A testimony of sharing Jesus with Muslims, with a resource tract.
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
God is moving among Muslims
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!
He is moving
I was delighted to be invited to the birthday party.
Oz was a Syrian asylum seeker. I met him just at the time his application was accepted and he promptly moved away with his family into a big city
In our small town he had found Christian friends and even attended some church events. I visited him in his new home.
On the one hand it was gloriously multicultural and on the other hand it was not a nice neighbourhood. I knew it, he knew it.
I put him in touch with a nearby Christian bookshop which I understood to be run by a Pakistani believer and was pleased to hear later that he had visited it.
Then came the invitation for his two year old’s birthday party. It was quite an event. And the bookshop manager had been invited too.
He was not a Pakistani at all but fellow Syrian, young in the faith and keen as mustard. That was more than I had asked or thought.
Then came the news that Oz had found a better place to live and was moving out to a suburb. I was glad that his family had a nicer home, but could I put him in touch with local Christian friends?
I spoke to the bookshop man:
“Oz is moving. This is his new address.”
The bookshop man said:
“Really? I live just round the corner from him!”
Wow. God is on his case. Hallelujah!
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
Deep hunger
Deep hunger
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!
Friendship first
For those of you that have completed the Friendship first course, you will know that building relationships and strong friendships with Muslims is often the first step to sharing Jesus with them.
All friendships take time and energy to flourish, but the more Muslims I meet here where I am, the more I see a deep hunger for it and for assurance, support and encouragement.
It has not seemed difficult to find Muslim ladies keen to chat about faith, receive encouraging scripture and to pray with.
For this I am very thankful to God.
Last week I met for a coffee with a Muslim lady and our conversation turned very naturally to our beliefs and purpose in life.
I was able to share the gospel with her and talk about what following Jesus meant to me.
It was a very extraordinary moment in a very ordinary setting, flowing from a very real friendship.
“Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is Gods energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure.
”
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
Shoes
Shoes
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!
How beautiful are the shoes
I recently bought a pair of shoes.
I learnt many, many years ago that most shoes were not designed for feet like mine.
I have learnt to always look for wide fitting lace-ups of a particular design because I know I can't get into anything else.
I have never, ever, found slip-on shoes that fit me.
However, as I hobbled about clumsily in a narrow doorway trying to unlace my shoes to enter the home of a Muslim neighbour, I thought it is time to find some slip-ons.
There are so many opportunities and my footwear is a hindrance. It felt like a prompt from the Lord.
I suppressed my revulsion for shopping, girded up my faith and went hunting. I found just one pair that I could get on. Praise God, I now have my ministry shoes for my not so beautiful feet.
I put my shoes to use last night.
I was going to visit a Syrian refugee family to let them know to expect the delivery of second-hand settee.
On the way I met a different family returning from the shops and was pressed to join them for some real Arab coffee.
Shoes off
I stayed with them for about 45 minutes. Drank authentic Arab coffee.
This was the family that had joined as twice when we had open air church in the park.
The head of the family had accepted an English-Arabic New Testament.
Shoes on
Round the corner I found the other family along with their visitors.
Shoes off.
I stayed about 20 minutes, drank more Arab coffee.
Shoes on.
And I came home happy.
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
The final outcome
The final outcome
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!
We can make our plans, but the final outcome is in God’s hands
Sometimes what seems like a failure may not be such a crushing blow for God, after all nothing takes him by surprise!
Each week I am part of a class where people learn English and study the Bible.
It’s a discovery Bible study type of approach, with the emphasis being on living out what we have learned, as well as praying for each other.
People from a range of nationalities attend - most of whom are of a Muslim background. Numbers can fluctuate - from a low of 3 to a high of 25+.
Last week only one person came, which has never happened before!
It could have felt like total abject failure. I felt disappointed initially.
However we used the time to visit him, help him clean his house. Then we had a drink and prayed for each other in a nearby supermarket car park.
This week ten people from four different countries showed up!
So was last week a waste of time and resources? I don’t think so!
I think it was good to spend time and hopefully encourage one person. Perhaps we can take comfort that: We can make our plans, but the final outcome is in God’s hands.
“We can make our plans, but the final outcome is in God’s hands.”
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
- Find your local Mahabba group and join us in prayer and action to see Muslims impacted with the love of Jesus
There she was, in church
There she was, in church
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!
Why did the Muslim lady come to church?
It was her second time in a church service.
A modern Muslim woman, modestly dressed but with no head covering, she was nonetheless diligent in her prayers. She always spoke positively and confidently about her Islamic faith.
And there she was, in church.
It was a guest service and she had been invited, but this is not enough to explain her presence. Thousands of her neighbours were not there, but they had not received personal invitations.
Only a few of those who did get invitations had come along.
The deciding factor for her was that she had a friend. A long term, no nonsense, Christian friend of her own age who had worked with her for years and who shared life with her. Not an evangelist or a preacher, but a real friend.
Her verdict on the service:
“It was really good. I loved the music. The teaching was really clear and easy to follow. I am definitely coming again.”
