Brothers

Asher, on the way home from seeing the doctor for his major illness, agrees to stopping to buy some sausages to take home for dinner. But the first words off his tongue are, "Let's make sure we get enough for Micah."

Micah, knowing that his brother is going to Nairobi for some serious medical work the next day, tells me to take some of his allowance money out of his wallet. He wants me to buy Asher a present at the toy store and sneak it home so that he can give it to him the next night.

Brothers.

“Let God sort them out”

(The following stories are purposefully vague to protect the individuals who are doing their dangerous work throughout the Muslim world.)

One of the dangers that emerges when Christians get too high of a profile in Muslim communities is that plots can be formed to accuse them of illegal behavior or even to harm them. Pretend “seekers” can come around prayer meetings or sharing times among Christians and gather damaging information. This threat though hasn’t bothered one bold couple in a closed country.

Although living in a Muslim community, they estimate that 60-70 people per week—some acquaintances but many complete strangers—enter their home asking questions about Jesus. These astronomical numbers are unheard of within this kind of ministry.

When concerned co-workers ask the couple about the danger of wolves infiltrating in sheep’s clothing, they confidently land on the side of unwavering faith with their response. Acknowledging the probability that insincere and even scheming visitors have been in their midst, they say, “We’re going to keep teaching whoever comes, and we’ll let God sort them out.”

A crack from a crack

(The following stories are purposefully vague to protect the individuals who are doing their dangerous work throughout the Muslim world.)

In one of the most resistant of resistant mission fields, a missionary couple found themselves very discouraged after years of—seemingly—fruitless labor. To add extra frustration, the husband cracked a tooth. He got to the dentist as soon as he could see her.

When his appointment time came however, the first question the dentist asked wasn’t, “How can I help you?” It was, “Are you a Christian?” And when he said yes, he then asked him, in front of his full dental staff, what exactly Christians believe. The man laid out the Gospel openly to the dentist, and the story was heard with eager and open ears. That alone—an foreseen chance at sharing about Jesus—was a huge gift to the couple.

Two weeks later, at the follow-up appointment for the fixed tooth, he had another chance. After days of thinking about the words the missionary shared, the dentist and his co-workers had more questions. A cracked tooth led to a crack in the high and strong wall of Islam in one missionary field.

Bin Laden is dead…Islam is not

Twenty years ago, our mission agency had one missionary couple actively ministering to Muslims in Africa*. Ten years ago, Osama Bin Laden and Al-Queda orchestrated a vicious terrorist attack on mainland United States. Today, Bin Laden is finally gone (at great cost to the U.S. and its allies), and we have over hundred missionaries who work among those practicing Islam. To loosely connect the dots, one can see a connection between these events. Islam has grown in its influence worldwide, even though Christianity—and not Islam—is growing at a faster rate worldwide. Christians are responding to the bright spotlight the world has thrown on the Islamic world, not with swords for swords but with compassion for the hearts of people who are tied to a freedom-less religion of works.

Our school supports workers who work in open and closed Muslim countries, and while the utmost secrecy must be used to protect their identities, prayer occurs on their behalf as they labor in some of the most intimidating and spiritually-dry settings on Earth. Over the next few days though, I want to share a few stories of victory happening throughout the Muslim world.

*a distinction exists between animistic Mulsims and Muslims in closed Islamic countries. Generally, animistic Muslims are rural and isolated geographically, are more recently converted historically, and less entrenched in true Islamic theology. This doesn’t mean that the work of evangelizing these people is any easier than people who are in more traditional Muslim areas.

What do tribal missions look like?

This video, made by our friends the Busers, gives a good picture. Great song by Phil Wickham behind it ("The time is now"). Pray for them as they get ready to head back for their second term of service. Give to them through New Tribes Mission. Encourage them on email or Facebook (or to their faces the next few months :)). Enjoy a window into God's work.

Brandon and Rachel in Biem, Papua New Guinea

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