Let there be light!

I knew little of American Al Janssen until last weekend when I was privileged to support Open Doors during Al’s speaking tour. As Open Doors’ writer-in-residence, Al has over twenty-five books to his name. His recent publication, ‘Secret Believers’ (www.secretbelievers.org), was co-authored with Brother Andrew last year and tells of the terrifying true stories of the men and women – born Muslim and still living in strict Islamic states – who have chosen to convert to Christianity. This was the message Al shared last weekend – one of hope for the Islamic world.

Let’s be honest in safe, comfortable New Zealand we’re so removed from the rest of the world that we’re personally affected little by world events. The Islamic world seems distant as we cocoon ourselves in cushy armchairs watching through the veil of Western media. The impact of terrorist attacks rarely sinks in, let alone the reality of living as a Christian in a Muslim country.

Persecution is a word far from the lips of the New Zealand church. Instead, the greatest fear we face is simple rejection through sharing our faith, and we live in a country where we’re free to do it! At times our apathy and indifference seems far from the father heart of God who created each of us in His own image. Terrorists, suicide bombers and fundamentalist Muslims - these are His people too. Do we love them?

But why is it that the prospect of reaching Muslims for Christ at times seems more ludicrous than possible? Where did our defeatist attitude originate? It seems to me that my generation is so media-saturated that we’re disillusioned with politics and economics. Few of us follow world current events as we see little relevance to our every day lives. And even if we follow these events, we’re distinctly aware they’ve been filtered through the bias of the media network. Our conception of the Islamic world has primarily been formed through the media lens. That world appears unstable, unreasonable, dangerous and closed. Muslims themselves appear portrayed more often with bombs than in rational conversation with other human beings. Somehow they seem unreachable and the door to Islam closed. Al Janssen however, knows these appearances can be deceiving. He paints the picture of an Islamic world surprisingly more open to Christianity than you might initially think.

Speaking of his trips to the Islamic world with Brother Andrew, Al shared of their remarkable opportunities to share the gospel. Could it just be possible that Brother Andrew and Al have discussed Jesus with the leader of a well-known terrorist organization? Could it just be possible that they have spoken of Jesus to students at terrorist training camps? Could it just be possible that a library at such a training camp could ask for a Christian bible and other Christian literature so they could learn exactly what we believe? Could it just be possible there is a network of secret believers in what we consider ‘closed’ Islamic countries? Absolutely, as Al shared during his talk.

What a message of hope! So how are Muslims coming to Christ? According to Al, it usually takes two to three years and tends to involve three stages. Firstly, over 50% of secret believers initially ‘meet’ Jesus in a dream or vision. For example, they might dream of drowning, being saved by a man of white on a white horse and when asked, the man replies that his name is ‘Isa’ (Jesus). Dreams such as this ignite an initial desire to learn about Jesus. To do this, a bible is required, the second stage involving reading it for maybe two years. Finally, another believer is required to answer the seeker’s questions about the bible and Christianity.

As can be expected, finding a bible, reading it, contacting other believers, and making a commitment to Christ comes with the price tag of persecution, physical and emotional risk to self and family, and the threat of or reality of death. Yet to those seeking eternal security, the surety of salvation is worth the cost. What passion. But as the tide of Islam turns to New Zealand shores, where is our passion? We may mumble a few prayers for Muslims as we read the paper and watch the news. We may drive past our local mosques and pray a few prayers, but is that really enough? Sure, we really mean those prayers and of course God honours them, but in no time it seems we’re back to thinking about our next parking space or what we’re eating for dinner. Where is our big picture thinking? Where is our commitment to our persecuted Muslim brothers and sisters? Where is our commitment to change the Islamic world for Christ? Where is the love for our fellow human beings that we would lay our lives down for them? Do we have such a zeal for Jesus that we would do anything he required of us?

Just imagine if our Heavenly Father replaced our selfish desires with His desire for Islamic countries? What if He stirred our hearts with a passionate love for Muslims? What if He softened our indifferent hearts to respond to their cries? What if He gave us a vision of Muslims worldwide coming to Christ on a grand scale? What if, on seeing Muslims through His eyes, we unquestioningly obeyed and went wherever His spirit led us? What if we chose to make a difference through praying for the Islamic world, leaders, and terrorist training camps? What if we chose to pray for our local Muslim mosque and community? Could it just be possible that we would see the changes we so desire? We only have one shot at this earthly life, so why not give it up 100% for our God? It’s time to cast off our fears and the shackles of indifference. It’s time to step out of our boat, pray those mighty prayers and ask God for huge things for Islam. It’s time to put on our spiritual armor, raise our shield of faith and sword of the spirit, and wield that greatest weapon of all - prayer! We have a God with whom nothing is impossible – we only need to ask Him.

Ask for the Islamic world because there is a spiritual battle taking place for it. Step out in the power of His might and pray for the salvation of all Muslims. Sign up for a newsletter from Open Doors to help you know what to pray for. Join a local Open Doors prayer group and encourage each other spiritually in the fight for Islam. Ask your church to target an Islamic country for prayer. Take your concerns to your home group and pray for the hundreds of young men being trained as terrorists. Scare your flatmates and adopt a terrorist for prayer (www.myatfp.com). Print him out, put him on your fridge and ask your flatties to pray for His salvation each time they open the fridge. Pray that the veil of deceit will be lifted off Islam, that Muslim eyes and ears will be opened, that Muslims will be brought from darkness into Our Lord’s lovely light, and that Muslim hearts around the world will be turned to Jesus and glorify His name alone. What are we waiting for? We have nothing to lose, but they have everything.

Your Sister-in-Christ,

Dairne