Taking The Message Home

Over the coming weeks the city will change. The currently crowded streets will become even more crowded as families come home for vacation. Cars bearing European car tags drive into town loaded down with gifts and goods from Europe as they come back “home” for a month of vacation. The face of the city changes dramatically with the return of family. Guys are wearing European brands, girls abandon the traditional dress for more modern European clothes. The normally male dominated coffee shops are now filled with both men and women…something they have grown accustomed to doing away from home. Life seems to slow down to allow for catching up with friends and family. There is a festive atmosphere as the city has more than it’s normal share of parties and weddings.

As these families come back from Europe the influence of their new country is seen in so many ways. They still speak the language and look the part but something has changed. For the guys there is a spring in their step…they’ve experienced freedom. For some, the time away has been good, offering hope and opportunities. For others the hope is false and they are simply acting out a part. Europe offers hope, jobs, money and a future and they do their best to portray success, the nice clothes, the new car, the stories…some real…some false. For the women they’ve tasted “liberation”…freedom to wear what they want, freedom to be out of the house, freedom to pursue an education. As with the guys some of their experience is real and some is simply saying what they think others want to hear. Some have done their best to protect their culture and values in their new foreign lands others have abandoned their heritage and have embraced the good, bad and ugly of their host culture. Regardless of their views towards this…one thing is true…they’ve been influenced and changed and they’re part of an emerging third culture.

The ideas and concepts they see and experience in Europe have a profound influence on the culture here. The influences of this, good and bad, can be seen in this ever evolving society. All things traditional: dress, design, gender roles, family structure, shopping, commerce are being influenced, shaped, redefined and often replaced by their European equivalent. The impact of this is both immediate and developing.

For those who have been exposed to the truth of the Gospel they also bring this influence with them. They often struggle with how to flesh it out and present it to their families but as they figure this out their influence is beyond the influence of an outsider. As we seek to influence Muslims living in Europe we need to recognize the long standing impact of this type of work. Not only does it have an impact in their lives and communities in their European culture but as they return to visit family and friends they’re expected to bring not only gifts but also new ideas and insights. Reaching Muslims in Europe is a effective and strategic way to help influence individuals, communities and cultures all across North Africa.

The Power of Prayer

Recently, a man who used to be a Muslim came and spoke to a group of workers here in Europe. He shared his testimony of how Christ came to be his Lord and Saviour. He also shared some very practical tips on what Muslims need to hear (and especially SEE) when you are trying to share your faith with them. Here are some of his tips:

• Be a man (or woman) of your word. Muslims live in a world where deceit is normal and expected. So if you are someone who says they believe what they say believe, and do what they say they will do, it will speak volumes to a Muslim.
• When working with women: Women will naturally talk about their families with fellow women. As they share things that are going on in their lives, the hardships and difficulties, look for opportunities to pray out loud for your Muslim woman friend. Pray in the name of Jesus Christ and pray specifically for your friend.
• Men talk with men, women talk with women. This is something that one should always be aware of and practice.
• When beginning a new friendship with a Muslim, be straight forward about what you believe from the get-go. If a Muslim is friends with and doesn't know you are a Christ follower until a few months into the relationship, they will think you are not a very dedicated follower of your religion, and/or, they will think you are just friends with them to convert them to Christianity. Be authentic.

One worker in Europe had the opportunity to pray with her Muslim friend. When she was done praying, the North African woman told her friend that she trusted her more than any of her Muslim friends. She tells her things she would never tell her Muslim friends.

Besides praying with your Muslim friends, the biggest way you personally can influence Muslims for the Kingdom is to pray daily for Muslims in Europe, and all over the world. Pray that the spiritual battles going on will be won by God's spirit. Pray that the Enemy will not have any power in cities predominantly Muslim. Pray for the people who are mentioned on this blog. Sometimes we forget that we need to talk to God ABOUT our Muslim friends, before we talk TO them about God.

