After twenty-two years of intensely demanding and rewarding radio mission work, directed primarily toward the Arabic-speaking world, my husband and I suddenly realized that the printed material we had available could be used wherever there were Arabic-speaking students, even in North America.
A young man we were acquainted with decided to set up a table offering Arabic books because of the large number of Arabic-speaking students on that campus. We supplied him with an attractive sign in Arabic. The books were picked up like hot cakes and conversations were begun which were followed up later with phone calls.
The fact that he was a student of Arab history and a connoisseur of Arab food were advantages in his sharing, of course! But anyone's genuine interest in an international guest can go a long way.
Many Arab students are pleased to find books in their native language and realize that someone is interested enough in them to obtain Arabic materials.
A friend at M.I.T. in Boston, posted an order form for Arabic books on a bulletin board. The students sent in an order and then quickly reordered, with a note telling us that the books went very quickly.
Meeting Middle-Eastern Students
Chances are good you have many Arabic-speaking students on your campus who might be interested in Christian literature in their language. The booktable is a good place to meet them. And why not look for other ways to get to know them? Buy a Middle-Eastern cookbook and try some recipes. As you show a genuine interest in these students you will be able to present the message of salvation through Jesus Christ.
But we must caution you to do your homework first. The majority of the Arabic-speaking students will be Muslims and you must find out their basic beliefs. Others will belong to one of the several Eastern Christian churches. It will help to know what they believe also, (and to have a good grasp of what you believe!).
In your first conversation with a Muslim, you could come up against such remarks as, "That Bible which you have in your hand is not the authentic Scripture." Or they might express their intense conviction that it is impossible to think of God having a son, or to imagine a triune God. They do not believe that Jesus was crucified; they say someone was substituted in his place. They might also tell you that the God they believe in is so great and merciful that he can save without any need of a dying Savior. What would you say to these statements?
Useful Literature
In our long radio ministry plus correspondence with thousands of Muslims we have found Bibles, New Testaments and other materials in Arabic to be immensely popular, and have seen several thousand books and tracts distributed to more than forty campuses for use on their booktables. Booklets are as relevant as any Arab newsmagazine, and address issues such as science, evolution, suffering, divine truth, anxiety, knowledge of God and modern culture in light of Biblical Christianity. Such literature helps to dispel some incorrect beliefs many Muslims have about Christianity.
You can order such materials free from a number of sources. For example, the Fellowship of Faith for Muslims can be contacted by email at: FFM.TORONTO@SYMPATICO.CA Literature to give to Muslims is listed on a website: http://www.debate.org.uk/topics/trtracts/home.htm A "Friendship Center" in Chicago can be contacted with your questions by email at: SAFCPTL@MEGSINET.COM and their website is: http://www.safcbookstore.com The Assemblies of God have a Center for Ministry to Muslims in Springfield, MO with another good website: http://www.cmmequip.org as does International Students Inc. at: http://www.isionline.org
For Bibles and New Testaments in other languages you can contact one of the American Bible Society in New York City, the International Bible Society in Colorado Springs, or Multi-Language Media: MLMINFO@MULTILANUAGE.COM and their website: http://www.multilanguage.com
It is our belief that Islam came into being due to the early church's failure to share Scripture with the Arabs. May we in today's church not repeat that mistake.
Besides sharing verbally, it's a challenge for a Christian student to live out his or her Christianity in a way that doesn't offend Muslim students. Think about that when you are having your quiet time. Think about it when you are exercising your "freedoms" as a Christian. We are responsible to show by our deeds that we are Christians and that we too have a faith which governs and controls every part of our lives.
Copyright Information:
Reprinted from Inter Varsity's HIS Magazine Feb. 1981 issue and revised with the author's permission in Nov. 2001.
