'They Want Jesus Instead'
Why Muslims Convert
March 24, 2008
In church yesterday, as you celebrated Easter, did you notice anything—or
anyone—unusual?
In churches all over the world, there were millions of people celebrating the
resurrection of Christ, who were not there just a few years ago—because
they were worshipping in a mosque instead.
It is thrilling evidence that God is doing a mighty work among Muslims.
According to the website Islam Watch, in Russia, some two million ethnic
Muslims converted to Christianity last year. Ten thousand French Muslims
converted, as did 35,000 Turkish Muslims. In India, approximately 10,000
people abandoned Islam for Christianity.
In his book Epicenter, author Joel Rosenberg details amazing stories of
Muslims converting to Christianity. In Algeria, the birthplace of St.
Augustine, more than 80,000 Muslims have turned to Christ in recent years.
This, despite the stiff opposition from Islamic clerics who have passed laws
banning evangelism.
In Morocco, newspaper articles openly worry that 25,000 to 40,000 Muslims
have become followers of Christ in recent years.
The stories are even more amazing in the heart of the Middle East. In 1996,
the Egyptian Bible Society sold just 3,000 video copies of the JESUS film. In
the year 2000, they sold an incredible 600,000 copies.
In Sudan, as many as five million Muslims have accepted Christ since the
early 1990s, despite horrific persecution of Christians by the Sudanese
government. What is behind the mass conversions? According to a
Sudanese evangelical leader, "People have seen real Islam, and they want
Jesus instead."
In Iraq, "More than 5,000 Muslim converts to Christianity have been
identified since the end of major combat operations," says Islam Watch.
And just a few days ago, the first-ever Roman Catholic church was
consecrated in Qatar, a Sunni Muslim state where the Wahhabi brand of
Islam is practiced. This was the first time Christians in Qatar have been
allowed to practice their faith openly. Ten thousand people attended the
opening mass.
These conversions have not escaped the notice of Islamic leaders. In 2001,
Sheikh Ahmad Al Qatanni, a leading Saudi cleric, delivered the disturbing
news on Al-Jazeera: Every day, he said, "16,000 Muslims convert to
Christianity . . . every year, that is six million Muslims becoming Christians . .
. A tragedy has happened." It is possible the sheikh was inflating his
numbers to incite a reaction against Christianity. But clearly, something is
happening.
How thrilling to learn that so many Muslims have been set free from the
chains of their sins—just as you and I have—by the power of Christ's blood!
We must pray for these new brothers and sisters; many are being violently
persecuted for their new-found faith.
These millions of conversions give us one more reason to rejoice this
Easter season. Yes, we may be in a great clash of civilizations; battling
Islamo-fascists who threaten to kill us. And the future may at times look
bleak. But never despair: God is on His throne, bringing people into His
kingdom from the very heart of Islam.
==========================================
Why Muslims Convert
March 24, 2008
In church yesterday, as you celebrated Easter, did you notice anything—or
anyone—unusual?
In churches all over the world, there were millions of people celebrating the
resurrection of Christ, who were not there just a few years ago—because
they were worshipping in a mosque instead.
It is thrilling evidence that God is doing a mighty work among Muslims.
According to the website Islam Watch, in Russia, some two million ethnic
Muslims converted to Christianity last year. Ten thousand French Muslims
converted, as did 35,000 Turkish Muslims. In India, approximately 10,000
people abandoned Islam for Christianity.
In his book Epicenter, author Joel Rosenberg details amazing stories of
Muslims converting to Christianity. In Algeria, the birthplace of St.
Augustine, more than 80,000 Muslims have turned to Christ in recent years.
This, despite the stiff opposition from Islamic clerics who have passed laws
banning evangelism.
In Morocco, newspaper articles openly worry that 25,000 to 40,000 Muslims
have become followers of Christ in recent years.
The stories are even more amazing in the heart of the Middle East. In 1996,
the Egyptian Bible Society sold just 3,000 video copies of the JESUS film. In
the year 2000, they sold an incredible 600,000 copies.
