WANTED: Story Tellers

Qualifications: Applicants must have a passionate love for Jesus Christ, and a desire to share their own God story with Muslims living Europe.

Interested? Contact us at Reconsider Europe to learn how YOU can be involved in advancing the Kingdom by living incarnationaly in Europe. People groups from all over the Globe have moved to the West in search of work and new life. Living in Europe provides Christ followers with opportunities to reach people from otherwise hard to reach places. Here are some ideas of jobs you could have:

• English Teacher-Many cultural centers and even Mosques host free English classes. If teaching is something you enjoy, this might be a great fit for you as you can excel in something you are gifted at, and build great friendships through your classes.
• Sports coaches/camps Facilitator-Direct, or start a sports league in immigrant neighborhoods. Basketball is an increasingly popular sport in Europe amongst immigrants and Europeans.
• Cultural and language exchange Facilitator-Get connected with local cultural centers and offer to set up language partner exchanges. You can bring people for short amounts of time to participate in language practice, or find others living in your country who are like minded and wish to learn another language.
• Tutoring-If you are a trained teacher, starting a small tutoring business will give you many contacts with families who desire to give their child more help in their new country’s school.
• Artist-If an immigrant has lived in Europe for most of his or her life, it is likely he or she will have many European tendencies and worldviews. Their desire to express themselves artistically could give you an opportunity to meet them through an artists studio.

Contact us at ReconsiderWE@gmail.com if you are interested in finding out more.

The Hajj

Muslim Tradition vs. New European Lifestyle

It's no secret that many Muslims come to Europe and hold tightly to their home culture and religion. However, many Muslims who grow up in Europe find themselves being heavily influenced by the liberal, post-modern ideologies that run rampant here. Many tenants of Islam require an outward expression of faith so young Muslims will follow Islam with their actions, but they follow the world with their hearts.

On June 10, 2008, Harowo.com posted an article from the New York Times that touches on this very concept. Authors Elaine Sciolino and Souad Mekehnnet describe a new practice done by surgeons, and cosmetic surgeons. They are restoring the hymens of Muslim women who need proof of virginity.

“If you’re a Muslim woman growing up in more open societies in Europe, you can easily end up having sex before marriage,” said Dr. Hicham Mouallem, who is based in London and performs the operation. “So if you’re looking to marry a Muslim and don’t want to have problems, you’ll try to recapture your virginity.” (http://harowo.com/2008/06/10/surgery-offers-muslim-women-illusion-of-virginity/)

In the article, another woman describes her fear of her father if he found out she was no longer a virgin. Young European Muslim couples are paying to have this operation done so they can send home a certificate of virginity to their families.

We can learn a few things from this article about working with Muslims in Europe. First, no matter how European a Muslim may look or act, he or she is still heavily influenced by their family. Second, we see that Muslim men and women are looking for something other than Islam. They are turning to free thinking Europe to find satisfaction in happiness. As Christ followers, we know that they can only find true contentment in the Grace of Jesus Christ. Muslims living in Europe may be searching for something new to follow. Because there are so few Christ followers living in Europe, many Muslims who are searching will not be told about the saving power of Christ.

Christ is needed in Europe. You are needed in Europe to proclaim His name. Many think that Europe is an evangelized area of the world. However there are more evangelical churches in hard to reach countries than in all of Europe. Europe has not been reached. There are very few European evangelical churches reaching out to Muslims. Please consider how you can become more involved. There are numerous cities waiting to be adopted in prayer. There are many parts of Europe where no one is working. Email us at ReconsiderWE@gmail.com to find out more.

A Strategic Man Decides to Follow Christ!

Lance was giving out copies of the Bible in a section of town where Immigrants lived. He prayed for God to use him somehow. That particular day, a national named Cesar walked up to Lance and they began talking. Lance soon discovered that this man was seeking God in a big way. Cesar was not Muslim, but most of his friends were. Lance continued to pray that God would use him in the life of his new national friend.

