Can you believe ……?

The guest instructor, dressed in “business casual” and sporting a well-trimmed beard, entered the room hurriedly after working hard to catch the Tube to be at this London class on time.  As it is, he is one hour late and feeling awful about it.  His little girl is ill and he wants to be at home with her; but he committed to teach this group of Jesus followers today.

Born in the UK he has been able to take advantage of every opportunity that a Western nation offers, and now is a professor in a respected London university. He also serves as a chaplain in a local prison, and a teacher in his local congregation.

His topic today is, “The Expansion of Islam (632 – Today)” and there are 60 participants eager to hear what he has to say.  As he speaks from his heart, using no notes he speaks from memory as he outlines 1400 years of history. The participants are riveted by his knowledge and his manner of speaking. During the Q & A, his devotion to God is evident. He speaks of times of worship and devotion, privately and corporately, while clasping his hands to his heart.

One of the class leaders commented afterwards that she could not tell whether he was a Christian or a Muslim, even though she knew beforehand that he was a Muslim scholar – an imam of his local congregation.  This man is a devoted follower of God – one who loves Him with his life – but he is one who does not see Jesus clearly and correctly.  All of his listeners that day will be praying for God to more accurately show him the truth of Jesus and make this imam’s devotion complete.

Encountering the World of Islam (EWI) is part of the Perspectives Family of courses, and the one in which this imam spoke that day. Bruce & Deborah Warren are pioneering and organising EWI within the UK, meeting a greatly felt need among British churches. In it followers of Jesus are lead by gentle and hopeful means, to embrace Muslims with Jesus’ love and heart and His good news.

We pray that you will recognize and receive Muslims with honour, grace, and respect as people whose hour is “now” and to whom Jesus wants to reveal Himself. We pray that you, too, will be surprised by Muslims and be open to opportunities to draw them into the Kingdom of God, through participating in the grace that is being poured out.