of a healing from a cyst. Later a lady came for prayer with the same condition.
About 25 to 30 people came forward for prayer for healing. There was a queue!
One person said their post cancer operation pain had left. Another who had pain in their foot said it was gone.
All the guests stayed well past the finish time as we ended the evening with coffee and cake.
Lots of people came at the end and said how much they had enjoyed the programme. We are now planning our next event!
You can see all upcoming events in the Mahabba Network here →
Your turn
Have you been touched by this story? If so, you can play your part.
- Share the amazing news of God moving among Muslim with your friends via e-mail or social media, using the links below
- Support Mahabba in its work to equip everyday Christians to build relationships and share Jesus with Muslims
Surprising connections
God is moving among Muslims
This is a real-life story of recent events from one of the local Mahabba groups in the Network. Names and details have been deliberately removed to protect the identity of those involved, but praise God - he is working in the lives of Muslims to reveal Jesus!
John, the coordinator, tells us what happened...
Surprising connections
The Mahabba Basingstoke group ran a very successful Easter Party for Muslims in the town recently.
It was at the request of a local Muslim association.
Others invited did not accept or were unable to come, but we did generate some interest and enabled other Christians to do something more to engage with Muslim colleagues or neighbours.
We explained Easter using language that would resonate and help generate discussion.
As we led a tour around a local church as part of the event, there were lots of questions about the furniture, stained glass windows (popular) and especially about the display of the Lord’s Prayer, Ten Commandments and Creed.
We discovered unrecognised links – children knew each other from school and an older Muslim mum had come to the church carer & toddler group, so was able to recommend it to others.
Some discovered shared sporting interests, so we were able to develop friendships and opportunities to meet more often.
We continue with Scriptural Reasoning, and have found the newly-published Grove booklet very helpful and thought provoking.
We hope to discuss this method of building friendships and sharing faith more at the Regional Gathering in Gloucester!
Your turn
Have you been touched by this story? If so, you can play your part.
- Share the amazing news of God moving among Muslim with your friends via e-mail or social media, using the links below
- Support Mahabba in its work to equip everyday Christians to build relationships and share Jesus with Muslims
Real value
God is moving among Muslims
This is a real-life story of recent events from one of the local Mahabba groups in the Network. Names and details have been deliberately removed to protect the identity of those involved, but praise God - he is working in the lives of Muslims to reveal Jesus!
Real value
One of my friend’s moved recently so I went to visit him. He is originally from a Middle Eastern country. He was brought up as a Muslim.
After a while on Google Maps and a few calls on my mobile I found my friend. We walked to the new place. I took off my shoes as not to spoil the carpet.
My friend showed me around his new accommodation. The flat was pristine and still smelled of fresh paint.
A multitude of ornaments on the window sill sparkled in the morning sunshine. Everything was in its right place - including a meticulously arranged shoe cupboard.
I was offered a cup of tea, then I was shown the pictures of the flat before he moved in. It was unrecognisable from the place I was sitting in.
The carpets were dirty and walls were full of holes. My friend explained that he had scraped off all the old wallpaper, filled the holes in the walls, repainted and scrubbed the carpets.
The ornaments and the pictures had come from a charity shop and been brought to life with some vigorous polishing.
The sofas came from a friend who was storing some surplus furniture in his garage. The place looked very bright and inviting.
He then told me that people from his culture were very proud and looked down on having anything that wasn’t brand new. He gave me the following example.
If someone was cold and you lent them a jacket - you would never wear it again after it had been returned.
He informed me that it was only after he started to follow Jesus as part of a church community that he was able to get a handle on his pride, accept help from others, value things that were not brand new and not care so much about the negative comments of others.
Your turn
Have you been touched by this story? If so, you can play your part.
- Share the amazing news of God moving among Muslim with your friends via e-mail or social media, using the links below
- Support Mahabba in its work to equip everyday Christians to build relationships and share Jesus with Muslims
Quenching hunger
God is moving among Muslims
This is a real-life story of recent events from one of the local Mahabba groups in the Network. Names and details have been deliberately removed to protect the identity of those involved, but praise God - he is working in the lives of Muslims to reveal Jesus!
Quenching hunger
We were inspired by another Mahabba group and are hoping to put on a discussion with some mosques inviting believers and Muslims.
At the event, the Qur’an is read then discussed, then the Bible is read and discussed.
We are hoping this will provide a chance for Muslims to ask questions and open up the word.
I have spoken to two mosque leaders about it: one was keen, one is speaking to their imam about it.
The one that is keen also seems very spiritually hungry and a couple of us have done some one-to-one Bible study with him and have given him scriptures.
