Muslim Refugees in the UK Turning to Christ - CBN NEWS CHARISMA NEWS

(Michal Svec/Flickr/Creative Commons)

Muslim Refugees in the UK Turning to Christ

 7/26/2016 CBN NEWS  CHARISMA NEWS

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Muslims seeking asylum in the United Kingdom are converting to Christianity at a parish church in the English Midlands, according to The Guardian.

The U.K. publication reports that three to four Muslim migrants accept Christ each week at St. Mark's church in Stoke-on-Trent. Some say they were first turned away from local mosques even though they were homeless and needed help.

On one Saturday afternoon, 15 refugees were baptized at the church.

Rev. Sally Smith presides over the congregation. She has allowed asylum seekers to stay in her own home, provided them meals, given them clothes, purchased shoes for their children and even made sure their medical needs were met. 

The church is filled with donations of what's needed to start a new home. Members provide food parcels to the refugees twice a week. Language lessons are even offered and, if needed, the Muslim migrants are given bus fare.

"It is about being part of a kingdom where there are no border agency officials, where there are no passports necessary, where there are no immigration detention centers," Smith told The Guardian. "One worldwide family where there are no dividing barriers."

Refugees who have made a dangerous trip across several continents end up being dropped off in Stoke. They learn by word of mouth that Smith will lend a helping hand.

She said the church also becomes a family to those who find themselves alone.

"With the mass movement from across the world we have got people of faith coming into secular society and faith really matters to them," Smith said. "And they are not too bothered, as bothered as we may think, about how that faith is expressed."

Reprinted with permission from CBN.com. Copyright The Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc., All rights reserved.

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Despite Death Threats, Muslims Turning to Christ in Droves - JESSILYN JUSTICE CHARISMA NEWS

Despite Death Threats, Muslims Turning to Christ in Droves

 3/1/2016 JESSILYN JUSTICE  charisma news

Nigerian girls. In Nigeria, Muslims are converting to Christ, in spite of horrific threats. (Reuters)

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Persistent violence plagues these men and women, and the threat of death hovers around them, but they know God is worth the cost. 

In Nigeria, it appears the diaspora fuels the spread of the gospel.  

"In several areas in Northern Nigeria, the Christian presence has become virtually extinct or substantially diminished while in other areas church congregations have grown due to an influx of Christians fleeing violence and a number of Muslims converting to Christianity," according to a new report released by Open Doors. 

The study states 1.3 million Christians have been forced to flee their homes due to persecution. But the "severely traumatized" Christians reportedly have seen an increased experience of connection with God and feeling His presence.

Boko Haram and other radical Islamic groups like the Muslim Hausa-Fuani herdsmen hunt Christians, especially those who left Islam.  

As an example, take Raphael, whose last name is withheld for security reasons. As the son of an Islamic leader, Raphael was targeted after his conversion.  

"I received several threats and warnings from the insurgents, telling me to revert to my former religion or face dire consequences," he said.

"I received written threats saying I could only run but could not hide, which I took to the Police and they told me they would do something about it, but nothing was done. If they had done something about it, I wouldn't have received the second note that said I could only run but could not hide." 

Stories like Raphael's reveal the flip-side of Open Door's report; that is, while radical Islamists destroyed 13,000 churches in recent years, other churches boom with growth.

"Christianity in Northern Nigeria is threatened by marginalization, discrimination and targeted violence, but in several places, the church is growing in numbers through a steady influx of new Muslim converts and in spiritual strength through a rise in commitment of church members," according to the report. 

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As ISIS Rises, Many Muslims Are Turning to Christ - J.D. KING CHARISMA NEWS

In the wake of recent terrorist attacks by ISIS in Paris, here's a reminder of how the kingdom of God is advancing among Muslims. (Reuters)

As ISIS Rises, Many Muslims Are Turning to Christ

11/19/2015 J.D. KING  charisma news

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I love reading stories from the great revivalists and evangelists. In fact, I own a number of books that recount wonderful healings and breakthroughs. Many of these are the kind of inspirational stories that make you want to get up and do something incredible for Jesus.

I recently pulled out a little volume called Miracles by the late R.W. Schambach (1926-2012). This book was originally published in the early '60s and recounts some of his experiences under salvation-healing evangelist A.A. Allen (1911-1970) and when he later launched his own ministry. This is an exciting little book that stirs up a lot of faith.

One of the stories Schambach shared in this book really leaped off the page. As I read it, I felt that it really needed to be recounted. As we think about evangelism and what it means to touch a whole new generation, this is the kind of story that needs to be shouted from the rooftops.

Schambach shares that he had been supporting a missionary to India for 30 years. He heard this missionary mention that he had never brought a Muslim to salvation. This statement made Schambach angry. 

Concerned that his money wasn't doing what it should, he decided to go over and see for himself what going on. So a big crusade was organized in India with over 50,000 in attendance. Schambach preached for hours; sharing powerful truths from Scripture. He assumed his anointed message would pierce the heart of the crowd. Yet, when it came time for the altar call, not one person out of 50,000 responded.

The missionary's words came to mind. Yet, Schambach had already decided that he wasn't going to stand for this. He knew God had called him to more than just preaching the Word. He was also commissioned to bring a demonstration of the gospel. Although the crowd was ready to leave, he told them, "I am not done yet. God says His signs follow the preaching of the Word. I have done my part and you are about to see Him do His part."

Then, out of the massive crowd, he invited three handicapped beggars to come forward. One was blind. Another was deaf and mute. The last was crippled. After bringing them up in front of the crowd, Schambach openly prayed in the name of Jesus. Healing came to the blind woman as well as the deaf and mute man.

He felt compelled to do something different with the crippled woman. He explained to the crowd that he was going to pray in the name of Muhammad, their supposed prophet, and see if anything happened. He got her up in front of everybody and prayed in the name of Islam's founder. Nothing happened.

Then Schambach said, "OK, I am now going to pray in the name that is above every other name. The name of the Savior, who is alive!" He then commanded the woman to be made whole in the name of Jesus. Strength immediately came to her legs in the sight of everyone.

In the aftershock of this moment, Muslims began jumping out of trees and running toward Schambach from all over the staging area. They were shouting, "Jesus is alive." A group of people who were once completely unresponsive to the gospel became radically changed within a few minutes. Many of them were passionately pursuing Jesus.

The preaching of the Word was essential, but the demonstration of power took things to a different level. Preaching prepared their hearts and provided a necessary clarification of Jesus' role. However, it was the signs and wonders that enabled the Muslims to truly visualize Jesus' authority.

This story reminds me that Christians are being called to greater displays of power. I'm thankful for all the wisdom and truth that we have to share, but sometimes God wants more to be on display. Believers must be willing to take a greater risk for the gospel.

Sometimes what we really need is a demonstration to go with our proclamation.

J.D. King, speaker and author, is the director of the World Revival Network.

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