3 Keys to Muslim Ministry — and Their Pitfalls

TEAM – The Evangelical Alliance Mission • Jan 29, 2019

Today’s blog post comes from a missionary working in the Middle East. For his safety, we have kept his name and location private.

In 1987, my wife and I got a call asking if we would like to help new university students coming from the Middle East. We were excited for the opportunity as we were already preparing to work among Muslims in Central Asia.

Before long, we were inviting Muslim students to our home, taking them out to shop, and helping them adjust to life in the U.S.

One day, while at a large grocery store, we passed in front of the meat section. Suddenly, one of the students asked me if I ate pork.

I stumbled in replying, knowing pork was taboo for Muslims. I prayed and then said, “What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”

I thought, Great answer. But he only looked at me and said, “So you do eat pork.”

I never saw him again. I had a lot to learn.

Now, after over 30 years of ministry to Muslims , I’ve learned a lot — through mistakes but also through successful approaches we learned through the years.

When we first began to work among Muslims, we lacked resources. Today, there are large numbers of books, articles, seminars on how to reach Muslims.

I’ve reduced these many approaches into three specific areas, which I call AMP: apologetics, methodology and presences. Let’s see how these approaches can help us — and observe the possible pitfalls we should avoid.

Apologetics: a Way of Reason and Dialogue

In Acts 17:17 , we see Paul “reasoned” with those in the synagogue. In order to effectively do this, Paul needed a deep understanding of both the Jewish teachings and the Greeks’ beliefs.

Today, we also need to approach Muslims with knowledge of their doctrinal and local beliefs. We may not all be scholars, but our knowledge of Islam is a sign of respect. It shows that we took the time to study and know what they believe.

Knowing Islam also prepares us to respond to the objections Muslims have to Christianity. In 1 Peter 3:15 , Peter writes says, “Always be prepared to give an answer to anyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that you have.”

Many times, Muslims will ask why we hold certain beliefs. We should be able to give a gentle answer within the context of what a Muslim already understands.

Possible Pitfalls

A trap when using apologetics can be an over-reliance on using the Qur’an or Islamic teachings. There are many verses in the Qur’an about Jesus — but there are more verses opposing central Christian doctrine.

Over-emphasizing the Qur’an can also lead to our seeming approval of its message. Once, when I had shown a Muslim several verses about Jesus in the Qur’an, the listener told me I should be a Qur’anic teacher. That was not the conclusion I had in mind!

Yet, prayerfully and skillfully we can discuss with our friends the truths God has given us.

Missionaries often use similarities in the Qur’an to point Muslims to Christ. But we must be clear that our holy books are far more different than they are alike.

Methods: a Way to Reach Out

In my 30 years of Muslim ministry, I’ve read countless books and articles and gone to many seminars and conferences on new approaches to witnessing to Muslims. The creators of these new approaches show us their numerical success, proving God’s hand.

These various methods, such as the CAMEL method, disciple making movements, and even the insider approaches have opened wonderful discussions and debates, helping us learn and try new things. Many workers go to the field with more tools, knowledge and confidence than ever before.

One method we’ve seen success with is in seeking the “man of peace.” This approach is found in Luke 10 , when Jesus sends the disciples in pairs to spread the Good News of the Kingdom of God.

After my team and I moved to one city, we began asking God to connect us to men and women of peace who would be the catalyst for a discipleship and house church movement. The Lord soon connected us to a number of these people. Within two years, we saw multiple cell groups spring up around the city.

Possible Pitfalls

The pitfalls in using methods can be over-reliance on a one particular method and an expectation of instant results.

A method may see success in one community, but it’s not always the silver bullet. Many workers have left a field discouraged for not seeing results. In our over-reliance on methods, we can miss the guidance and power of God’s Spirit.

To avoid such pitfalls, we need discernment and wisdom. This comes through prayer, seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and consulting with other workers who have been in the field and understand the culture.

When it comes to Muslim ministry — and most other ministries — there is no silver bullet. We must constantly seek the Holy Spirit to see how God wants to move through us.

Presences: a Way of Witnessing

The last of these approaches is incarnational ministry, or what I like to call “presences.” This is workers living their everyday lives in a community of Muslims.

In presence, missionaries face great demands to learn a new language (or languages) and try to understand a different worldview and culture. However, in doing so, we can find acceptance and openness. It helps us fill needs in the community, as well as allowing these communities to help us.

In living among a community, we have seen God speak to Muslims through dreams and open opportunities to pray and see healings.

While we taught at English school, Muslim students saw our lives every day. After building relationships and trust, we found opportunity to share Christ and answer many of their questions about our beliefs. One of our largest house churches came from one of our students who took home a Gospel book and decided, with his family, to follow Christ.

