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1. Telling Your Story It is very important that we allow Muslims to speak for
themselves about their own faith and belief. Islam is not a
The best way to start a spiritual conversation is by sharing monolithic religion, and people should be granted the right
your story, and how your story plays its part in God’s and freedom to speak for themselves about what they believe
metanarrative. I have shared my conversion experience with and why they believe it. Our job is to listen, to ask questions and
many Muslim friends and strangers in the Arab world and in certainly to challenge, but not to tell them what they believe.
Europe, and not once do I remember any of them turning
aggressive. People love to listen to stories, and personal
stories are never threatening. It is when we are aggressive in
our witness that people react badly.

I tell people that during the Lebanese civil war my father
was sick, and I had no peace. I was lost and in despair. I was
working day and night to provide for my family. A friend of
my father came to visit me in my shop. He was kind, and he
shared his story with me. I became inquisitive and visited
church with him. During the service God gripped my heart
with such a message of love and peace that I responded
by surrendering my life to Jesus. The peace I experienced
was unexplainable and unbelievable. I tell them how I went
to friends and relatives telling them about this amazing
peace that filled my heart. I can still remember the love I
experienced towards everyone—I was in love with Jesus 3. Proclaiming Christ
and became in love with people, all people, even strangers Some of those who do not want to be perceived as aggressive
walking past my shop. This peace, that I first experienced in their witness jump to the other side of the spectrum and
the night I gave my life to Jesus, is still present for me today, hide their lamp under a bowl. But freedom of belief should
especially when I am deep in his presence.
not lead us to withhold our witness; rather, freedom of belief
should include the freedom to share our beliefs.
That is my simple story; We do, however, need to make a clear distinction between

it is true for me and aggressive evangelism and active and passionate evangelism.

no one can take it away. A passionate proclamation of the gospel bears long-term fruit;
an aggressive approach creates division and animosity. Faithful
Christians want the world to follow Jesus, but they will never
2. Listening to Their Story use unethical means to achieve their goal or slander other

people’s faiths and beliefs, or deny their dignity. Deception,
In the Arab world, declaring one’s faith by saying al-Shahada is coercion, and abuse of power are all unacceptable methods
foundational. People are accustomed to expressions of faith. of evangelism.
Thus Christians should find it easy to share Christ boldly and
with great confidence. The culture welcomes it. But it should Effective proclamation in the Arab world takes place when
be done with respect for the listeners. Respecting the beliefs we treat others with great respect and speak truth with love.
and value systems of others starts by listening attentively and It is love that brings people to Christ, and it is truth that keeps
wholeheartedly to their beliefs, faiths and convictions. People them in Christ. Our job is not to convert people, our job is to
like to share about their own religion in the Arab world, and proclaim Jesus and invite people to follow him; it is the Spirit’s
they also like to give their opinion about other religions . . . job to convert people and transform their lives . . .
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