But when He saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. “Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” – Matthew 9:36-38
According to The Crescent Project organization, there are currently over 1.2 billion people of the Muslim Faith world wide. Think about that for a minute. That's 1.2 billion people who don’t know Jesus as their personal savior. That’s 1.2 billion people who, unless they come to saving faith in Him, will go to Hell when they die. Truly, the multitudes are scattered, and the harvest is very plentiful.
The Crescent Project organization is a Christian Missions Organization dedicated to sharing the Gospel with Muslims in the United States and abroad. The organization estimates that in the United States, alone,there are 7 million Muslims. The focus of the group is to reach out to Muslims everywhere with the Good News by providing personal testimony, witnessing packets, and copies of the Injeel (the New Testament). According to The Crescent Project’s President and Founder, Fouad Masri, world wide today, there are only 2 Christian missionaries for every one million Muslims. Yet in the last ten years there are 10,000 Muslims who have become born again Christians. That is more than the previous 1400 years combined! Truly God is working powerfully to bring lost sheep to His flock.
Despite the large numbers of Muslims in the United States, there hasn’t been a big emphasis from churches to reach them with the Gospel. Part of the Crescent Project’s mission is to make American Christians more aware of the opportunities for evangelism among the Muslim community in the U.S. In addition to being involved with witnessing to Muslims directly, the organization trains Christians at local churches on how to witness effectively to help bring Muslims to saving faith, as well. The organization encourages Christians to not only learn about witnessing, but to Do it!
The Crescent Project runs day long seminars specializing in training Christians to share the Good News with Muslims. The program is called: “Sharing the Hope”. During the workshop, Fouad Masri teaches Christians how to share their faith by teaching from training manuals, utilizing group discussion, and coordinating prayer on behalf of Muslims, as well. The general approach of the organization is to reach Muslims with an attitude of love and friendliness, while holding to the Spirit of Truth. The organization encourages its mission workers to fulfill the role of Ambassadors of Christ. [1]
Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us; we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. – 2nd Corinthians 5:20
The Sharing the Hope workshop teaches its participants to evangelize with an attitude of love, friendliness, and compassion for our Muslim friends. Masri emphasizes that nothing will be gained by being argumentative and critical of the Islamic faith when witnessing to Muslims. The workshop emphasizes the need for the participants to show the love of Jesus to Muslims.[2]
In being faithful to the command to make disciples, it is important to not leave a bad taste in people’s mouths. The workshop emphasizes the need for missionaries to be faithful by sharing the Gospel. Actually converting Muslims to Christ is the Lord’s responsibility.
The plan that the workshop teaches is to Bridge the Gospel. This entails taking the similar concepts of Islam and Christianity and building a bridge to open up dialogue. The workshop teaches its students to always use the Bible as the Bridge.[3] One of the objections that the missionary will typically encounter when mentioning the Injeel (New Testament) to a Muslim is: “Hasn’t the Injeel been corrupted?!” Masri emphasizes that as an ambassador to Muslims, it is desirable for this objection to be heard right away. The properly prepared missionary has the tools to correct this misconception. This misconception is held by a lot of folk (Common) Muslims.[4]
The train of thought of many Muslims is:
The Tawrat (Torah) of Moses was corrupted so God sent the Zabur.
The Zabur (Psalms) of David was corrupted so God sent the Injeel.
The Injeel of Jesus was corrupted, so God had to send the Qur’an[5]
Muslims say, “The Qur’an will never be changed since God protects His word.”
From the Christian perspective, though, these objections can be answered by pointing out that God inspired the writing of the Injeel.
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. – 1st Timothy 3:16-17
Also, it can be pointed out that God, in His omnipotence, will keep His Word pure to enlighten all mankind. The many versions of the Bible are simply variations in translations. One can always read the New Testament in its original language of Greek if he or she is concerned about the purity of the content.
Additionally, in reasoning with Muslims, it can be pointed out that in the Qur’an, Muhammad actually affirmed the truth of the Injeel:
Allah! There is no God save Him, the Alive, the Eternal. He hath revealed unto thee (Muhammad) the Scripture with truth, confirming that which was (revealed) before it, even as He revealed the Torah and the Gospel. - Sura 3:2-3
Surprisingly, according to Masri, only 23 % of Muslims have read the Qur’an. So, many Muslims don’t know what the Qur’an says regarding Jesus and the Gospel.
