Joyful Witness in the Muslim World: Sharing the Gospel in Everyday Encounters

by Evelyne A. Reisacher, Scott Sunquist (Editor), Amos Yong (Editor)

This up-to-date textbook features global perspectives on current Christian engagement with Islam, equipping readers for mission among Muslims. Evelyne Reisacher, who has worked extensively with Muslims in Europe, helps readers move from fear to joy as they share the gospel with Muslims. Reisacher surveys areas where Muslims and Christians encounter one another in the twenty-first century, highlighting innovative models of Christian witness in everyday life. Drawing on insights from global Christianity, this survey takes account of diverse conceptions of Muslim-Christian relations. The book may surprise those who believe mission among Muslims is nearly impossible.

This is the first book in the Mission in Global Community series, which reframes missiological themes and studies for students around the common theme of mission as partnership with others. Series authors draw upon their own global experience and that of their global colleagues to illumine present realities and chart a course into the future. Series editors are Scott W. Sunquist and Amos Yong.

Genres: Islam, Religion, Christianity

208 pages, Paperback

First published July 19, 2016

About the author

Evelyne A. Reisacher (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) is associate professor of Islamic studies and intercultural relations at Fuller Theological Seminary. For twenty years, she worked at a French organization called L’Ami, facilitating the relationship between churches and North African immigrants and developing courses, teaching tools, and seminars for sharing the gospel cross-culturally. She has trained Christian leaders and church members in Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and South East Asia.

Reisacher has published several articles on gender issues in Islam and Muslim-Christian relations. She is the general editor of Toward Respectful Understanding and Witness among Muslims: Festschrift in Honor of J. Dudley Woodberry, and the associate editor of From the Straight Path to the Narrow Way: Journeys of Faith. Additionally, she has published chapters in the books Peace-Building By, Between, and Beyond Muslims and Evangelical Christians and A Worldview Approach to Ministry among Muslim Women.

Reviews

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was written by a French Protestant, and looks at ways to share the Gospel with Muslims via encounters in the normal course of life. I found the book interesting, because it looked at Christian evangelistic efforts towards Muslims in Europe, an interesting topic that I have not seen covered elsewhere. The author provides lots of practical suggestions, including looking at ways to use social media in evangelistic efforts. I found this interesting, given the way that social media is often demonized among US Christians. The book was written in an overly colloquial style, which I didn't like as much, and started out with a theology of joy, which seemed a bit choppy and out of place. Still, it is a worthwhile read for those interested in the topic.

[Drew Fajen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please read this book. Very important.

[Olov Stenlund · Rating 5 out of 5]

My wife and I recently went through a parenting course on the ”Circle of Security”. I was both surprised and delighted to see a lot of the developmental psychology themes I encountered there being brought to bear on the issue of Christian witness to Muslims.

The author argues (and as an MK who grew up in a Muslim country, I agree) that a lot of Christian outreach to Muslims is characterized by othering, wariness and outright fear. Whether or not people try to hide it or even are aware of it themselves this comes through loud and clear, leading to a shame response which closes down communication and human connection. Work in Muslim contexts is rendered as something hard and draining. Indeed, this is a recruiting point in some cases. And I mean, it’s not necessarily wrong...

But here, ER argues for rediscovering the joyful witness of the early church. Not only is this ”kerygmatic” approach more biblical (there are plenty of Scripture references here), but it’s also a lot more effective. Authentic joy and delight are emotions which foster connection. The ability to repair and restore joyful relationship after it’s been damaged is especially crucial.

To help with this, ER suggests relating to Muslims as people, and not primarily as Muslims, ie ”the Other”. But she is also emphatic that it is licit and indeed necessary to be able to delight in explicitly Islamic art, culture and customs, and that this can be done without surrendering our own Christological and Trinitarian convictions.

Critcism? Well, I’d say some chapters are less important than others, sometimes reading as a long-time teacher nearing the end of her career taking the opportunity to put some things on paper so she can move on in peace. Some aspects I found to be better dealt with in other books and so were a bit repetitive. But if you haven’t read those books, I’m sure your reaction might be different. I guess what I’m saying is you don’t have to read every page. I did not!

The chapters I found most helpful were 1-4 and 7. But you do you!

Also, if you plan to read this as an audiobook, first make sure you can make it stop jumping to the footnotes ALL THE TIME! Incredibly annoying and disjointing.

[Jeremy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much help here in thinking about how to witness well to Muslims. The book reads more academic (it is under the Baker Academic imprint) but is overall helpful in thinking through the discussion. It will be a book I return to as I develop relationships with Muslims in my city and context.