How does a Bible request to a global outreach website end up getting a Bible into the hands of the enquirer?
The short answer: Networking.
The long answer: A global network of ministries with tentacles that reach relationally into countries all over the world. In Canada that means the Loving Muslims Together network.
A Request
A woman in Canada discovers an Arabic website that tells stories about Jesus Christ. Growing up in the Middle East in a Muslim dominant nation, she had never heard these stories.
She was curious.
And hungry.
So, she took advantage of the offer for a free Bible. She entered her name, address and email, and then waited.
A Response
The global website ministry was prepared.
- They had been told about the Loving Muslims Together network in Canada and had previously arranged to funnel Canadian requests to them.
- An email was sent to the Loving Muslims Together network contact with the enquirer’s information.
- The information was then forwarded to a Network member over 4000 km away.
Greetings,
How are you? How are you managing these days in our strange times?
From time to time I get an email from overseas workers, who receive requests for scripture on their website. The requests for Canada come to me and I pass them along to get them fulfilled.
Are you able to provide an Arabic Bible to this person?
A Happy Ending (or A Happy Beginning!)
And then, several weeks later, this report:
I hope you are doing well. Ministry is going well despite COVID, albeit somewhat differently and not as much face to face as we would like, but things are progressing toward that end!
This is just a follow up e-mail to the Bible request- and an encouragement for you!
Two weeks ago, I delivered her an Arabic NT and connected her with a Lebanese friend of mine who comes to our monthly prayer meeting. This friend of mine then told me that she was hoping for a complete OT and NT Arabic Bible. So last week I drove up to her apartment again and I was able to spend an hour with her sharing the gospel. She is of nominal Christian background and had never opened a Bible and only been to church a few times at Christmas.
Long story short, she prayed to receive Christ, is now studying the Bible with a Lebanese believer and is looking forward to being connected to a local church.
Thanks for passing on this Bible request!!!
Value of a Network
Without the Loving Muslims Together network’s presence in Canada, this request would have been a challenge to fulfill. Who would the global ministry have connected to?
The value of a network is intangible, but the benefits are measured in the numerous, small stories, that are seldom told. This happy story represents the many that remain untold.
ACCESS 25
Imagine if you didn't have access to Jesus? Imagine if you were prevented from learning, discovering and considering Jesus' claims?
Muslims coming to Canada as immigrants & refugees have not had access - to Bibles, to Churches, to Christian friends. They've never heard the stories of Jesus. They've never had freedom to consider, question, wonder...
Loving Muslims Together is a network of individuals, churches, ministries that exists to offer ACCESS. Our vision is that every Christ-follower and every church community would press into the call to join Jesus Christ in giving access to all those who've never had a chance.
Your gift of $25 will provide ACCESS, by supporting the Loving Muslims Together Network (LMT). LMT provides ACCESS through initiatives such as "Loving a Mosque Community Together", the Bridges Courses (now offered on-line), and our regular prayer blogs and letters.
Give the gift of ACCESS today!
DONATE to ACCESS 25
Lorna Johnston is the Diaspora Ministries Leader at Outreach Canada. She leads two national teams--Loving Muslims Together (LMT) and Simply Mobilizing Canada (SMC). She works with teams of diverse and experienced leaders and ministries across Canada to alert and activate the church in Canada to the changing opportunities to engage God's mission right here in Canada.