In Sudan, as many as five million Muslims have accepted Christ since the
early 1990s, despite horrific persecution of Christians by the Sudanese
government. What is behind the mass conversions? According to a
Sudanese evangelical leader, "People have seen real Islam, and they want
Jesus instead."
In Iraq, "More than 5,000 Muslim converts to Christianity have been
identified since the end of major combat operations," says Islam Watch.
And just a few days ago, the first-ever Roman Catholic church was
consecrated in Qatar, a Sunni Muslim state where the Wahhabi brand of
Islam is practiced. This was the first time Christians in Qatar have been
allowed to practice their faith openly. Ten thousand people attended the
opening mass.
These conversions have not escaped the notice of Islamic leaders. In 2001,
Sheikh Ahmad Al Qatanni, a leading Saudi cleric, delivered the disturbing
news on Al-Jazeera: Every day, he said, "16,000 Muslims convert to
Christianity . . . every year, that is six million Muslims becoming Christians . .
. A tragedy has happened." It is possible the sheikh was inflating his
numbers to incite a reaction against Christianity. But clearly, something is
happening.
How thrilling to learn that so many Muslims have been set free from the
chains of their sins—just as you and I have—by the power of Christ's blood!
We must pray for these new brothers and sisters; many are being violently
persecuted for their new-found faith.
These millions of conversions give us one more reason to rejoice this
Easter season. Yes, we may be in a great clash of civilizations; battling
Islamo-fascists who threaten to kill us. And the future may at times look
bleak. But never despair: God is on His throne, bringing people into His
kingdom from the very heart of Islam.
==========================================
NEWS
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| Launch of www.FreeBalkans.com Today August 8th, 2008 we are launching the website www.FreeBalkans. com. 8-8-08 is a significant date, all eights. The number eight in the Bible points to “new beginnings”. When God sent a great flood on the earth, He saved eight people (Noah and his family) in an ark to make a new beginning. God worked 6 days of the creation week and He rested on the seventh day, then on the eight day a new week begun. This project has been in my heart for five years. Of course at the beginning I wanted to jump out there and start it immediately. Just like most things God births in our hearts we have to go through God’s refining process. The process usually involves three or four steps. 1) The vision is dropped in your heart, 2) we explode it; that is we get really emotional about it, 3) it has to die (death of a vision), usually when no one else gets excited about it and when we see how hard it is going to be, 4) and then the rebirth of the vision. Well I think I have been through those steps over these five years. Back five years ago I was asking the Lord, “What can I do to help the Balkan countries?” He begins to speak to me about this website idea. Shortly afterward, I got the name Free Balkans because to me freedom is the greatest thing Jesus gives us. Freedom is not only a political term but a word that describes the peace and wellbeing that our salvation assures us. Just as the great civil-rights activist, Martin Luther King, spoke years ago in his “I have a Dream” speech: When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jew and Gentile, Protestant and Catholic, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, “Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!” Of course we will not see total freedom on this earth until the Prince of Peace, Jesus, rules from the new Jerusalem. Here I am trying to preach again. I never was a good preacher. I do remember what Janis Joplin sang back in the 60s, “Freedom is just another word for nothing else to loose.” Over the years the vision has developed and changed some but I want to put forth what I see as the present vision of FreeBalkans.com. I am passionate about praying for the Balkan countries. This is something Jesus put in my heart many years ago. First of all I want www.freebalkans. com to be instrumental in bringing together prayer warriors to pray for the needs of the Balkan countries. Then as the prayers go up to God, a loving Father that hears and really cares about our needs, He will send out the Holy Spirit to move across the Balkans and perform His will to bless abundantly. The result will be freedom in the lives of the people, governments and their institutions. Second, I want FreeBalkans.com to be an instrument to help gather information about what God is doing in the Balkans. I want to see reports coming in from every country and every sector