Hi, my name is Roxy and I work for an organisation called Joining the Family. I’m one of St. Saviour’s Global Partners and I would love to share some of what is going on where I am based. Joining The Family is an initiative to help churches in the West to understand, love, equip and learn from Christ’s followers of Muslim heritage (BMBs).
Today is the 15th day of Ramadan, many Muslim people all the way round the world will be fasting all food & drinks including water until the sun sets. Why are they doing this? They are fasting because they believe it brings them closer to God, that it makes them more aware of those who don’t have food & because it is 1 of the 5 pillars of Islam. People have been using an initiative called ‘30 Days of Prayer’ (more information here.) for the Muslim world for over 25 years and in that time we’ve seen a massive & exciting movement of Muslims coming to know Jesus. It’s a time when they are praying more often and are more likely to be open to the Spirit at work in their lives.
And be encouraged, many Muslims (and those with Muslim backgrounds, like me) are coming to know Jesus in the UK! Speaking about what he’s seeing on the ground in the UK, the Rev Canon Phil Rawlings, who is director of the Manchester Centre for the Study of Christianity and Islam, says a young Muslim lad recently walked into the city’s cathedral and asked how he could become a Christian; and he’s just one of many.
“That same weekend a Saudi woman walked into a local church asking the same; and a young Somali man who had befriended a Christian, was so impressed with him that he asked the same question.” He added “Since then I’ve come across a number of similar situations across the city, indeed across the country. It got me thinking: ‘How well-prepared is the church for the harvest that God is bringing? For what may be a trickle at the moment, God willing will become a stream, then a river and even a flood.’”
Joining the family seeks to help the church in the UK to get ready for those who come to know Jesus from a Muslim background. To welcome, disciple, support and include them in God’s family. Please join us in praying for Muslims & for those who are already part of His family by signing up to the prayer letter here.