We are praying that he will come to know Jesus and lead his congregation to follow him.
Please pray that the practical details all get sorted and that many come to know Jesus.
Your turn
Have you been touched by this story? If so, you can play your part.
- Share the amazing news of God moving among Muslim with your friends via e-mail or social media, using the links below
- Support Mahabba in its work to equip everyday Christians to build relationships and share Jesus with Muslims
Peace
Peace
This is a real-life story of recent events from one of the local Mahabba groups in the Network. Names and details have been deliberately removed to protect the identity of those involved, but praise God - he is working in the lives of Muslims to reveal Jesus!
My peace I give you
It is not every day you get to walk along the main road with the chief imam of the town’s most prestigious mosque, but that was my privilege.
We had a great talk.
Along with all the general things, we talked about similarities and differences between our respective faiths.
I discovered he owned a Bible.
At one point we got talking about how proper respect should be shown to the prophets.
When Muslims speak of Jesus they have to say,
“Peace be upon him”
I told him I could never say that.
“How can I wish peace on him? He is the one who promises peace to us. I would rather say, ‘May his peace be upon us’”
I took out my wallet and drew out a printed scripture text,
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid”
It is one of the texts I always have with me because this issue comes up.
Two weeks later he accepted my invitation to have lunch at the church café.
For him it was unanticipated view of church and church people.
Again we talked about lots of things.
At one point we got on to the disobedience of the Prophet Jonah.
The imam talked about all the prophets asking forgiveness.
I pointed out that one never needed to, Jesus Christ who never sinned.
He did not argue. Islam does not disagree.
We are building a friendship. We will see where God takes it. There are more opportunities in round here than meet the eye.
Your turn
Have you been touched by this story? If so, you can play your part.
- Share the amazing news of God moving among Muslim with your friends via e-mail or social media, using the links below
- Support Mahabba in its work to equip everyday Christians to build relationships and share Jesus with Muslims
Imam Karim's story
Imam Karim's story
This is a real-life story of recent events from one of the local Mahabba groups in the Network. Names and details have been deliberately removed to protect the identity of those involved, but praise God - he is working in the lives of Muslims to reveal Jesus!
Not what you may be expecting
Imam Karim calmly talked of his upbringing, his pride in Islam and, in a matter of fact tone, how he regarded Christianity as not worth considering, as too easy to be taken seriously.
The gasps and stunned looks on the faces of the Christians said it all.
Imam Karim was being interviewed before an audience of Christians but the involuntary responses I witnessed came from my friends watching the DVD as part of the Friendship First Course.
Twenty minutes later Imam Karim was on again telling them how God had spoken to him, commanded him to follow Christ and then the hardships he passed through.
The difference in the room was palpable.
They had come to learn something about sharing Jesus with Muslims.
I think they expected it to be hard work and problem-focussed.
At the end, one of them shook his head and said,
“This has been so uplifting.”
Your turn
Have you been touched by this story? If so, you can play your part.
- Share the amazing news of God moving among Muslim with your friends via e-mail or social media, using the links below
- Support Mahabba in its work to equip everyday Christians to build relationships and share Jesus with Muslims
Elliot's Weekly Roundup: Have You Voted Yet?
It probably hasn't passed you by, but today is election day! Have you cast your vote yet? Which one of the 40,000 polling stations did you visit? Was it in in a school, launderette or someone's kitchen? Did you put a tick, cross, or smiley face in the box? Before being caught up in the election frenzy of which results will be declared first, graphics, graphs and swingometers, let's stop and reflect back on the last few days that have run up to this election.
Before the memorial concert was held for victims from the Manchester atrocity, London was attacked leaving eight dead and dozens injured. As more becomes known about the events more questions are being asked. Who knew what and why was it not acted upon? Party political leaders are blaming each other for reducing police numbers now that campaigning has resumed. Debate about security and Islam have dominated the days before today's election. The phrase, "Enough is enough" has been seen and heard this week.
One violent response seen in the media was to wave around a machete, threaten to blow up mosques and kill Muslims. In the video that was posted the man also appeared to have a hand grenade attached to his shirt. Since uploading the video onto the internet he has claimed it was a joke, his drink was spiked and has now issued an apology. Another response has been to ignore the memory of those who died in the attack by ignoring the minute's silence held at a world cup qualifier.
Another response seen in the media has been to challenge the Muslim response to terror attacks. Not just to condemn the terrorism but the ideology behind it.
“What we need to hear from British Muslims is that they reject the vision from which terrorism comes. It is a vision of society unified by one political and religious ideology. It is a vision of pluralism, and secular politics, swept aside by this vision. It is a theocratic vision.”
Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, has stated there is a lack of religious literacy by some who are dealing with terrorist threats. He continued by saying:
““If we attack or persecute or go against a particular group of people on the grounds of their faith alone, rather than what they want to do or the arguments they are putting forward of violence and terror, the terrorists will give three cheers and say thank you, you’ve done our work for us. Every time a Muslim is abused on a bus or a mosque is attacked, the terrorists have taken another step forward.””
At a vigil at Bradford Cathedral Bishop Toby Howarth stated that we don't choose how we feel but we can choose how we respond. At least one person chose to reach out to the Muslim community in London by chalking "London loves you," on the pavement outside a mosque.
Muslim taxi drivers have been praised for their role in helping victims immediately after the attack. Muslim communities have united in disgust against the attacks, have made signs to show their support and have left flowers at the scene. One hundred and thirty imams have refused to say funeral prayers for the perpetrators of the attack and called upon others to follow their example.
“ “Consequently, and in light of other such ethical principles which are quintessential to Islam, we will not perform the traditional Islamic funeral prayer over the perpetrators and we also urge fellow imams and religious authorities to withdraw such a privilege.”
Another article suggests the number of imams refusing to perform the traditional funeral prayers is much higher at around 500. Traditional funeral prayers called janaza are often open for anyone to join. The more people who attend the more beneficial it is to the deceased according to the Islamic scholar and psychiatrist Dr Asim Yusuf. Anti extremist campaigner Ahmed Patel thinks that denying funeral prayers sends out out a very strong message to terrorists and could stop people from carrying out attacks.
““I think the fact that they are saying we will not bury you, we will not even do your janaza, is a lot more powerful than going out with placards or holding vigils.
”It’s a very, very powerful message that no Muslim will bury him, no Muslim will wash his body, no Muslim will stand over him in prayer.””
Another response that has appeared in the media has been written by an accident and emergency consultant who works at The Royal London Hospital. In a post that has been shared over 4000 times in recent days he states:
““When you think of the word Muslim I want you to think of the Muslim nurse that ran our casualty triage area, the Muslim surgeon who operated all night, the Muslim technician that helped arrange transport home for discharged casualties, the Muslim security officer that ran out relatives reception area, the Imams from our Muslim chaplaincy that stayed all night to help comfort the casualties and so many more.””
In the light of all that has happened this week- vote wisely. If you are yet to decide on where to place your X, maybe consulting this manifesto comparison chart published by The Muslim Council of Britain will help.
However we vote, let's put greater faith in the Jesus who didn't travel on a campaign bus, publish a political manifesto or get elected. Let's continue to pray for our nation, friends and colleagues, and share Jesus with those we encounter.
Elliot's Weekly Roundup- Ramadan Mubarak
image credit: Salma Says: flickr
In the aftermath of the Manchester bombing what is in the media? Other tragedies such as Egypt, Baghdad, and Kabul should not be forgotten where many more were killed and injured.
A mosque in Manchester was set alight as a response to the bomb attack in Manchester. Muslims have been targeted and blamed for the Manchester attack elsewhere. In one report taxi drivers in Leicester have been verbally abused and suffered from road rage style Isamophobia. Owner of a Leicester taxi firm spoke about the difficulties he had encountered since the Manchester attack, "We know there were Muslim taxi drivers in Manchester offering people free rides to help the get home straight after the bomb went off but some people choose not to recognise that. I don't know if anyone will listen to me but I'd just ask people to show some respect and act properly towards people who are only trying to do a job."
Muslims in the UK have voiced their disgust at the killings, including the Chester Muslim Community.
“But it needs to be more than a just a few words at the mosque. We want to be more open and transparent as a community and build understanding.
We shouldn’t be isolated and we need to integrate better in the community.”
Muslims were joined by non Muslims on a peace walk in Manchester organised by North Manchester's Jamia Mosque to show their support and solidarity for the bereaved. Around 500 joined in the demonstration against terrorism walking three miles from Cheetham to hold a vigil outside Manchester Arena.
“I’m a Muslim and I trust you.
Do you trust me enough for a hug?”
Baktash Noori has spent days blindfolded offering hugs to passers by in Manchester's Market Street. The video he has made documenting his experience has been watched over thirty thousand times in recent days. He stated: “I did not expect so many people to come and hug me, let alone give me such positive comments, but it was the best thing I've ever done.” By the end of the day the queue snaked down the street with a long line of people waiting their turn to be hugged.