Possible Pitfalls

However, this, too, has some pitfalls we can easily fall into. One of these is the over- contextualization of the Gospel or lives of the worker.

Contextualization is good, but when overused, syncretism forms, blurring the Gospels and dimming the light God’s Truth.

In some areas, especially where I work, a pattern of fear can also overcome the worker. One may fear that if we share the Gospel, people will reject us or we’ll offend the people we’ve grown close to.

While we should contextualize the Gospel and our lives in the local community, we need to allow the emerging community of local believers to guide the direction of contextualization. We’ve found that local believers are much bolder in sharing the Gospel and wiser in balancing life as followers of Christ within their own context.

Our Ultimate Source of Power

I could give many more examples of each of these approaches. However, in witnessing to Muslims, there is one critical lesson we can learn from AMP: Amp is also the abbreviation for amperage, which is the strength of electrical current.

Witnessing to Muslims is like amperage. Electricity is the source and power of amperage, and the Holy Spirit is our source and power. In Him, we have the strength and wisdom to bring the message of God to the Muslim people.

By Suzanne Pearson 08 Mar, 2024
Through God-ordained partnerships and creative connections, TEAM worker Keith Moore sees the global Church advancing in amazing ways. In the global missions landscape, a phrase that comes up often is “from everywhere, to everywhere.” God is calling His global Church in literal new directions, as He raises up cross-cultural workers to be sent from places that were once on the receiving end of missions work. We call this movement “polycentric sending.” TEAM workers Dawn and Keith Moore have seen first-hand this transition taking place. Their story involves the unlikely but beautiful intersection of Charlotte, North Carolina; Tegucigalpa, Honduras; and Memphis, Tennessee...and beyond. The Path to Honduras Keith and Dawn joined TEAM in 1991 and served as church planters for nine years in Bogota, Colombia. After safety concerns precipitated their return to the States in 1999, they knew they wanted to continue serving in Latin America. The Moores felt called to Honduras but wanted to connect with a strong missional church to help send them. The Lord orchestrated a collaboration with Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee. “Some people asked, ‘Why Honduras? Missionaries have been there for 100 years. It’s already reached,’” Keith says. “But there’s a whole section of Latin America that had not been reached - the upper crust.” Keith goes on to explain that he and Dawn felt called to reach college-educated professionals in Honduras – a ministry vision that resonated with the missional goals of Bellevue Baptist. Impact and Growth With the support of this new church partnership as well as another sending church in Birmingham, Alabama, the Moores embarked on their next adventure. Keith and Dawn started Impacto Honduras Church from scratch, and in less than 20 years, the church grew into four locations with 1600 total members. The Moores and other TEAM workers also created a “Bible school” type training program to help professionals who feel a call to ministry to make that transition. Throughout this period of explosive growth, church partnerships played an integral role. “It’s such a different vision when you have a church that says, ‘OK, this is our deal, we want to make this happen,’” Keith explains. “They helped us with everything. They took away every single obstacle to growth. Every time we needed something, they were there.” In 2017, the Moores once again found themselves on the verge of another decision. Was it time to leave Honduras? “I had no desire to leave,” Keith recalls. “People were coming to Christ every week! It was just so amazing.” However, back in the U.S., Keith and Dawn’s parents were in their 80s and would soon be in need of more care. “We realized that either we would leave in a crisis, or we would leave strategically,” says Keith. The couple began to implement a careful succession plan. By the time they left, the four churches were established with strong, Honduran leadership ready to carry on the work of the Gospel.
By Suzanne Pearson 23 Feb, 2024
Justin Burkholder, pictured here with his wife Jenny and their daughters Isabella, Olivia, and Zoey, has recently been named as TEAM’s next International Director. On February 19, 2024, with much excitement and gratitude to the Lord, TEAM announced that Justin Burkholder will become our organization’s new International Director, effective July 1, 2024. Justin, who is currently TEAM’s Executive Director of Global Ministry, will assume his new role upon the retirement of the current International Director, Dave Hall. ( Read the full press release here. ) We sat down recently with Justin to learn a little more about his background, his family, and the journey that has led him to TEAM. Q: Tell us a little bit about your “origin story” - Where did you grow up? What was your family like? A: I grew up in Mexico City as a missionary kid. My parents were focused on church planting. We were very close as a family. Both of my parents are still alive, and my dad serves as a pastor in southern Florida. I have one brother who is a pastor in Wisconsin, and the most special individual in my family is my sister, Amber. She was born with a very severe case of cerebral palsy and is entirely dependent on my mother...who is extraordinary! The three most impactful forces that have shaped who I am (outside of God’s grace) are growing up in Mexico, having parents who loved and planted churches, and sharing life with someone with a severe disability. My parents belonged at the time to a church and denomination that came with quite a bit of legalism and performance-oriented