about the things happening that glorify Jesus. Third, let FreeBalkans.com be an instrument Jesus can use to reach those that are lost and need to find their way back to God; A light in the cyber-world, A message of hope for a dying world. May people log on and find a rest for their troubled souls and know the real freedom God gives. Fourth, let there be networking between those that have and those that need. Not only a networking of prayer but material goods and information also. Jesus teaches us to give freely of ourselves and our finances. What do the Christians and the churches in the Balkans need in order to accomplish the Great Commission (Matt 28:19-20)? Let me state FreeBalkans.com’s goals simply: • Generate Prayer for the Balkan countries. • Chronicle the works of God in the Balkans. • Reach the lost in the Balkans with the message of Jesus Christ. • Network those that have with those that need. God has spoken to me clearly that He will send out His Spirit over the Balkan countries and bring many to salvation. My attitude is this, “The Balkan countries are not the back-waters of Europe, but the blessing of Europe.” Jerry Low Editor, FreeBalkans.com djerilo@yahoo.com |
Ministry Trip to Serbia July 2008
Dates: July 10-22
Around the first of the year, Jan Danharder, the Shady
Grove Church mission pastor, presented the short term
trips planed for 2008. One of the trips was to be for
Serbia. Viktor Sabo, the pastor Shady Grove networks
with in Serbia, had ask that we send a team of English
teachers for an English Camp he was planning. The
plan was to teach English not only to church members
but as an out-reach to the city, community. Jerry Low felt
he was to led the group, having a burden for Serbia and
past history there.
So around February we ask people to sign up for the
task. There were nine people that signed up. Before we
could have our first meeting there was a problem.
Kosovo, a part of Serbia, declared independence and
the United States immediately recognized their
independence. There was protest in Serbia over this
and the American Embassy had been attacked. There
were reports of incidents of those caught speaking
English on the street being attacked also. So Viktor
sent news that the English camp was cancelled. He did
request that Shady Grove send a small team to
minister in some of the churches.
So we went ahead and scheduled a meeting but I
informed those interested of the change. One person
showed up, Norvel Rohrer. We prayed and agreed to
meet again at a later date, asking God to confirm or
suspend the trip. We did meet again and this time we
felt good about the trip. Norvel’s wife, Eva, felt she was
to go also. Viktor had asked for a team of three people
to come. By the later part of May it was confirmed us
three would make up the team.
We arrived at the Budapest, Hungary airport on July
11th and Viktor Sabo picked us up. We were really tired
by time we got to Subotica, Serbia and sleep was
appreciated. The next day which was Saturday, we sat
down with Viktor Sabo to plan ministry for the coming
week. Viktor had communicated some of his plans but
things are always subject to change in Serbia. The
major thing planed was a Family Camp for Monday
through Wednesday, mainly for his church and smaller
churches he over-sees. So the schedule would be as
follows:
Ministry in Serbia
Our involvement in the Sunday July 13th service
consisted of Jerry and Norvel giving their testimonies.
Also Norvel gave an introduction of the teaching planed
for the Family Camp. This Sunday was mainly directed
by Viktor and Ksenjia’s son Arpod. He had brought
some ex-drug addicts from his church in Novi Sad. The
people were real receptive to the testimonies. We meet
the gypsies that come to the only come to the evening
services. They work in the outdoor markets and can
only come in the evenings.
Monday July 14th through 16th Norvel taught in the
mornings on . Norvel’s teaching was straight-forward
with many scriptures applied and most of those fifteen
to twenty people attending were taking notes. The
evening services had large attendances with the
building being almost full. Monday evening Norvel
taught on baptism of the Holy Spirit. We prayed with
many to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Tuesday evening
Arpod Sabo had arranged to interview Jerry before the
congregation on the subject of prayer. Jerry was able to
share the blessings of an intimate prayer life. Many
came forward for prayer to commit to a deeper walk
with the Lord. Wednesday evening Norvel spoke on
healing. We had been promoting this healing service
all week and building was full. Many came forward to be
prayed for for healing. Also during the day others were
working with the children with teaching and games.