Further afield in Iraq Muslim volunteers have shown solidarity with non Muslim members of their community by working on a ruined monastery near Mosul, with the aim of demonstrating that "Mosul is yours as it is ours" and that "our differences are our strength"
Zain- the Kuwaiti mobile phone operator- has recently produced an advert. The advert released at the start of Ramadan shows a man in a suicide vest walking through staged scenes based on recent bombings. The video has received a mix of positive and negative reactions. It has been criticised for using images of terrorism in an exploitative way. One image, perhaps familiar to us all, was of Omran Daqneesh- little boy who was pictured waiting for help after one of Bashar-al Assad's air strikes on Aleppo.
Others have hailed the performer as a hero. The cast also includes people who have been victims in atrocities in Iraq Jordan and Kuwait and recreates some scenes of terror attacks. It has some great lines including:
“You who come in the name of death. He is the creator of life.
Worship your God with love not terror.
Confront your enemy with peace not war.
Let’s bomb violence with mercy.
Let’s bomb hatred with love.”
It kind of reminds me of something someone else said. Its a challenge to all of us. If you haven't seen the advert you can watch it here. I'm not so interested in your intellectual analysis, discussion of camera angles,or artistic merit- as how your life is impacted by responding to this challenge today and this week.
Please get in touch we'd love to hear from you!
“My dear children, let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice real love. This is the only way we’ll know we’re living truly, living in God’s reality. It’s also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves.”
Charisma Magazine: Mahabba empowers Christians to Reach Muslims for Jesus
Image: Hellmy, Flickr
Charisma Magazine: Mahabba empowers Christians to Reach Muslims for Jesus
Charisma Magazine featured Mahabba in a second article, focusing on our work of presenting the opportunity to share Jesus with Muslims in turbulent times.
This is part 2 in a series of 3 from Charisma Magazine. Read part 1 and part 3.
Here's a short excerpt, and you can find a link to the full article at the bottom.
This network was started as a partnership of many churches and agencies in Oxford seeking opportunities to introduce local Muslims to the Good News about Jesus. Mahabba, as a movement, seeks to be a catalyst in networking together 'ordinary Christians', resourced by agency 'specialists' and championed by church leaders, to love their Muslim neighbours.
So Mahabba is not seen as an agency which are often seen negatively by pastors: their model is a prayer-based relational network which equips local churches with mentoring and training materials, which help church leaders to train ordinary members of churches to relate to Muslims in love and be able to explain the Gospel clearly (for example, 'Friendship First', 'Come Follow Me' and 'Joining the Family.' See kitab.org.uk).
What are the best websites for Muslims seeking Jesus?
Image: Chen Yichun, Unsplash
What are the best websites for Muslims seeking Jesus?
Chris approached us, wanting to know about the best websites for Muslims who are seeking Jesus.
“What are the best websites for Muslims seeking Jesus?”
Dear Mahabba,
The internet is a great place to share faith with Muslims, wherever they are and with anonymity, which some may need.
Can you suggest where to direct Muslim friends so that they can explore the Christian faith further, view a testimony or an FAQ to address their burning question?
I would be interested in finding the best sites that offer any or all of the following:
- Testimonies
- Most ‘frequently asked questions’ addressed
- A presentation of the Christian faith in a Muslim friendly style
- Resources in different languages such as an online Bible
- Ideally, it would be great to find this all on one site!
Thanks!
Chris
Our response
Hi Chris,
We asked our online community on The City, and had a good response with suggestions for you. Here we go!
Websites
- A simple, versatile online and smartphone Bible (also known as YouVersion)
- Features more translations – including ones that are easier for Muslims to understand like the Urdu Geo Version and Sharif Arabic Bible
- Worth using its tools to hyperlink every Bible verse you quote in an e-mail, post on social media or a website
- An online Muslim-friendly English Bible
www.biblegateway.com - CAUTION. SEE NOTE BELOW
- Although Bible Gateway has a wide selection of translations, it is probably best for Christian use alone
- Some of its adverts, which are pro-Israel or Zionist, could be viewed negatively by Muslims and be a distraction
- Use with plenty of caution, or else we recommend other Bible sites
- Thank you to Duncan for the cautionary note in the comments
Presentation of Christian faith to Muslims
- Al-Kitab Scripture Research Institute offers Muslim-friendly English Bible correspondence studies
- A basic correspondence course for Muslims
- One former Muslims commented on the word.org resource:
“I found it helpful to send to a Muslim friend who quoted from the Qur’an 19:36-37 that refers to God not needing a son. Rather than argue the point it was great to lovingly direct her to a resource where she can find out for herself”
Frequently asked questions
- 'My favourite site', according to Sam!
- A very good website with many articles and video clips giving apologetic lectures on the key subjects that Muslims often discuss
- The website has most articles and some of the video clips in English, Bengali, Urdu, Indonesian and Mandarin Chinese
Testimonies
- For testimonies this is hard to beat!
