WHY FOCUS ON MUSLIMS?

Kourosh was the son of non-practising Muslims in Iran.  He fled to Kuwait to avoid being drafted as a young man into the war with Iraq.  He was later caught, deported back to Iran and imprisoned. His father bailed him out on condition that Kourosh serve in the army.  After 28 months of service and witnessing so much horror and guilt about all the senseless killing he became disillusioned with his faith.  “ I could not see myself living in that country under those conditions any more [and] decided to leave Iran and move to another country not ruled by religious leaders and [not witness] any more killing and atrocity in the name of God", he says. 

Kourosh's Testimony

"A few months later God brought me to Vancouver, Canada," Kourash continues.  "God has a perfect plan for all of us who trust in him and this was part of his perfect plan for my life. When I arrived at the airport I met a young married couple by the name of Clark and Nancy. (Until this day that's all I know about them.) They invited me to their house to be their guest that night. Since I did not know anybody and did not have much money I accepted their invitation. They were living in a small one bedroom apartment. They asked me to take their only bedroom and said we will see you tomorrow.

"What a night. I could not sleep. I kept thinking who are these people, why are they so kind and friendly? How can they trust me this much?  They know I am Iranian.  Westerners usually hesitate to get close to us.   I kept thinking to myself something is up and they want something from me, or else they might be the C.I.A. or belong to some strange political group.  In the morning the host couple came back and made me breakfast, and before eating bowed their heads and prayed.  After watching this act I was not afraid of them, but I disliked them because I thought they were just another religious couple. They were missionaries in the Middle East and [back] in Canada for a short time.   I never found out their family name nor their church name.  I tried to lose them.  I thought not again.  I came here to be free from religion and stuff like that.   I was not going to have people like these in my life any more.  I left and never contacted them again. 

"Shortly after I needed a job and was hired by a Christian contractor. My boss used to talk about Jesus and his death on the cross, forgiveness of sin and salvation through Christ during the coffee breaks, lunch times and any opportunity he had. I was very disappointed and did not want to listen to him but I needed my job and the pay was good. One day he brought me a beautiful bible to improve my English.  I started to enjoy reading the Old Testament and I could identify my life with the many stories in it.  Then I started reading the New Testament and began to fall in love with Jesus and understand who he really is and what he has done for me as a sinner. I had been told that Jesus was just another prophet of God.  I had never been told that God out of his love for us sent his son Jesus to come among us, live a perfect life and die on the cross  in order to redeem us and fill the gap between humans and God. That was what my heart was looking for all these years. I started to read my Bible regularly and went to a good, biblically sound Church.  After some courses in a local Bible College I confessed Jesus as my Lord and Saviour in September 1992, and became baptized.

"This is by far the best decision I have ever made in my life.  I don’t feel guilty or ashamed about my past any more.   

"Many years have gone by since that day that I first accepted Jesus Christ in my life. Since then I have finished Bible College and obtained a degree in Theology. I also married my beautiful godly wife, Paula, and we have started a ‘Radio Ministry’ for Iranian and Afghanis here in British Columbia, Canada."

Kourosh's Story is Why

Why invite Muslims into your home and show loving hospitality? Kourosh's story is why!

Most Muslims coming to Canada NEVER get invited into a Canadian home for a meal. What if this changed? Research has shown the top 2 reasons Muslims come to Christ are:

1) having Scripture in their language and

2) a loving Christian friend.

Besides the obvious that Jesus died for Muslims as much as for any other people, here are additional reasons why now is the time for Canadian churches to focus more on loving our Muslim neighbours in the name of Christ:

1. Muslims are the least reached and least served proportionately in Canada

The Muslim population in Canada is now 1 million and doubling every 10 years.

2. The unreached became more reachable 
 
Most of the world’s unreached peoples are in Muslim areas that are difficult for missionaries to access. But God’s sovereignty is bringing an increasing stream of  Muslim immigrants into Canadian neighbourhoods.  Many Muslim immigrants are finding Christ through various Canadian ministries & churches. 

3. We can have an impact offering compassion & hope in Christ

Many Muslim immigrants are refugees fleeing great hardships.  Upon arrival in Canada they are often in need of love, hospitality, and patient service.  They are more open to receiving the "good news" when experiencing this type of compassion and often are more willing to talk about their faith in God than the average Anglo-Canadian!