In the family camp there was much hunger from the
people. There was so many wanted to be prayed for
each evening that our biggest problem was having
enough translators. Viktor reported break-through in
many people’s lives. We believe the Lord really did a
work in the lives of the people and brought the church to
another level.
Thursday evening July 17th, Eva meat with a women’s
group in the church. She spoke with someone that had
contact with the Jewish community in Subotica.
Through this contact Eva and Norvel were invited to a
of the Jewish community on Friday evening. Seeing an
open door to the Jews of Subotica, Eva and Norvel were
eager to attend. An offering was given to the community
and they interacted on many levels with the people
attending. Eva then on the following Sunday evening
went with her new Jewish friends to a special showing
of a Jewish movie in the Film Festival being held in
Subotica. This contact with the Jewish community was
a real plus for our trip.
Friday, July 18th, mainly being an unplanned day, I,
Jerry did some prayer walking in the city of Subotica.
Saturday evening July 19th we stopped to minister in a
small church in the village of Mali Idos. The pastor was
not in attendance because he had to work that evening.
The worship was there and did a great job. Norvel
shared and we prayed with a few of the people at the
end that had needs.
Sunday Norvel and Jerry went to Zrenjinan for their
evening service. Zrenjinan is a city near the Romanian
border of about 100,000 people. The church is a
medium sized church in Serbian standards. The plan
was for Jerry to preach because he had past history
with this church. Norvel would give a short testimony
first and Jerry would then preach. We talked with the
pastor before the service and found out that Jerry had
actually prayed with him to be saved over twenty years
ago in a youth camp at the church.
The church service started with the worship team
bringing us into worship. As we were worshiping I,
Jerry, began to get Words from the Lord concerning the
worship team and knew I was to prophesy over them
when I got up to preach. When the time of worship
ended and Norvel got up to give a greetin g, he stepped
out and asked the worship team to come forward
because he felt we were to pray for them. In my spirit I
started rejoicing because I hadn’t told Norvel about the
Words I was getting for the worship team, but the Lord
was confirming what was to take place. Norvel prayed
over them and then I begin to speak to them what the
Lord had showed me. I don’t remember all I spoke to
them but the Lord was saying His favor was upon them
and they would play not only in the church but in the
plazas and parks also. As they play the instruments
would prophecy and bring healing to the people. The
Lord charged them to stay in unity and play for His glory.
Norvel felt they were to lead us in some more worship
and let the Lord give them a “new song”. So they took
up their instruments and began to play. The worship
was anointed and the song of the Lord did come forth.
People were being blessed as they entered into deep
worship. After this worship time I, Jerry, did get up to
share and the Lord begin to give me a prophetic word
for the church. I spoke about the hurts they had been
through but that today was a new day for them. God
was releasing a healing into their mist that would be
mainly ministered by their worship team. As they would
worship, God would bring healing and even that day He
had done healing in their mist. I sat down and the
pastor closed the service. There was no need to have a
prayer time, the Lord had already done a work in
everyone. There was a couple that came forward that
ask the pastor if we could counsel with them. so we
went to a separate room with them and the pastor and
they shared mainly of their marriage problems. After
hearing what they had to say we went to prayer and
demons begin to manifest in the young lady. Norvel led
in dealing with demonic and the lady was delivered and
expressed a real freedom and peace.
The Lord’s grace was poured out on the Zrenjinan
church giving them a real break-through.
This trip to Serbia was of the Lord. We had been
diligent in prayer before hand and God answered in a
powerful way. There was two scriptures that kept
coming to me (Jerry) all along this trip; Isaiah 55:11-12,
“ so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it
shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I
please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent
it. For you shall go out with joy, and be led out with
peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth into
singing before you, and all the trees of the field shall
clap their hands”.
Bless His Holy Name, Jesus.
