How To Share The Gospel With A Muslim, From The Nehemiah Team

Challenges Of Conversational Ministry

Have you ever tried reasoning with a toddler why they should eat their vegetables? If not, let me tell you about the challenges you may face.

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1. The vocabulary of the child is most likely limited.

2. They may resist your information because they have no desire to eat their veggies.

3. At the end of the discussion, you can only pray your persuasion worked!

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These are the challenges the Nehemiah team faced while ministering in Istanbul. Due to the language barrier, you have a limited vocabulary to communicate with. Turkey is a predominantly Muslim country, and many people in Turkey have grown up believing in Allah.

The conversations started with simple questions to show we were interested in who they were. As a result, the students learned many things about Turkish culture just by being inquisitive. We were careful to ask thoughtful questions with hopes of later sharing our beliefs. However, at the end of the discussion, all we can do is lift them to God and allow Him to work, knowing we have done our part.

Conversational ministry can be difficult, especially when you are only visiting for a short time. While there were times of struggle and rejection, there were also many fruitful discussions. Below are testaments from a couple of students.

Kares L.

"It’s not easy to think of how a teenager can bring the gospel to a country where 95-99% of the population is Muslim, yet God made a way for us to do just that! A conversation that sticks out to me was with a young woman named Ezthera. 

We spotted her sitting in the shade not far from two historical sites, the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. We approached her and asked if she spoke English. She did, and soon we were learning about each others' cultures and history, and then we asked about Islam. Ezthera invited us to sit next to her. It was easy to see that though she was well educated in the intricate systems of her religion, our statements about our personal relationship with Christ were making her think. At one point, she stated, 'I believe all religions are like sisters, all one family but called by different names.’ It was not something one would expect to hear from a woman seemingly devoted to her faith, yet she also shared that she felt many Muslims simply were Muslim because it was their culture, not their conviction. Eventually, we were able to share our assurance of salvation and the hope we have in Jesus.

I believe that in every conversation I have, the Holy Spirit is working in the person I am speaking to, in ways I may never know. The Spirit is also working in me, growing me and teaching me confidence and boldness for Christ.”

Katryn C.

“Ministry in Istanbul, Turkey, has stretched me to think about evangelism in a fresh way. Asking intentional questions geared toward genuine interest in others' lives is powerful. God uses our conversations to plant seeds in the minds of others. Seeing the difference consistent engagement with the shopkeepers has made in only a week challenges me to think of the lives at home that could be impacted over a month, year, or even more.”

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God is at work in Turkey!