For more Qur’an excerpts that affirm the Bible and Jesus, click here
Masri recommends that there be a strong reaction to a Muslim raising the possibility of the Injeel being corrupted.[6] After all, he reasons, the Qur’an itself says:
Allah is Able to do all things. -Sura 5:19
And Muhammad affirmed the Truth of the Injeel. In essence, to make a statement that man could have corrupted the Injeel is to suggest the belief that man is stronger than God. He says that when a Muslim suggests that the Injeel is corrupted, a Christian should respond by saying:
“Astaghfar, Allah! - which is Arabic for God Forbid.
By making this declaration, the Christian will be responding strongly at the suggestion that God would allow His Word to be corrupted. Then, he or she can go ahead and explain his reaction by speaking of the power of God to preserve His word, the Injeel.
Another objection that the Christian missionary may encounter is regarding the Crucifixion and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus.
Here are Five Theories that Muslims use to explain away the Crucifixion:
1. Judas was made to look like Jesus and was crucified in His place. Most common theory.
2. A disciple volunteered. He was made to look like Jesus and then substituted on the cross.
3. A Jewish bystander was crucified in Jesus’ place.
4. A Roman soldier was crucified in Jesus’ place.
5. The Swoon Theory – Jesus fainted on the cross, was revived by the cool air in the tomb, then moved the stone blocking the entrance, moved to India and had children.
Here are some replies to the objections:
1. The Injeel always mentions the crucifixion and the resurrection at the same time.
2. Jesus conquered sin, death and the devil through His resurrection.
3. There are documented eyewitness accounts that affirm Jesus’ resurrection: See 1st Corinthians 15:3-8
4. There are several extra-biblical ancient historical references that refer to Jesus’ death and resurrection. Click here for a few.
5. The Injeel contains attestations of Jesus' followers who, prior to the Resurrection, were unbelievers.[7] Jesus’ own brother, James, was not a Believer while Jesus was alive. – Mark 3:31, John 7:5. Jesus appeared to him after His resurrection, and James later became the leader of the church in Jerusalem and died for His faith. Paul persecuted Christians before He saw the resurrected Christ on the road to Damascus. – Acts 9:3-6.
6. That Jesus was resurrected from Death was not disputed in Jerusalem just weeks after His crucifixion. Acts 2:31-32. If there had been any question, then Peter could not have made such a bold speech in the Temple.
7. Jesus’ coming was for the sacrifice for all the sins of mankind, past present and future. He died for sins so that we could be forgiven and reconciled to God. His resurrection speaks of His victory over death and the eternal life that He came to give to those who believe on Him.
These are just some replies that can be used to Bridge the Gospel when witnessing to Muslims. The key is using a question they may have to turn it into a bridge to present the salvation message. The “Sharing the Hope” training manual does an excellent job of addressing other questions on topics such as the Trinity, manuscript evidence for the Bible, the forgiveness of sins, and the question of what it takes to become a Christian. Remember, many Muslims think that Americans are either Jewish or Christian. They don’t know that most of the population is comprised of pagans who haven’t been born again. So, they associate any bad behaviors of Americans with Christians. That is why it is so important that in witnessing to Musims, Christians show the Love of Jesus to them.
One way that the Crescent Project shows Jesus to Muslims is through outreach events such as “Welcome to America” day. A group of Christian missionaries gathers together to host a day long conference where they present welcome packages, offer face paintings, food and other services along with copies of the Injeel and other Gospel info to Muslim immigrants. By showing kindness to newcomers, they bear witness to what Christians are really like. And in so doing, they plant seeds that can be harvested into the Kingdom of God.
Another way that the Crescent Project witnesses is through Muslim-American events in which thousands of people gather. At such an event in Michigan, recently, Christian missionaries attended and were successful in winning 40 people to Christ. Campus Crusade has teamed up with the Crescent Project to try and distribute the Jesus film to 1 million Muslims in 2007. This effort includes foreign missions that are planned, as well. Sometimes, the Crescent Project sends missionaries to the Muslims' annual pilgrimage to Mecca where many gather.
An effort is made to win souls there, as well. In addition, each year the Crescent Project takes a team of missionaries to a cultural festival in the Arabian Gulf. People from all over the Muslim world come to the festival. The missionaries witness to Muslims by using personal evangelism, distributing copies of the Injeel, and giving out witnessing packets.
Closer to home, in the US, the Crescent project has given American Christians resources to reach their Muslim neighbors, as well. In witnessing packets that they offer and distribute, the organization provides a copy of the Injeel, a book on the validity of the injeel, the Life of the Messiah DVD and a short book delivering the Gospel message. In training and equipping loving Christians, the Crescent Project has set about the mission of Sharing the Hope.
[1]
Crescent Project, Sharing the Hope Training Manual (Indianapolis: Crescent Project, 2005), p. 23