Dates: July 10-22
Around the first of the year, Jan Danharder, the Shady
Grove Church mission pastor, presented the short term
trips planed for 2008. One of the trips was to be for
Serbia. Viktor Sabo, the pastor Shady Grove networks
with in Serbia, had ask that we send a team of English
teachers for an English Camp he was planning. The
plan was to teach English not only to church members
but as an out-reach to the city, community. Jerry Low felt
he was to led the group, having a burden for Serbia and
past history there.
So around February we ask people to sign up for the
task. There were nine people that signed up. Before we
could have our first meeting there was a problem.
Kosovo, a part of Serbia, declared independence and
the United States immediately recognized their
independence. There was protest in Serbia over this
and the American Embassy had been attacked. There
were reports of incidents of those caught speaking
English on the street being attacked also. So Viktor
sent news that the English camp was cancelled. He did
request that Shady Grove send a small team to
minister in some of the churches.
So we went ahead and scheduled a meeting but I
informed those interested of the change. One person
showed up, Norvel Rohrer. We prayed and agreed to
meet again at a later date, asking God to confirm or
suspend the trip. We did meet again and this time we
felt good about the trip. Norvel’s wife, Eva, felt she was
to go also. Viktor had asked for a team of three people
to come. By the later part of May it was confirmed us
three would make up the team.
We arrived at the Budapest, Hungary airport on July
11th and Viktor Sabo picked us up. We were really tired
by time we got to Subotica, Serbia and sleep was
appreciated. The next day which was Saturday, we sat
down with Viktor Sabo to plan ministry for the coming
week. Viktor had communicated some of his plans but
things are always subject to change in Serbia. The
major thing planed was a Family Camp for Monday
through Wednesday, mainly for his church and smaller
churches he over-sees. So the schedule would be as
follows:
- Sunday, July 13th; Arpod Sabo, Viktor son, was
leading the morning’s services. He was
bringing ex-drug addicts from his church in Novi
Sad, a large city to the south, to testify of their
deliverance through Jesus. Jerry would testify of
his/my salvation in jail and deliverance from
drugs also. Norvel was to give an introduction to
the material to be presented during the Family
Camp. - Monday through Wednesday, July 14-16; Family
Camp – Norvel was to teach in the mornings
and evenings and Eva and Jerry would fill in
where needed. Material was to cover renewal,
the Word of God and the prophetic. - Thursday, July 17th was to be a free day. Jerry
was to meet with Susie’s family. - Friday, July 18th was unplanned.
- Saturday, July 19th, we were to go to Belgrade to
meet with couple that ministers to families and
Jerry was to spend time with in-laws while
Norvel and Eva are given a tour of Belgrade by
Viktor. In the evening on the way back to
Subotica were are to minister in Mali Idos, a
village church. - Sunday, July 20th, we were to go to the town of
Zrenjinan to minister in a church there. (This
church Shady Grove has had a long but troubled
relationship with.) - Monday, July 21th, we were to go to Budapest
for a walking tour and check into a hotel for the
night before flying out Tuesday morning.
Ministry in Serbia
Our involvement in the Sunday July 13th service
consisted of Jerry and Norvel giving their testimonies.
Also Norvel gave an introduction of the teaching planed
for the Family Camp. This Sunday was mainly directed
by Viktor and Ksenjia’s son Arpod. He had brought
some ex-drug addicts from his church in Novi Sad. The
people were real receptive to the testimonies. We meet
the gypsies that come to the only come to the evening
services. They work in the outdoor markets and can
only come in the evenings.
Monday July 14th through 16th Norvel taught in the
mornings on . Norvel’s teaching was straight-forward
with many scriptures applied and most of those fifteen
to twenty people attending were taking notes. The
evening services had large attendances with the
building being almost full. Monday evening Norvel
taught on baptism of the Holy Spirit. We prayed with
many to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Tuesday evening
Arpod Sabo had arranged to interview Jerry before the
congregation on the subject of prayer. Jerry was able to
share the blessings of an intimate prayer life. Many
came forward for prayer to commit to a deeper walk
with the Lord. Wednesday evening Norvel spoke on
healing. We had been promoting this healing service
all week and building was full. Many came forward to be
prayed for for healing. Also during the day others were
working with the children with teaching and games.
