FAX OF THE APOSTLES-February 2002

Charting New Paths Into the Muslim World

Islam has been called the fastest growing religion on earth. It claims more than 1.2 billion followers worldwide-that's more than 21 percent of the population of the world-and plays a key role not only in Middle East politics, but in many other nations as well. In Asia, Africa and beyond, Muslims are impacting the world. What is EHC doing to shine the light of Christ in the Muslim World? The terrorist attacks on the United States were carried out by Muslim extremists bent on the destruction of America. Ever since these horrific events occurred, there has been heightened interest in the Islamic religion. Is Islam compatible with Christianity? Unfortunately, fundamental Islamic teaching rejects several essential Christian beliefs, including the deity of Jesus Christ. Instead, Islam views Jesus as a prophet, but teaches that He was merely a man and, therefore, is not worthy of worship. They do not believe that He paid the penalty for our sins. Of course, the Bible teaches that Jesus is God incarnate (John 1:1; 8:58; 20:28, etc.) and that He provided evidence of His claims by rising from the dead. Jesus claimed the authority to forgive sins (Matthew 9:2-3; Mark 2:5-7), accepted worship (Matthew 14:33; 28:9; Luke 24:52), performed many miracles (Mark 6:2; John 10:32) and lived a sinless life (Hebrews 4:15). Traditional Islamic teaching states that the New Testament is an unreliable historical document and they deny that Christ died on the cross and rose again. With the exception of those who die in a holy cause, Muslims do not receive assurance of salvation. Instead, they believe in doing good works in an attempt to tip the scale in their favor when the time comes to be judged by Allah. In contrast, Scripture tells us, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9). What can Christians do to reach out to Muslims? First, we should be able to articulate what we believe and why (including the ability to show that the New Testament is a reliable historical record). Second, we should learn about basic Muslim beliefs in order to understand them better. Third, we need to be in prayer for our Muslim friends and neighbors. Fourth, we need to live lives that evidence the power and joy of the Holy Spirit. This includes answering questions about our faith, but doing so with "gentleness and respect" (1 Peter 3:15). Finally, we should not stereotype Muslims, but seek to understand them as individuals created in the image of God, as well as people to be loved who need the truth of Christ in their lives. In Operation World, 21st Century Edition, missiologist Patrick Johnstone notes that there "are 66 nations and states which have significant restrictions on religious belief." Forty-two of these are Muslim nations. What are EHC's courageous pioneer missionaries doing to further the gospel cause in these areas? While we cannot disclose specifics of activities in sensitive nations, we can report on some of the exciting progress taking place in other areas. In many African nations, Islam has a powerful presence. In Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation, 50 percent of the people are Muslims. This has resulted in religious tension in some parts of the country. Despite these tensions, EHC workers have shared more than 21.4 million gospel booklets throughout the nation. More than 90 percent of Nigeria has been reached with the Good News! In Ethiopia, where between 45 and 50 percent of the population is Muslim, EHC workers have shared more than 1.2 million gospel booklets. In East Asia, EHC workers are also pressing on to the last home where millions of Muslims live. In Indonesia, for instance, nearly 90 percent of the people are Muslim-that's about 197.8 million people (more than double the populations of Iran and Iraq combined). EHC workers have bravely penetrated this stronghold of Islam and have shared more than 56.4 million gospel booklets throughout the nation, resulting in coverage of more than 75 percent of Indonesia. The influence of Islam also extends into the Commonwealth of Independent States. In the former Soviet republic of Kazakhstan, for example, some 47 percent of the people are Muslims. Operation World, 21st Century Edition notes: "Kazakhs have been nominally Sunni Muslims since 1043, but theirs is a folk Islam strongly influenced by animistic practices. An Islamist movement is being fuelled by Muslim missionaries and money from Iran, Turkey and Arab countries. There were 60 mosques in 1991; nine years later there were 5,000." In this heavily Muslim nation, EHC workers have shared more than 5.4 million gospel booklets. Some 50 percent of the country remains to be covered with the Good News. The dangers are many, but the light of Christ will not be stopped. Through systematic distribution and creative techniques, EHC workers and associates are endeavoring to ensure that those they can reach throughout the Muslim world have an opportunity to hear the Good News of Christ. Jesus said that if we know the truth, the truth will set us free (John 8:32). May the eyes of those who follow Islam be opened to the reality and power of Jesus-"the way and the truth and the life" (John 14:6). NOTE: If you would like to assist EHC in reaching these areas of the world, mark you gift ME0.

ALBANIA

Today it's hard to imagine. Albania's former Communist leaders proudly boasted that they had created the world's first atheist state, a goal that was achieved by murdering thousands of religious leaders, destroying mosques and churches, and even chiseling religious symbols off grave markers. But when the Soviet world collapsed in 1990, Albania followed suit, revealing a nation that was morally and economically bankrupt-the poorest nation in all of Europe. Every Home for Christ was one of the first ministries to step in, offering new hope and new life to people in a desperate search for spiritual truths. Working with just a handful of believers, the difficult task of taking the Gospel to every home began. Cities like Tirana, the capital, were accessible targets for EHC's initial campaigns. But there are also thousands of difficult-to-reach villages tucked away in the rugged Caucasus mountains. EHC workers who venture into the mountains, usually on foot, must brave the elements and run the risk of being turned away from Muslim villages where Christian evangelists are unwelcome. There have been many challenges, but EHC workers have managed to visit more than 600,000 homes, prompting 7,024 responses to the Gospel, and leading to the formation of ten Christ Group fellowships. There is still a lot of work to do to help redeem the world's "first atheist state." Please pray.