Mid-East Believers Urged to Maintain Witness Amid Violence
by Allie Martin
November 22, 2004
(AgapePress) - The co-author of a book on the tense political situation in the Middle East says it is possible to bring the gospel to Muslims by building relationships.In his new book, Light Force: A Stirring Account of the Church Caught in the Middle East Crossfire (Revell, 2004), Al Janssen says the gospel of Christ is the only answer to break the stalemate of the Middle East conflict. Co-authored with Brother Andrew, founder of Open Doors USA, the book recounts many instances when the missionary and ministry founder took advantage of opportunities to share the gospel with Muslims, including Islamic extremists and terrorists -- even Yasser Arafat himself.
Janssen says throughout the past three decades, Brother Andrew has been able to witness to many Islamic people largely because he has not fled the conflict in their land nor hesitated to reach out to them across religious barriers. "Unfortunately with most Muslim fundamentalists," the author says, "most Christians think you can't have a relationship, and I think Brother Andrew has demonstrated that that simply is not true."
According to Janssen, Brother Andrew has often said, "If one Dutchman can go to them, then anyone can go to them. We just haven't tried." So the answer, his co-author says, is to "look for opportunities, and let God lead, and develop a relationship. Talk with them."
Unfortunately, however, Janssen notes that many Christians in that volatile part of the world are choosing to leave because of the constant threat of violence and persecution. He says this ongoing exodus of believers has led to a severely diminished Christian community in the Middle East and the trend must be slowed or reversed if the work of the Church is to continue there.
"The sad truth is that thousands and thousands of Christians have fled from the area," Janssen says. "The population of Christians was about 15 percent when Israel became a country in 1948. Today it's less than two percent."
The Christian writer insists that the Church, if it is to be the light in the midst of darkness, "must have a presence there." For that reason, he contends, with regard to the Middle East one of the most important things people need to pray for is "that Christians won't run away from the conflict."
Open Doors serves the persecuted Church worldwide through Bible and Christian literature distribution, leadership training, and other assistance. The leaders of the ministry encourage Christians living under persecution to remain in their native countries, despite the danger, because they believe this allows indigenous believers to share Christ and demonstrate a hopeful alternative to the unsaved around them.