In the family camp there was much hunger from the
people. There was so many wanted to be prayed for
each evening that our biggest problem was having
enough translators. Viktor reported break-through in
many people’s lives. We believe the Lord really did a
work in the lives of the people and brought the church to
another level.
Thursday evening July 17th, Eva meat with a women’s
group in the church. She spoke with someone that had
contact with the Jewish community in Subotica.
Through this contact Eva and Norvel were invited to a
of the Jewish community on Friday evening. Seeing an
open door to the Jews of Subotica, Eva and Norvel were
eager to attend. An offering was given to the community
and they interacted on many levels with the people
attending. Eva then on the following Sunday evening
went with her new Jewish friends to a special showing
of a Jewish movie in the Film Festival being held in
Subotica. This contact with the Jewish community was
a real plus for our trip.
Friday, July 18th, mainly being an unplanned day, I,
Jerry did some prayer walking in the city of Subotica.
Saturday evening July 19th we stopped to minister in a
small church in the village of Mali Idos. The pastor was
not in attendance because he had to work that evening.
The worship was there and did a great job. Norvel
shared and we prayed with a few of the people at the
end that had needs.
Sunday Norvel and Jerry went to Zrenjinan for their
evening service. Zrenjinan is a city near the Romanian
border of about 100,000 people. The church is a
medium sized church in Serbian standards. The plan
was for Jerry to preach because he had past history
with this church. Norvel would give a short testimony
first and Jerry would then preach. We talked with the
pastor before the service and found out that Jerry had
actually prayed with him to be saved over twenty years
ago in a youth camp at the church.
The church service started with the worship team
bringing us into worship. As we were worshiping I,
Jerry, began to get Words from the Lord concerning the
worship team and knew I was to prophesy over them
when I got up to preach. When the time of worship
ended and Norvel got up to give a greetin g, he stepped
out and asked the worship team to come forward
because he felt we were to pray for them. In my spirit I
started rejoicing because I hadn’t told Norvel about the
Words I was getting for the worship team, but the Lord
was confirming what was to take place. Norvel prayed
over them and then I begin to speak to them what the
Lord had showed me. I don’t remember all I spoke to
them but the Lord was saying His favor was upon them
and they would play not only in the church but in the
plazas and parks also. As they play the instruments
would prophecy and bring healing to the people. The
Lord charged them to stay in unity and play for His glory.
Norvel felt they were to lead us in some more worship
and let the Lord give them a “new song”. So they took
up their instruments and began to play. The worship
was anointed and the song of the Lord did come forth.
People were being blessed as they entered into deep
worship. After this worship time I, Jerry, did get up to
share and the Lord begin to give me a prophetic word
for the church. I spoke about the hurts they had been
through but that today was a new day for them. God
was releasing a healing into their mist that would be
mainly ministered by their worship team. As they would
worship, God would bring healing and even that day He
had done healing in their mist. I sat down and the
pastor closed the service. There was no need to have a
prayer time, the Lord had already done a work in
everyone. There was a couple that came forward that
ask the pastor if we could counsel with them. so we
went to a separate room with them and the pastor and
they shared mainly of their marriage problems. After
hearing what they had to say we went to prayer and
demons begin to manifest in the young lady. Norvel led
in dealing with demonic and the lady was delivered and
expressed a real freedom and peace.
The Lord’s grace was poured out on the Zrenjinan
church giving them a real break-through.
This trip to Serbia was of the Lord. We had been
diligent in prayer before hand and God answered in a
powerful way. There was two scriptures that kept
coming to me (Jerry) all along this trip; Isaiah 55:11-12,
“ so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it
shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I
please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent
it. For you shall go out with joy, and be led out with
peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth into
singing before you, and all the trees of the field shall
clap their hands”.
Bless His Holy Name, Jesus.
|