Project North Africa

Atarbia Alislamia (Islam Education) begins here in North Africa in the public schools at 3 years old. My son is now in preschool. He doesn’t take the classes but I bought the book anyway just to see what a five year old in North Africa is learning about God, Islam, and eternity. Over the next few days I am going to translate the first seven lessons (taken one per week) that a Muslim child learns from his teacher which is reinforced at home. The child has to memorize the lessons and the Quranic verses. As you read this, ask yourself, if I was taught this since I was old enough to understand and I had never read a Bible what, then, would I believe?

Lesson 1

Memory Verse: The Fatiha (Opening Chapter of the Koran) “In the name of God the most merciful. Praise to Allah lord of the worlds, the most merciful. King of the day of judgement. You will we serve and you will we beseach for help.”

The five Pillars of Islam: Shahada (testify), Salat (prayer), Zakat (Almsgiving), Saum (fasting), and Hajj (pilgrimage).

The Bismillah: I say “Bismillah” (in the name of God) before every deed and every meal.

This is what every five year old kid memorizes his first week in the public school here in North Africa.

Would you have believed it?

Did you believe in Santa?

This fact may be old to you as you have heard sermons and quotes centered on this tragic fact that the “untold millions remain ontold”. It doesn’t grow old to me, however, because every day I meet the untold.

Last week I shared the gospel with three taxi drivers each had never heard the name “Yasua” (Jesus) only his name in the Koran Aisa. They had never heard his real story and they had never held a Bible. I shared the gospel with Sufian’s brother in their village on Monday and asked when I finished, “Have you ever heard anything like that before?” “Never” was his quick response.

Today I and my three friends went out witnessing. I sat down on a bench in front of a mosque and a bus loading with pilgrims to Mecca. As I shared the Gospel with two brothers from the enterior I asked if either of them had ever read the Injeel. Of course not! They had never even seen one. I gave them mine before I left them. They were enamored with it looking at it saying, “All this is in the Koran!?” (This is what they have always heard but they quickly realized the Bible they were holding is five times larger than the Koran!)

How can we expect that there be many believers in a place where most have never met a Christian, never held a Bible, and never heard Jesus’ real name and story? How many of God’s servants will continue to refuse to follow his commission while they continue mumbling the Gospel to each other while millions have never heard once? I hope my heart never stop breaking as I continue to meet those who have never heard.