- An interesting approach - 'the man in white'
Other
A comment from Fred (a former Muslim) on the online approach:
A very good approach
Jesus & Muhammad
Image: Adam Przewoski, Unsplash
Jesus & Muhammad
Local Mahabba members were involved with another Meeting for Better Understanding (MBU) between Muslims and Christians the other night.
The discussion was to do with Jesus and Muhammad.
Individuals had been praying hard for the Holy Spirit to move in this particular mosque, which practises a strict form of Islam.
There have been a number of previous MBU’s, but little outward signs of warming to the Gospel.
On the night, about 80 people, mainly Muslims, heard a clear Gospel presentation and took evangelistic literature.
Questions and discussion about Muhammad and Jesus clearly gave Muslims present much food for thought, some of them a little troubling, as they challenged their current beliefs about Jesus.
Christians continue to meet up with their Muslim friends, so please pray for them as they build relationships and share Jesus, particularly as the Gospel stirs people's hearts and minds with questions and promptings.
Your turn
Have you been inspired?
Why not get in touch with your local Mahabba prayer group, get praying and see where God leads you?
How to answer key questions from Muslims
Image: Emily Morter, Unsplash
How to answer key questions from Muslims
Denise has been building relationships with Muslims, and sent in the following question, wanting to know how she can bring her faith into conversations with grace and truth.
“How can I get equipped to ask - and answer - the right questions when talking to Muslims?”
Dear Mahabba,
I have a good Muslim friend, and we have been talking about faith and building friendship for several years. I was recently invited to the mosque open day, and spoke to the imam and my friends for two hours.
However, although I came away feeling much more informed, I felt ill-equipped to ask the right questions - especially to do with the fundamental differences between Islam and Christianity.
These included, the sonship and divinity of Jesus; the Trinity; reliability of the Qur'an and Bible; and more besides!
Can you help or point me in the right direction? I would really appreciate it!
Many thanks,
Denise
Our response
Hi Denise,
Thanks again for your message, and great to hear that you are building relationships and have been able to visit your local mosque successfully.
In terms of your questions, there are a handful of suggestions:
- Connect with someone at your local Mahabba group
- Browse the helpful articles on Christianity Explained website
- Join The City and enquire of others there
- Connect with Applied Biblical Christianity (ABC)
Local Mahabba group
There are individuals in local Mahabba groups who are doing exactly the same things as you and working through the same challenges. A local group is an excellent place to get support from others with more experience.
Christianity Explained website
There are many websites available with articles and resources on how to answer common questions and points raised by Muslims. Check out the articles on explaining Christianity to Muslims and various hot topics.
Join The City
You can also apply to join The City, the Mahabba online community area, where you can pick the brains of lots of other Christians who are engaged in the same issues as you. This is good if there is no local group near you, and there is a wider pool of people to ask.
Connect with ABC
Acts of kindness definitely help to build new relationships, but what do you do when the Qur'an says:
Jesus did not die on the cross, neither was he the Son of God, the third person of the Trinity, or God
'How to share the Gospel with Muslims' is a useful document from ABC which can help lead to opportunities to share the Gospel, as well as answering the usual questions.
Also available from ABC as a PowerPoint for teaching in small groups or churches. [N.B. scroll to bottom of downloads page.]
I hope that helps!
Let me know if you need any further help,
Simon
Where does god gain more honour?
Image: Jacob Meyer, Unsplash
Individuals from a local Mahabba prayer group have been involved in running a meeting for better understanding (MBU). 30 Muslims attended the event with Christians and heard the Gospel very clearly.
A Muslim speaker made a very startling statement, quoting from Deuteronomy 21:23.
“Whoever hangs on the wood is cursed by God”
He went on to say:
“For this reason, it is impossible for us to believe that Jesus died on the cross. God would never allow such a terrible thing to be said about one of the greatest prophets”
The Christian speaker succeeded very well in building the Gospel precisely on this truth:
“Jesus took the curse that had been caused by our sin and paid the punishment of death on our behalf”
It was clear that from a Muslim perspective, the death of Jesus is a great sign of God’s weakness.
Therefore, it is very important to emphasise that:
“The Gospel does not finish with the curse and death of Jesus, but continues with the lifting of the curse by his resurrection!”
A great question to ask Muslims regarding this central issue is:
“Where does God gain more honour, by preventing the death of Jesus, as it is described in the Q uran, or by raising him from the dead, as described in the Bible?”
The answer is self evident.
For more helpful answers and resources on how to speak with grace and truth to Muslims, check out the Christianity Explained website.
