March 01, 1990 by P. H. Alan

How Can We Reach Muslims?

The Cooperative Consultation on Strategizing for Muslim Evangelization met early in March at Regent University (formerly CBN University). More than 40 different agencies and institutions were represented by the 70 participants. Under the leadership of an inter-agency task force, it was a historic attempt to stimulate creative thinking and effective strategies.Five particularly challenging Muslim peoples were selected as focal points for almost 10 hours in each ñGroup Strategy Session.î The discussions centered around these strategic principles for church-planting: What pre -evangelism has been or needs to be accomplished? Who is the best messenger? How does the messenger enter? What does the messenger do? What pre-field training is needed?

In the general sessions Warren Chastain of the Zwemer Institute of Muslim Studies presented a broad spectrum of issues from the Islamic world. He admonished those serious about break-throughs in Muslim evangelization to keep alert for spiritual conflict on both the local level and the macro  -level of Islamization and governmental restrictions.

Gary Taylor of Strategic Ventures Network urged that tentmaking strategy move ñbeyond the tentsî into the Muslim business arena, in order to secure a stable, unsuspicious presence for church-planting teams.

David Garrison of the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board presented the revitalized concept of the ñNon-Resident Missionary.î

The group-strategy meetings were the heartbeat of the Consultation. Many participants were gratified that this event was not just ñanother conference,î but faced formidable challenges. A confidential paper, due by mid-April, will summarize five strategies and three plenary
sessions. In addition, two networking sessions on ministry among Muslim immigrants in the U.S. and on sending Latin Americans into the Muslim world as church-planters will be included. This final report is reserved for participants and qualified organizations to purchase for $15.

Future consultations are being planned for 1991 which will focus on other peoples; and an International Tentmaking Conference has been scheduled for Sept. 6-9, 1990. n

The author is preparing for work in church-planting among Muslims. P. H. Alan is a pseudonym.