Christianity. Grace was a challenging concept to grasp. While I had an awareness of my sin and need for redemption, it wasn’t until I attended Moody Bible Institute that I began to grasp the fullness of God’s grace and His delight in His children. I have continued learning and trusting in the Gospel through formal education, like completing my M.Div., and through spiritual practices in community. Learning the Gospel and believing the Gospel has been a daily exercise. The Gospel is as beautiful and multi-faceted as a diamond! At an individual level, it is simple enough for us to live convinced that “Jesus loves me, this I know.” At a corporate level, it becomes the foundation that forms and informs our life as a spiritual family. At a cosmic level, it is redemption that reaches as far as the curse is found. It is hard to even grasp the multiplicity of goodness found in the Good News. Q: Share a little bit about your family life now. What does a typical day look like in the Burkholder household? A: My wife Jenny is my high-school sweetheart! She brings joy and kindness wherever she goes. She’s the best listener I’ve ever met, and we love spending time together. We have three daughters. Isabella is ten, Olivia is seven, and Zoey is four. Each of the girls is unique and has taught us a lot in our process of following Jesus together. We like to go out on walks and go to the park together. Once a month I try to get some alone time with each of my daughters which usually includes bowling or trampolines. A typical day in the Burkholder house starts around 5:00am. Because of traffic here in Guatemala City, we have to leave early for school. After school, the girls come home to different activities - sometimes swimming class, sometimes piano lessons. Four or five nights a week we have dinner together where we usually talk about our high and low moments of the day. On weekends, we enjoy time together, playing outside, or watching sports together. Go Cubs and Go Buckeyes! Q: What are your interests and hobbies? If you have the day off, what are you likely to be up to? A: I enjoy physical activity, running, strength-training and following sports. I also love music and, truth be told, am a bit snobby about my taste in music! I also am a very curious person and love reading just about anything that passes through my hands. A day off is usually an opportunity for time with family. Jenny and I like to cook something interesting together on our days off. Often there is time for some reading and watching some type of athletic event. Q: How did God lead you to TEAM? A: My wife and I were working in the Chicago suburbs. I was a youth pastor and she was a Spanish teacher. When we got married, we had already sensed God’s direction to serve cross-culturally, but it was a matter of discerning when and where. There was a driving desire in me to see a church deeply love the Scriptures and at the same time, be deeply engaged in loving and serving their city and the most vulnerable among them. As God directed our paths, we visited a variety of places and made some friends in Guatemala who opened up the path for us to serve here. While we were exploring, we knew that the International Director of an organization called TEAM happened to go to our church, so I decided I should probably invite him out for breakfast - his name was Charlie Davis. Charlie was extremely thoughtful, passionate about disciple-making, and very gracious in creating space for us as we stepped into this endeavor. Charlie connected me with Steve Dresselhaus, a fellow TEAM global worker who was at that time serving as the Senior Director for the Americas. I cannot express the debt that I owe Steve. He walked closely with me in the transition, encouraged courageous thinking about the church and her role in society, and blasted open the doors for us to serve in Guatemala. After meeting Steve, we spent some days praying about joining TEAM. One thing I will never forget – one night during the process, I found myself wide awake in the middle of the night. A peace like I have seldom experienced passed over me confirming that we should join TEAM. There is no doubt in my mind that God tied all of these pieces together to bring us into the TEAM family and community. Q: What roles have you held in TEAM? What have been the milestones in those roles? A: The most important role I have held in TEAM is that of a global worker. God in His grace has allowed us to help plant two churches here in Guatemala, serve in leadership development, counseling, and discipleship. Our greatest joy has been found walking with those who are learning to follow Christ more deeply. I served as the Ministry Area Leader in Guatemala from 2016 to 2019. We helped to establish and lead this ministry area as it grew from just four global workers to over 15. I then served as Senior Director for Mexico and Central America from 2019 to 2021, Regional Executive Director for the Americas in 2021 and 2022, and then transitioned to the role of Executive Director of Global Ministry which I’ll continue in until the end of June. Q: What do you love most about being a part of TEAM? Why TEAM rather than other organizations or job opportunities? A: The TEAM community is full of people who have faithfully served God’s mission and have given up a lot to do so. It is a privilege to know many of our global workers and be counted among them. I am also fascinated by the fact that TEAM has existed now for more than 130 years! There is something to be said about the resilience and faithfulness of an organization that has continued to impact the world for so long. The rest of our conversation with Justin will be coming soon on blog! We’ll hear more about how God called Justin to the role of International Director, and what Justin sees for the next chapter in TEAM’s work in the global Church.
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