English Intercede

It makes no difference what direction we travel -- whether it be Latin America, Africa, Asia, Asia Pacific, or even Europe -- we are encountering an incredible move of God among believers. The church in many emerging nations is experiencing a great spiritual revival...a revival God is using to expand his end-time labor force.

When 14-year-old Judy McGinnis (not her real name) sits down at the computer and logs into her favorite AOL chat room, the other participants may be in for a real surprise. Judy's site-of-choice is an on-line "room" where Muslims (nearly always men) discuss spiritual questions. Hearing from an American teenager in the Midwest that Jesus is the answer is far from the Qur'anic verses and Islamic advice they usually get.

Today, God is building His church among some of the world's most resistant Muslim people! A Nigerian missionary who labors faithfully among animistic and Muslim Fulani people, recently described how many nomads are coming to Christ. He said, "They hear the gospel and come to Christ. We baptize and disciple them, and then after a few weeks they resume their nomadic way of life. It's disappointing that we don't often see them again, but in our follow-up, we find that they have become carriers of the gospel and planters of churches."

In the fifth century A.D., a bishop named Patrick was called by God to minister among the Irish Celts. Because he understood them, Patrick realized that reaching the Celts with the gospel would require a remarkably different approach than the usual Roman method of evangelism. Thus, Patrick and his co-laborers developed a ministry based on hospitality and friendship. By the time of his death, Patrick had started a movement that not only saved the Celts, but has been credited with the saving of most of Europe.

We know that even today evangelical Christians in the States are often referred to as "Christian fundamentalist." However, the world's people are also using the term "fundamentalist" when referring to radical Muslims as well. Yet as we look closely at the "work" of the Muslim radicals in many areas of the world, we see that although they use the "cover" of "a movement stressing strict and literal adherence to a set of basic principles," they are oftentimes driven more by political motivations than by religious motives.

No one should ever have to see what 9-year-old Marlan Pontoh saw. While attending a youth retreat on Indonesia's Ambon Island, Marlan and his friends were attacked and herded together by fanatical Muslim villagers on a murderous rampage. But for Marlan, the worst was yet to come.

She's a Muslim, I thought as my eyes caught sight of the veiled woman in line ahead of me. Probably an immigrant. But when I heard her speak to the checkout lady, I realized that she had a very distinct American accent. And when I got a better look at her, I saw she had blue eyes and wisps of blonde hair had escaped her veil. Why? I pondered. Having studied Islam for many years and knowing its teachings concerning women, I cannot understand why American women marry Muslim men.

The ethnic makeup of Christians in the West has been undergoing a transformation over the past few decades. We are grateful to God that part of that transformation includes many people from Muslim backgrounds. Because of this, the quest has arisen," How do we integrate this new wave of believers into the Church in the West?"

A thousand years ago, they descended upon China's heartland from the north...these horse-riding Mongolian conquerors of the world. They were the mighty Khan's men. They came to rule, but for a brief time. They have remained for a millennium. Today they are among the region's poorest and least educated peoples. The Donxiang, as they are known, eke out a survival existence as potato farmers in the dry, barren hills of southern Gansu Province.

Let's follow the life of Abdullah* from birth to adulthood to determine the reasons why it becomes nearly impossible for Muslims to become Christians. The stumblingblocks in Abdullah's path accumulate until Christianity becomes a distorted religion and the gospel is foolishness to him. Then our Muslim friend will experience the grace of God in his life.

January-February
The number of adherents to Islam in the United States began to increase dramatically in the 1960s when immigration requirements were relaxed by the Johnson administration. This opened the door for large numbers of Muslims from Islamic nations to legally enter the United States. Since that decade, Muslims have continued to enter the United States at a rate of about 100,000 a year.

A few months ago, a devout Muslim friend in the Middle East lamented about the widespread moral decadence and increasing frequency of calamitous events taking place in the world.

"It seems to me that the world may be coming to an end," he said.

I nodded agreement and replied, "Yes, I believe it is nearing the time when Jesus will come back."

"Oh," he said, "you are right. I also believe the Jesus will return."

My friend was simply reflecting the belief of most Muslims: that Jesus will come back to earth during the "end times."