When
we first started working with Muslims we had a traditional approach. We tried to meet people on the streets and in
our neighborhood to share the Gospel.
We’d ride buses, go to the gym, hang out in parks. When we could get
people into a conversation we’d try to turn the discussion to spiritual things
and then Jesus. Despite our efforts we
did not have great success.
When
we stepped back and considered our approach we realized not many people engage
in discussions with strangers in public places.
For example, how many lasting friendships do you have that first started
on a bus? What we were doing was not
natural, it’s not the way people meet other people. Most people build friendships either through
their extended family, their place of worship, or their place of work. The way we were meeting people was weird.
When
you think about it, in most countries people do not know their neighbors
either. Even so many of our mission strategies are focused on reaching
neighborhoods.
Not
were our ways weird, what we were sharing with those Muslims we met made no
sense. They did not understand our
message. For example, we would engage someone
in a discussion on a bus, and then quickly turn the discussion to spiritual
things and they’d tune us out. Why? Our ways were weird and our words were
weird. There was no connection between
what they heard from us and what we were saying. We’d talk about love and forgiveness but they
never saw it or experienced it. They had
no way to connect what we were saying with real life.
In
addition, our model was not sustainable.
I led Joe to Jesus and Joe wanted to be like me. So I discipled him and
then supported him to get Bible training.
Then I supported him to be an evangelist to his people. Joe soon led
Zul, Mohammed, and Aris to Jesus. They
then wanted to be like Joe, who of course was like me. So Joe discipled them, and then I supported
them to get Bible training and then I supported them to be evangelists to their
people. Because I was supported by the
West and I was their model for being a Christian, everyone wanted to be like
me. The scenario was, become a Christian
and you’ll be paid to get an education and then paid to do a job for the
church, with monies from America! Do you
see where this is heading? Is it any
wonder that many churches planted among Muslims don’t grow very big? Maybe it’s because that’s all the people the
mission worker can afford to support!
Since
going into business, this has not been a problem. When a Muslim comes to Christ, because they
see me working my job, they continue to work their job. Discipleship, and outreach to others takes
place in the real context of normal life and work.
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