OM’s summer Short Term Outreach ‘Reaching our Muslim Neighbours’ is an intensive nine days of training and service in London’s multi-cultural heartland, during which participants are equipped and inspired to share the gospel with people from every background. On the final evening, some of the participants shared their highlights with writer Nicky Andrews. Carol* spoke first, about a special meeting on a bus:

Would the girl ever look up from her phone? Carol prayed for a chance to talk with her hijab-clad fellow passenger as their crowded bus crawled through the central London streets. The OM group were heading for the British Museum to learn how Biblical archaeology can strengthen witness to Muslim people today; suddenly the bus lurched to a halt, nearby vehicles blaring their horns. Mark*, another OM participant, went to help the bus driver avoid a traffic incident, his actions earning spontaneous applause from other passengers. At this the girl finally glanced up, her eyes meeting Carol’s.

Sensing her ‘moment’, Carol mentioned that she and Mark were in a group going to the British Museum. At this the girl’s eyes widened with excitement, phone now forgotten. “That place is on my bucket list!” she declared, explaining she was a British Iraqi longing to explore her heritage. The OM group had booklets about archaeological evidence for Biblical accounts, including Bible texts and a simple Gospel message. Carol showed hers to the girl, and when another of the group offered a spare copy, the girl accepted it eagerly. Getting off the bus, her parting words were, “I’m so glad we sat next to each other today!”

 

Meeting at an Iranian church

Carol recounts this ‘divine appointment’ over a simple British and Iranian supper (cheese and biscuits, hummus and flatbreads) shared after church on the final Sunday of the outreach. There’s a warm buzz of chatter in English and Farsi around the room as the OM group gather with this small fellowship of young believers, mostly Iranians from a Muslim background, pastored by OM veterans. “I don’t know her name,” continues Carol, “but I’m praying this girl will get a hunger to know more about the Bible.”

 

A leader’s perspective

Next I chat with OM leader Michael*. OM London has been witnessing to Muslim people since the mid 1970s; Michael has been involved in these outreaches for over thirty years. He curates a nine-day programme led by specialist contributors from inside and outside OM; it blends teaching on Islamics, practical training in different ways to start gospel conversations and daily outreach opportunities across the city. “I love the strength of collaboration between churches, missions and individuals,” says Michael. Contributors are united in their love for Muslim people and rich experience in reaching out to them.

One of Michael’s own highlights was arranging for the group to meet Tarek*, a friend he’s helping disciple and encourage. Tarek loves cooking so while the group were at the British Museum, he was busy in the kitchen at the OM base, preparing a traditional meal from his culture for all to share that evening. Tarek then used a translator app to describe how he met Christ in the Arabian Peninsula, and the persecution he then faced. “This was a beautiful time with a dear brother,” says Michael. “It made a deep impact on all the participants.”

 

Young and old, sharing faith

The thirteen outreach participants were drawn from the UK, east Asia, Caribbean and the USA. Some had previous experience of street evangelism or working with Muslims, others none at all. Unusually, whilst there was a handful of participants in their 20s-30s, the average age was nearer 60, like Carol who met the Iraqi girl on the bus. “I’d really like to encourage people in their 60s and 70s that they can be used very powerfully of God through their maturity and life experience,” says Michael. Keith,* in his mid 70s, chips in here: “Thanks Michael for leading our group so well and flexibly, according to our worn-outness!”

“In the past, I’ve often been hindered in telling others about Jesus by my own clumsy manner,” admits Keith. “So I’ve really appreciated how our outreach leaders introduced several strategies to us so we could communicate the gospel in a way that is gentle, courteous and relevant.” There was plenty of practice with fellow participants, before any of them met passers-by in London’s streets and parks. “On different days we tried different styles of evangelism,” adds Michael, “but weren’t pressing anyone to use ‘this tool’ or ‘that tool.’ We equip participants so they have various approaches to choose from.” Several participants, including Keith, rated the ‘One Wish’ wristband very highly for its flexibility in any setting.

 

‘One Wish’

Originally developed 20 years ago within OM, and now used by churches and missions worldwide, ‘One Wish’ kickstarts gospel conversations:  person A poses the question to person B, “If you could wish one thing from God today for you, what would that be?"

When B replies,  A responds, “Would it be okay if I said a one-sentence prayer that God would help meet your wish?” This can lead on to A saying, “God’s one wish for you is to begin a friendship with you.” A is wearing a wristband with four symbols and with B’s permission, A uses these to explain the gospel. (Visit https://onewish4u.com )

The day after receiving their ‘One Wish’ training, the group headed off to Regents Park and Hyde Park, where visitors from the Arabian Peninsula flock for huge family picnics, alongside tourists and Londoners of every nationality. Conversations took place with folk from secular or atheistic backgrounds as well as Muslims; James* from Indonesia was with Michael and got talking with a Chinese law student who’d visited some Catholic churches in the UK and Paris. They shared ‘One Wish’ with this young man and gave him some materials – a very pleasant positive discussion. Michelle* from the Caribbean met an agnostic who showed no initial interest, but by the end of their chat happily accepted a gospel of John, saying “I’ve got a really long bus ride ahead of me, and I’m going to read this!”

 

A special encounter

Two young Arab men from the Gulf  came to sit by Carol and Keith in Hyde Park. They got chatting, wanting the English pair to guess where they came from; Rashid* spoke very good English, his friend Adnan* much less. Carol just happened to have an Arabic-English Injil (New Testament)  in her bag. She asked the men if they had ever read the Injil - little bits, they replied. Hearing of Adnan’s desire to improve his English, she offered the Injil to them as a gift: an opportunity to compare the two languages, learn some English and to learn about Jesus.

 

“Rashid and Adnan both looked very positive about that idea,” says Keith. “To our surprise they began thumbing through the Injil straight away!” It felt like another ‘divine appointment’ to Carol: “Being able to give a New Testament to Muslims in their own language was the ‘icing on the cake’ for me. We are praying for these guys!”

 

God’s guiding hand

The Iranian church is closing up, and the outreach group must catch a bus to the OM base. Final thoughts come from Natasha*, a participant who is also an OM leader in the Caribbean. With three other ladies from her country, she had been on a mission in the Far East; when plans for a second location fell through, the dates of this London outreach made it the perfect alternative.

 “I really feel that was God’s provision,” says Natasha. “There are increasing numbers of Muslims in our homeland, and it feels like most churches aren’t engaging with them.” She and her companions will be equipping their home churches with what they’ve learnt in London and Natasha can’t wait to bring more Caribbean believers across to receive the same teaching and experiences.

 

Postscript

A few days later, Michael forwards me a message from James, who writes:

“This week  exceeded all my expectations! I've been a Christian for decades but I have not engaged in missions before, partly because of a demanding career and having a young family.

“Meeting missionaries, hearing testimonies, especially from believers from a Muslim background, praying together with a  mission focus and participating in outreach among Muslims in London was super encouraging!

“I've gone away now with plenty to think and pray about. I would recommend doing mission outreach to any believer who's willing to step out in faith and see the Lord at work in people's lives. Praise the Lord!”

 

*Names changed

 

Would you like to join an OM outreach and share your faith on London’s streets or elsewhere in the UK? Please visit our short-term outreach page to find out about opportunities.