Men with Men

"Men with men, women with women" is the standard announcement to form small groups at a prayer meeting we sometimes attend. Albeit archaic, it is a practical request. A mixed group of unrelated males and females may limit the openness of sharing prayer requests.

Most Muslims are brought up in a honor/shame based worldview. The women carry most of the responsibility in making sure that the family is not dishonored by inappropriate relationships between males and females. In conservative Muslim circles men and women don't even maintain eye contact. So, gender segregation is the norm in ministry to Muslims. This is what we wrote in 'Your Muslim Friend': "Due to cultural values it is wisest for Christian women to befriend Muslim women and Christian men to befriend Muslim men. Some of these cautions become less important as we become grandparents or our hair turns grey." See also: http://joyloewen.blogspot.ca/2015/09/segregation.html

Christian women have access to the 'inner house'. Men are normally limited to the living room or sitting room, especially overseas. The women are ushered into the 'women's area' almost right away but men will only be invited in if they are 'part of the family'. As my friendship deepens with a conservative Muslim man, he may say something like "You are welcome to come to my house anytime, even when I'm not home." It means he trusts me.

Muslim men have high regard for their moms and grandmothers. Recently I asked an English class who had influenced them most? Without hesitating, the men responded, "My mother." One of my acquaintances even wrote a poem about his mom. We asked "Did you ever write a poem about your wife?" He chuckled and said, "NO!" Frequently my wife returns home from a visit to a family and mentions her conversations with her friend's husband. She is considered at a 'safe age' to relate even to men. They confide in her much quicker than to me. My wife sometimes paves the way for me to have deeper and ongoing conversations with the man. Contrary to our western culture, as an older man I'm still viewed relevant by much younger Muslim men. Go figure...

Over the years, I've figured out many avenues of connecting with Muslim men. Besides English help, my friends enjoy going out for coffee so we can get to know each other. Others have enjoyed being invited to my home or family events like weddings. Some of my friends have appreciated help with assembling furniture or learning new skills like painting or auto-mechanics. Many of my younger friends love playing soccer or basketball. Recently I took a Muslim friend fishing. Occasionally I meet Muslim men who want to visit church out of curiosity or even to nurture a spiritual quest. As a starter, I've invited individual Muslim friends to a Christmas Eve service.

Several Muslim men God has directed me to lately show a spiritual capacity. One was deeply touched by the concept of God's love as he read from 1 John 3. The other has explored the background to the Bible and is attracted to the teachings of Jesus. The last time we met he said, "I love Jesus very much."

Lord Jesus, it is a privilege to connect with my Muslim friend. Help me to know how to share spiritually with him. Amen.

Stuck

"Onesimus hasn't been much use to you in the past, but now he is useful to both of us." Philemon 1:11

When we were living out in the country the first year after our return from Pakistan, I traveled daily back and forth to work in Winnipeg, an hour from our home. I had the back-roads figured out to save the maximum amount of time. One day I went to work, not realizing how much it had rained and I got royally stuck on a dirt road. I tried and tried but just dug myself deeper into the mud. Ugh. Now what to do? Middle of nowhere!! I walked to the nearest gravel road and hitchhiked into the city! By the evening the road had dried enough for me to drive home!

I'm thinking of my Muslim contacts. There are many success stories. The ones with education often advance rapidly with English acquisition and its not long before they're working full time or more. 

Then there are some who are stuck for one reason or another. Some endured a lot of trauma where they came from and are in shell shock and can't cope so well with normal life. Others who are mid-age have a hard time landing a steady and well paying job. Others have handicaps--injuries or illnesses. I'm thinking of my 20 something year old friend whose kidneys shut down and it messed up his eyesight where now he is visually challenged. 

Typical pattern of those who are stuck--fixated on statellite tv..."never leave their homeland", reverse their sleeping habits, and have a very narrow circle of friends. Mo is a young man who came here as a young teen. His home situation did not nurture him to study and he didn't want to. So he squeaked by in high school and graduated. Mo plays a lot of video games late into the night. He really doesn't display any motivation to work or study. He is stuck. An older gentleman who tried to learn English but got discouraged, gave up and got depressed. I dropped in recently and he was nervous about what I was there for.

A Somali man when I asked what he would do this summer replied--"I have to fast." Unable to function normally. There are quite a few who are soooo afraid of offending God if they don't do their religious duties that it can become all consuming. Many of my Muslim friends are stuck and when I bring up spiritual topics, quickly veer away from any discussion. 

We can't really do much for some of these people. There are many good government programs to help them. As for me, I continue to pray for these friends, visit periodically and share about what God has been teaching me.

Onesimus, the runaway slave came to faith in Christ while Paul was imprisoned. Onesimus' heart was transformed. Paul sends him back to his owner Philemon who also was a believer. Paul makes an appeal to receive Onesimus back for "now he is useful to both of us." I have faith that some of my friends will respond to the truth and become 'useful' for God. 

Dear Heavenly Father, help friends of mine who are stuck--some who are discouraged or depressed and others whose zeal to keep all the tenets of Islam have isolated them from becoming engaged in society and work. Amen. 

Immigrant Issues

"...I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne before the Lamb..." Revelations 7:9

Paul is our guest writer today. He had several decades of overseas ministry experience in a Muslim majority country. Now he writes from the homeland of how to make an impact on newcomers. These kinds of ministry opportunities would apply to other western nations where Muslims are settling. So, listen in on what Paul has to say. 

"According to the 2011 Canadian census there are approximately 1,100,000 Muslims in Canada.  If you live in an urban area of Canada, chances are that you have a Muslim neighbor, work colleague, client, or till operator at your local convenience store.  Maybe you have a desire to reach out to these people with the love of Christ, but do not know quite how to go about it.

 

72% of Muslims in Canada are immigrants (born somewhere other than Canada).  When these immigrants arrive in Canada they are faced with several difficulties.

•        They lack Canadian work experience.
•        They lack credentials for skilled and professional jobs.
•          26% of immigrants do not have enough English language skills to function in Canadian society.

70,000 immigrants enroll in English language classes within the first 6 months of arriving in Canada.

 

What are the implications of these facts for God’s people in Canada?  The Church in Canada needs to see these immigrant “difficulties” as opportunities.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you or your church were the first to offer English classes or instruction on finding jobs to these people!  As you mull over these possibilities you might think that you really are not qualified to help.  There are several ways to feel more comfortable about getting involved.  One is to join an existing program, such as a church English as a Second Language (ESL) program and learn from a mentor.  Another way is to enroll in a training program of which there are many.

I would like to highlight just one.  Vanguard Taylor Language Institute (VTLI) is a 15 college credit program that is offered at Vanguard College and Taylor Seminary in Edmonton.  The credits can either go towards a degree in intercultural studies in either Taylor Seminary or Vanguard College, or it can just be a stand-alone certificate in teaching English accredited with TESL Canada.  The advantage of this program is that it can be finished in just one month - offered during the month of May with four one-week modules back to back with a practicum to follow (http://www.vanguardcollege.com/programs-courses/swd/tesol/ ).  Being TESL Canada approved it will open doors for many teaching opportunities both in Canada and overseas.

Many immigrants have come to Canada at great sacrifice.  They have little resources, are facing an alien culture and language, perplexed by a new school system for their children, not knowing what to do in a medical crisis, etc.  We have the opportunity to be a friend to them as they cope with all the issues of uprooting from the familiar and living amongst the unfamiliar."

Dear Lord, give us willing hearts to help newcomers coming to our nations for refuge or a fresh start in life. Show us the way. Our cry is that the nations would hear about you and that all would seek to become 'permanent residents of heaven'. Amen.