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
Because my friend invited me
This blog was initially published on 31 March 2017, and subsequently edited with an update on 7 September 2017.
Because my friend invited me
I was visiting with a family of Syrian refugees who had come to the UK on the government’s Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme from refugee camps in the Middle East.
They were one of the first refugee families in our area, helping those who came after them to settle. In the process, they’ve become central figures in the resettled community.
Many local Mahabba members have helped them along the way with driving lessons, English lessons and furniture.
I’m trying to learn Arabic from them.
Last week, the husband and son were on their way out when the mum, my Arabic teacher, said I should practise my new vocabulary and ask them where they’re going.
The response was,
“ila l-kanisa,”
which means, 'to the church'.
“To the church?”
I asked surprised,
“Why are you going to church?”
“Because my friend invited me,”
was the simple response.
Dad picked up the keys and off they went, just like any other parent ferrying children to activities.
I was struck by the familiarity and simplicity of the scene – this Muslim boy is going to church because he had been invited.
So often we are hamstrung by questions about the proper way to introduce our Muslim friends to Christ:
“What if I say the wrong thing? What if we serve the wrong food? What if…”
Whoever this boy’s friend is, he gave me a valuable lesson that night.
Just do it!
And as it happens, a few month's later at the first Mahabba group meeting of the new academic year I heard an amazing development.
This boy had asked one of our other Christian friends, who knows the family, whether he can be a Muslim who follows Jesus.
So be encouraged - just do it and see what God does!
SINCE YOU'RE HERE...
... we have recently planted another local Mahabba group in the UK - awesome news!
With your help, though, we would like to continue to sow, plant and support Mahabba groups.
Our work involves a small team of regional reps and central hub personnel investing in local coordinators and groups, as well as spreading the word.
To continue this vital mission to Muslims, we need to increase our regular monthly income.
Our initial target is to raise up 100 individual regular donors, giving an average of £10 to £15 per month.
Could you be one of the 100?
I called on the name of Jesus
I called on the name of Jesus
This is the story of a member of a local Mahabba prayer group who has seen God move in the life of a Muslim from the local Pakistani community. This is a true story and happened recently in a city in the UK.
I met with a local Pakistani man who'd contacted a local church through their website.
He explained that as he'd begun to study Islam for himself the more he'd been put off.
He told me that it's the same for many others he knows.
He was thinking of becoming an atheist when a dream of Jesus started him on a quest to explore the Christian faith.
To begin with, he spent a lot of time talking with Jehovah's Witnesses, but found aspects of their faith quite off putting.
A few days before we met for coffee he'd had another dream.
He was being attacked by witches and evil spirits but repeating the Islamic statement of faith was having no effect.
In desperation he called on the name of Jesus to save him and the evil presences fled away.
He woke feeling shaken but determined to find out more.
He's keen to come and visit our church on Sunday and meet other believers from a Muslim background.
New Mahabba group in Dublin
Image: Jason Briscoe, Unsplash. Dublin
New Mahabba group in Dublin
One of the newest groups in the Mahabba Network has just launched in the Republic of Ireland.
This is particularly exciting, as there has been lots of demand from Ireland (Republic and North!) for some time, but no groups!
After the official launch of the group in Dublin, we had a very encouraging note.
Dear Mahabba,
There was a very encouraging meeting for prayer and discussion in Dublin today, organised by our coordinator.
I didn't actually count how many people were there, but I think it was over 20. There was a mix of people from the south of Ireland and from Northern Ireland.
We prayed for Muslims, and discussed approaches and resources for sharing the Good News with Muslims.
We are hoping to have a prayer gathering on a regular basis.
I would like to encourage those who came today to join the Mahabba Network. We would learn from what others are doing in other places, and be able to share our ideas and resources within Ireland.
Would it be possible to set up three groups in the Network - one for Dublin, one for Belfast, and one overarching regional one for all of Ireland?
If these specific groups were in place, then it might encourage most of the people to join. (There might also be demand for a third group in Cork.)
Our response
We are all in favour of three more groups, so if you are reading this and God is speaking to you, do get in touch!
I want to know the truth
Image: Himanshu Singh Gurjar, Unsplash
Celebrate with us 🎉- Jesus is breaking into the lives of those who don't know him! This is a story from a Mahabba member whom we supported on an outreach project.
Like, comment or share if you're encouraged! 👍
I want to know the truth
During a recent trip, God spoke to me early in the morning about someone that would be saved that day.
I had a heart full of anticipation all day.
Then I saw her!
I spotted her from a distance, sitting in a desolate area outside some shops that had been closed down. She was taking a break from work at the time, was playing on her mobile phone.
Her name was Rita and God gave me a word of knowledge that she was a woman that ‘searched for the truth’ in life.
She was very surprised that I knew that! I explained, that Yeshua (Jesus) had spoken to me about her that morning. He wanted to welcome her home and give her the truth.
She asked a few more questions and then said,
“I want to know the truth!”
My friends and I prayed for her to receive salvation and be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Since then we have become friends over the internet and I pray for her regularly.
YOUR TURN
Like, comment or share if you're encouraged! 👍