Over the course of the next few weeks, Lance and Cesar continued to meet and discuss Lance's faith. He introduced him to other nationals who also lived for Jesus Christ. One Sunday. Cesar went to church all by himself. The next Sunday he went again, but it was later that evening when he made a decision that would change his life forever. Lance took him to meet another believing friend. Lance had already shared his own story of God's redemptive work in his life, and a few other national believers had done the same. On this night, Cesar listened again to the story of Jesus and what it meant to live a life for Him. With his new friend Lance by his side, Cesar decided to give his entire life to Jesus!

Lance had been praying for so long that God would use him in some way to reach the Muslims of his city. Little did he know that God would bring to Lance a man who wanted a life in Christ, and had many immigrant friends. Now Cesar is a new creation in Christ and he desires to share his new faith with his Muslim friends. Please pray for Cesar as he begins the first chapter in a new life. Pray for Lance as he disciples and guides Cesar in a way that will produce good fruit. Pray for Cesar's Muslim friends. May they see the change in him, and want what Jesus has to offer.

Muslim living in England Seeks After Christ

I'd Make a Good Muslim

I was sitting with my friend, Fatima* while I listened to her tell me what a good Muslim I would be.

"It's very easy to be a Muslim. And you like all of the things our religion likes. You would make a very good Muslim."

We had been talking for over an hour about a variety of things, and the conversation had turned to spiritual things when I asked why she was now wearing a veil. Fatima explained that ever since Ramadan, she decided she would wear it until the day she died. Her religion was incomplete, she said. Fatima explained that some women who wear the veil don't have good hearts, and some that don't wear the veil do have good hearts. She wanted to have a good heart, and follow the rules of her religion so she could feel like she was measuring up.

I used this as an opportunity to tell her what Jesus Christ said about the heart. I told her what He thought of the Pharisees who knew all of the rules, and outwardly looked righteous, but inside their hearts were black. My dear Muslim friend agreed with this idea, but later reminded me that God does not have any children.

I'm telling you this story because I left my time with Fatima feeling very good about our conversation. It was one of those times, when we were just two women talking like old friends. We talked about family, kids, living in Europe, and when the time was right, God gave me opportunities to ask questions. These questions led to spiritual conversations. And those spiritual conversations may lead to Fatima pondering why she believes what she believes. I've shared the Gospel with her twice now, and we often speak of God and religion. So when I'm able to sit down with her and have a natural conversation in which the Holy Spirit is present, I feel good. I feel good because I know that God is at work in my friend's life.

-Melissa in Europe

A Moroccan Woman Finds False Hope In Europe

Suha* sat on the bench alone. As she watched the children playing, one hand rested on her swollen womb. Her own child would arrive soon, and this new reality began to take root in her heart: they would be all alone.

Her husband had sent her to Europe, where she'd heard stories of good jobs, and a good life. If her child was born there, the baby would have instant citizenship. She seemed eager to leave Morocco behind. When she arrived, she realized nothing was as it seemed. Suha stayed with distant male relatives and this housing situation soon became difficult and awkward. Jobs were not abundant, and in fact were hard to come by. She learned that even if her baby was born on European soil, the child would not have citizenship. A kind Moroccan woman she met on the street offered to let her sleep in her bed until she found housing. Each of her dreams came crashing down.

One day, with a heart full of anxiety, Suha headed to a nearby park. As she observed families and children in the park, she wondered if Allah would take care of her. Then, a young woman named Stacey* walked up to her and greeted her in Arabic. Stacey sat and struck up a conversation with Suha, quickly learning her dire circumstances. The young woman realized that this was no random coincidence. She was a Christ follower, and God had told her to go speak to this Muslim woman. Now she understood why. Throughout the following days, God provided the Moroccan woman with help in understanding her rights in this new country, a few baby item given to her by Stacey and some of her friends. But most importantly, God in his sovereignty brought one of his children into contact with a woman who desperately needs to know that the God of the Bible wants to take care of her for the rest of eternity.

Pray that Suha will want to learn more about the God her new friend follows.
Pray that Stacey will utilize opportunities to share the story of Jesus with Suha.
Pray that Suha will one day turn and follow Jesus.

*Name changed to protect identity.