Muslims are immigrating to America in large numbers. One way of looking at it is it's like the mission field is coming to you.
Collin and Rebecca McDougall of Africa Inland Mission say the key to reaching Muslims for Christ is to build relationships with them.
Rebacca says it's a slow process that can start with a simple conversation – maybe at a library, for example. The goal is to get them to a safe place where they feel comfortable. “A lot of times Muslim people feel a little bit afraid, and they're afraid to go new places that they're not familiar with. And so, for me to be willing to come to their house, which is their comfortable space, they like for us to be able to do that.”
She says to ask them about their Muslim faith. “Once we start opening those topics of conversation … they think Americans don't want to talk about those things, but they love to talk about those things.”
Collin says he builds relationships with Muslim men at their place of work. In Atlanta where they live, many Muslim men work in meat processing facilities. “Many of the large meat processing operations in this country have chaplains, or have people who can work with their employees,” he said.
Rebecca says patience is the key. Tell them Bible stories. Invest in their lives. “If we persevere and love them well enough, with sacrificial love just like a good neighbor, we just love them well as people, eventually they will come to Christ.”
