Wanted: Hearts for Muslims

By Georges Houssney On March 20, 2010 · Leave a Comment · In Biblical Missiology, Christian Muslim Background, Islamic Studies

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Do you have a heart for Muslims

Most people going to the mission field choose an easy-access country. Few are attracted to Muslim countries. Even in the west, Christian workers prefer to minister to responsive people like the Chinese. Some who at one time worked with Muslims have now abandoned that vision due to the difficulties involved.
Perhaps one reason for this is a negative feeling toward this admittedly difficult field. This feeling is confirmed when we read statements in missions magazines and books saying such things as: “Muslim countries are closed; Muslims are resistant to the gospel; Muslims are not responsive, etc.” even “Muslims are unreachable.” These descriptions of Muslims and Muslim countries do nothing to encourage us to commit our lives to reaching Muslims with the Good News of Jesus Christ.
But how will they hear if no one tells them? Is the task really so impossible? Could it be that we are reinforcing negativity or even building these barriers ourselves?

Muslim Countries are not Closed

When we are determined to obey God’s call, we will find a way and God will open doors that no one can shut. When God sends us to a place, we must go regardless of political, cultural or other barriers. Personal safety and guaranteed results are never determining factors in obeying God’s call. US troops were called to go to Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Afghanistan among others. What did they do? They went. Without debating the rightness or wrongness of US foreign policy, let us learn from it that as soldiers in God’s army, missionaries must comply with the command to go.

Muslims Are Not Resistant

Satan wants us to believe that Muslims are unreachable in order to discourage us and instill in us a spirit of defeat. In every culture you will find people who refuse to consider the claims of Christ and are not interested in pursuing the truth. Until we have given Muslims the opportunity to hear the gospel we cannot go on saying Muslims are resistant. Thousands of Muslims have come to Christ in the last decade alone in response to preaching, teaching, radio, correspondence courses and Bible distribution. The internet has penetrated thick walls that two decades ago were thought impenetrable. Christians from a Muslim background (CMBs) are popping up everywhere. CMBs are taking the lead in many emergent ministries. The growth is exponential and CMBs are becoming a significant minority that governments are beginning to recognize.

Muslims are everywhere on the globe. With millions of Muslims in the west, they are within reach. You find them on university campuses, airports, parks, shopping malls and most probably you have a Muslim neighbor in your neighborhood.
“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent?” Romans 10:14-15.

Muslims Are Unreached

Missionaries to the Muslim world are still very few. This must change. God is looking for faithful men and women who are willing to trust Him fully, commit their futures into His hands and say to Him, “Lord send me.” Are you willing to go if the place He sends you is a Muslim nation? Are you willing to take the more difficult route and commit your life to serving Him among the unreached millions of Muslims?
Say “yes” to God and you will never regret your decision.

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Georges Houssney was raised in the predominantly Muslim city of Tripoli, Lebanon. He came to faith in Jesus Christ as a teenager. Soon God grew a deep love for Muslims in his heart, and he began to sense God’s call for full-time service among them. Well-known for his work supervising the translation and publication of the Bible into clear modern Arabic, Georges and his family moved from the Middle East to the United States in 1982 to minister to international students. Georges is passionate about reaching internationals here and abroad with the great news of salvation. He writes and lectures internationally about ministry to Muslims, and he strives to awaken a new generation who will proclaim the gospel boldly. Georges is founder and director of Horizons International and does Muslim evangelism training through his training Engaging Islam.