Spotlight on Germany

"The name of the salon is German -- Goldene Finger (Golden Fingers) -- but the services it offers are listed in the window in Arabic and Turkish. In the front of the shop, 40-year-old Palestinian Toufic al-Rifae gives men haircuts and trims their beards. Veiled women disappear into a back section behind a curtain, where female hairdressers do their hair and, using thick lines of the traditional Middle Eastern cosmetic preparation known as kohl, apply their makeup in the Arab style. " (Life in a Parallel Society by Norbert F. Pötzl)

This article gives a great deal of information on the current status of Muslims in Germany. According to one survey listed on the site, of the Muslims questioned:

• 0.9% are from a German background


• 2.4% are from other Asian and African countries


• 3.3% are from European countries


• 5.8% are from other Arab countries


• 9.6% are from Iran. Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan


• 78% are from Turkey

Of those Muslims who immigrated to Europe, 23.1 % have lived in Germany since they were born, which classifies them as second generation Muslim/Germans.

To learn more about the status of Muslims in Germany, we highly recommend this article. The link can be found here, or at the top of the page.

To encourage those of you who pray strategically for Muslims in Europe, know that God is at work! Currently, we know of at least one small fellowship that has begun amongst Turks living in a large German city. People are learning about the redemptive power of Jesus Christ and choosing to follow Him. Pray for them as they still face much persecution, despite being away from their home country. Because so many of them live in immigrant neighborhoods, they risk becoming social outcasts when they choose to follow Christ. This can make them feel even more lonely considering they are already living away from their home country.

Pray for your brothers and sisters in Christ who live in Germany who once followed Allah, but now follow Christ!

Muslim Demographics In Europe

This video was sent to us and we found it interesting enough to post on here. We're not sure who produced it, or where the statistics came from, but the fact that Muslims are flocking to Europe still stands. Our prayer is that these statistics will not cause fear in the hearts of Christ followers, but rather may God give you a deep love for Muslims all over the world. God is calling His children to action.

The Third Culture

One family lives in Brussels. They study French so they can function in the Belgium culture, and then so they can communicate with French speaking Muslims.

Another guy lives in London. He travels into the neighborhoods highly populated by Pakistanis.

The family who lives in Spain use as much Arabic as they can with the Moroccans they know, however they use Spanish most of the time as they work with 1st and 2nd generation immigrants.

It's one thing to move your self across the ocean and plant yourself in another culture and language. It's an even harder thing to plant yourself in a different culture, then minister to a people group from yet another culture.

This is the reality of reaching immigrants in Europe. For Westerners, they usually need some kind of bridge to connect with the immigrants. Often times this comes by means of a cultural center, food distribution, or English classes. However non-Westerners are able to connect with the immigrants differently. A Lebanese Christian working in Europe discussed how his Middle Eastern backgroud makes it easy for him to fit into the culture and community of Muslim immigrants. He is able to focus more quickly on doing Bible studies in Arabic. Latin Christians usually can be living testimonies as they work along side North Africans in the construction and domestic industries.

This week, please pray for workers all over Europe who constantly deal with the pressures and blessings of working within 2 very different cultures.

Reaching Muslims in Europe-Easy or Hard?

In many ways, working with Muslims in Europe is a unique and exciting opportunity. Many of them are open to new ways of thinking. Their world view has been expanded in this new culture. They see the allure of the world and view Islam as outdated. A Muslim like this may be very open to learning about the Hope of Salvation.

On the other hand, trying to reach Muslims in Europe can be even more difficult than in their own country.

Many European cities have an ever increasing Muslim population. You can find Arab streets, neighborhoods and barrios and even Arab suburbs. They are filled with mosques, Koran schools and halal meet markets. The Muslims who live in these places usually live there because they want to maintain their own culture, tradition and religion. Because they are away from their home, lifestyle and values are held onto very tightly. Some Muslims become even more devout when they move to Europe.

So do we become a part of this closed community? With growing anti-western sentiment, are Westerners the best people to be sending into these places? Who might be a better choice to send to these Muslims who so desperately need Christ? What are some ways westerners CAN reach Muslims in Europe?

Muslim Population in Europe Continues to Rise

Politicians Fret as Muslim Population Swells in Europe Amid Little Integration
Tuesday, March 24, 2009 By Greg Burke

BRUSSELS, Belgium — A clash of civilizations may be taking place on the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan, but it's also happening a lot more quietly in European cities.

Old Europe's population is dwindling even as immigration and high birth rates among Muslim groups are swelling in cities all over the continent.

And in Belgium, it is no different. Click here for the rest of the article.

The following video clip is taken from FOX News.com. As European cities become more and more prominently Muslim, how does this change the face of evangelizing Muslims in Europe? Or how does it effect evangelisim in Europe period? Please share your thoughts in the comment section.