There is a long history of division and hostility between Islam and Christianity, the two largest religions in the world.  9-11 brought this issue to the forefront again, and it continues to be a “hot topic” in the news and among a variety of religious circles.

The violence we see done in the name of Islam by radical Muslims around the world, especially when targeted towards Christians, has created a mindset of resentment, hatred and fear toward the Muslim people.

As for Christians….this is a great opportunity for the Body of Christ to truly represent Jesus on this earth today by walking in love toward Muslims.  Jesus loved and forgave those who persecuted Him.

As a matter of fact, God loved us while we were still sinners and sent His Son Jesus to die for us.  We must exemplify that love on the earth today…it’s needed!

It just may be as we share the radical love of Christ, the very person the Muslim people reject, that the love they experience will pierce their hearts and turn them to the one true living God.

To our flesh (or natural minds) it doesn’t make sense to view Muslim people this way but the message we are called to share is centered on one truth – love.

“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy, love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things; believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails!”

Islam is arguably one of the biggest global issues the world or at least the Church faces today so we need to get this right.  And the answer is Love!

We also know perfect love casts out fear.

There is a mindset change coming to the church as to how we perceive the Muslim people. We must move from being fearful to being bold in exampling the love of Christ.  We must view them through the eyes of God and His love.  As this mindset truly takes root throughout the Body of Christ, God can use us (and He wants to) to rescue the Muslim people from the deception of Islam.

Keep in mind Paul once persecuted and killed believers, but God showed Himself to Paul in a very real way and used Ananias to help him along (Read Acts 9).  I recently heard my dad say, “God is asking us to see the Muslim people as he asked Ananias to see Paul.”  It’s a great example of what God is asking of us today.

Although there are Muslims in this world that may want to persecute and even kill Christians, we must deny our flesh (fear, resentment, hatred), take up our cross and boldly go forward in sharing the love and true message of Jesus Christ with the Muslim people.

Why? Glad you asked.

Because God is (right now) rescuing Muslim people from the deception they are under in Islam, and similar to Paul in Acts 9, the scales of their spiritual eyes are falling away and they will see the truth in Jesus Christ.

It’s God fulfilling his promise to Abraham in Genesis 17.

God said in Genesis 17:7 “And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants (Abraham’s descendants include Ishmael and his lineage) after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant to be God to you and your descendants after you.”  It’s important to note that Muslims believe they are descendents of Ishmael.

Although Ishmael was the son of Hagar, the bondservant of Sarah (Abraham’s wife), God promised to bless Ishmael (Genesis 17:20)…yet in verse 21: “BUT my covenant I will establish with Isaac.”  We know that Jesus came from the lineage of Isaac.  He was the sacrificial lamb of the new covenant.

Where then is the “blessing” for the children of Ishmael?  One could argue they are blessed with the majority of the oil resources in the world but I don’t believe that’s all God has for them.

There are 1.7 billion Muslims on the earth today…God wants to welcome them into His covenant family he has created for all mankind.  I do not believe He is going to leave out the 1.7 billion Muslims on the earth today just as He didn’t leave out the Gentiles.

Traveling and working in Islamic countries, we’ve met people and have heard stories of Muslims having dreams and visions of Jesus leading ultimately to their conversion.

God is moving on the hearts of Muslim people, and He is looking for His Church (you and me) to be the Church He has called us to be.  We are to reach out to the Muslim people with the compassion of Christ.  As we do, the promise God made to Abraham to bless all of his descendents (including those from Ishmael) will be fulfilled.

The children of Ishmael will be grafted into the vine just as He used Paul to reach the Gentiles, grafting them into the vine.  It is God’s heart that none should perish.  Will all Muslims come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ? I don’t know, but I do know a lot will. I want to be a part of working to see that happen, and I’d like to encourage you to do the same.

Click here to receive our free Window to the Middle East 2 DVD set featuring Terry Law and former Iraqi General Georges Sada.

We received this email from one of our team members who recently helped translate our Story of Jesus booklet into the Uzbek language.

"We have printed 1,000 so far, and they are still being distributed. We gave some out at a small evangelistic outreach to kids and parents, both to those who received Christ and to those who did not. We have given them to local churches, and the pastors and members are handing them out as they have opportunity. It is a huge help when they see something about Jesus in their own language... it helps them see that Jesus is the God of the Uzbeks!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and we look forward to working with you more in the future. God bless you!"

God is the God of All mankind, and we receive this by faith in Jesus Christ. Happy Thanksgiving week to all of you who help spread this message of Jesus to so many around the world.

The massacre of protesters in Egypt this past weekend is one more reminder to the world of how dangerous the situation is for Christians in that nation right now. More than 20 Coptic Christians were killed in the initial attack by the military, and our sources in the country say that the death toll now exceeds 79 due to a lack of medical help for those who were injured.

The protesters were staging a peaceful demonstration to demand protection from Muslim extremists who have been attacking them with impunity since the government was overthrown earlier this year. As the Christians were marching, they were pelted with rocks by an angry mob. Military units assigned to guard the nearby state TV station responded to the conflict and began running over the protesters with armored vehicles.

As events unfolded, local TV stations reported that the Christians were fighting the military. The stations encouraged Muslims to go into the streets and assist the military.

In addition many mosques immediately called for revenge against the Christians for what they saw as a “Christian attack on Muslims.”

The Egyptian military has taken over the investigation of the case from the civil authorities in what is viewed as an attempt to promote its version of events and suppress further inquiry into its actions.

Please remember to pray for Egyptian Christians during their time of persecution. They are in need of strength and mercy from the Lord as their nation moves closer to a general election that could usher in a new era of state-sanctioned Muslim oppression.

Now that World Compassion is beginning a new work in Egypt, all of us have a unique opportunity to offer practical help to Egyptians during this time of need. We will be distributing food, shoes, and blankets along with Bibles and The Story of Jesus booklets to the poor in Cairo so that they will not have to go another day without knowing that God’s people love them.

We ask you to partner with us and give so that the gospel of Jesus Christ will be seen and heard clearly in the nation of Egypt.

After a two week tour to the Middle East, World Compassion was exposed to enormous insight regarding ongoing issues including: the Arab Spring, Christian persecution, and heart-breaking poverty. But right there in the middle of what seems like a tremendous mess, is amazing opportunity for the church to make tremendous headway in reaching those who have never heard about Jesus. 

We invite you to an event we are especially excited about; the "Window To The Middle East" Banquet on October 6th at 7pm to hear what's really going on in the Middle East. Registration is required so make sure you and your friends secure a spot. 

Details about the banquet can be found here. 

Little children are still flocking to Jesus 2,000 years later. This sixteen page "The Story of Jesus" booklet has made its way into the hands of over 27 million people. We believe that the same joy Jesus brought to children in His day is available to everyone who has the opportunity to hear about Him today - including those in the jungles of Myanmar.