Project North Africa

Respond to this post with your email and I’ll let you know about a great opportunity to learn Arabic onsite in North Africa or with a personal tutor on Skpye.

So why learn Arabic?

*It is the 5th most spoken language of the world. An estimated 246 million people speak Arabic fluently.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_languages_by_number_of_native_speakers
*It is the “holy language” of all Muslims. (Over 2 billion people!)
*It is one of the six official languages of the United Nations.
*It is the language of the storm of current events happening in the Middle East that affect the whole world.

My favorite part about The Kanisa Conference a few weeks ago were the panel discussions. I love listening from impromptu answers from experienced, godly men to some sincere questions. We held discussions on tentmaking, family issues, and church planting all as it pertains to the Muslim fields.

This particular discussion was on Evangelism:

January 8, 2010
Panel Discussion
Church Planting: Evangelistic Strategies
Obstacles
Communication
Give a definition of words that you and the people you address use
Ask, “What do you think that word or phrase means?”
Follow up with, “Would you be offended if I opened the Bible and showed you what it means by that word/phrase?”
You have to communicate meaning (make it make sense to them)
Avoid arguments and large group discourses
Let them speak first
Stay focused on the cross and God’s grace in every conversation
Take them back to creation (Start from the beginning)
Explain the Moral and Sacrificial laws
You have to know what type of Muslim you are dealing with before you spend a lot of time with an idividual. Find those who will listen.
Three types of Muslims according to Tony Ghareeb:
1. The Devout – Thinks from the Qur’an
2. The Secular – Worldly and not interested in spiritual matters
3. The Waste of Time – Only wants to argue
Three types of Muslims according to Michael Hajj:
1. Regualars – Secular
2. Religious – Spiritually interested (use friendship evangelism)
3. Radicals – Wast of Time
Ask them where the Qur’an says that we can know that our sins are forgiven
Bring Everything back to Redemption
Arrange multimple meetings with the people you meet and build a relationship
Teach the whole Bible
It was unpopular in some areas to preach the Old Testament because:
1. Israel and God’s relationship with them
2. God ordained killings of entire nations
*Remember is these cases to mention that God chose Israel by His grace, not because of their intrinsic virtue. And He did it for the the nations of the world to be blessed (you and me).

Getting the word out to new contacts
Reading groups (similar to a Christian library)
Spamming for Jesus – get connected through social networks like facebook, twitter, or bulk e-mail.
Media ministries (i.e. internet, television, radio, etc.)
Challenging the churches to reach Muslims here in the U.S.
60% of Muslims in the U.S. are immigrants
Go where Muslims are present – seek them out (www.islamicfinder.com, www.salatamatic.com)

My wife and I just got back from a three day winter retreat with our youth group from Grace Baptist. What a privilage to preach to them seven times. I graduated from that youth group 10 years ago. My life was changed while there. God is using Max Fernandez in a mighty way to shape young lives.

Below I’ve written the first sermon of the Kanisa Conference which took place last week in Middletown, OH. If you weren’t there…you just missed it. Tim, a missionary in Turkey, preached this soul-stirrer:

The Need for a Generation of Missionaries to Reverse Jihad in the Muslim World

Jihad lays at the very core of Islamic doctrine and culture

What most of the world knows about Jihad is only the tip of the iceberg

What is Jihad?
A struggle or striving. The Arabic word closely related to the verb jaahada which means “exerting one’s utmost power, effort, endeavors, or ability in contending with an object of disapproval.

From an Islamic theological, ideological, and historical perspective, jihad can be defined as taking advantage of every opportunity and resource to defend and spread the cause of Islam by all means and  until Islam is globally acknowledged as supreme

4 types of Jihad

1. Jihad against the soul – only exists where Muslims are a minority, they struggle within themselves
2. Jihad against Satan – Anything contrary to Islam
3. Jihad against injustice – combat, civil disobedience, activism, and public condemnation
4. Jihad against hypocrites/unbelievers – in the heart secretely, open debates, financial, fighting, and martyrdom (highest form of Jihad) Holy War

“Fight and slay the Pagans wherever you find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem” Surah 9:5

We are at war!

Ephesians 6:2 – We wrestle not against flesh and blood. We are fighting against spiritual darkness

We need a generation of heroes!

We need mighty men of God!

I Chronicles 11:10

1. They must have a strong, unwavering faith (11:11,20)

1. They must not be a deserter (12-14)
   1. In the face of hardships
   2. In the face of Pressure – eccuminical
   3. Hand clave to the sword
   4. Stay in the battle until it is won Continue reading →