Camel Training Manual, Kevin Greeson

The secret of the camel is out... Muslims are coming to faith in `Isa. - Kevin Greeson

- Foreword by David Garrison

Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures. Acts 17:1-2

Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, "Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; for as I was passing through and considering the objection of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you. " Acts 17:22-23

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Printed at SUDHINDRA. sri_sudhindra@vsnl.com Bangalore, India © 2004 by Kevin Greeson

All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated are from the New King James Version © Copyright 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Koran verses used in this training manual come from The Holy Qur'an, translated by M.H. Shakir, published by Tahrike Tarsile Qur'an, Inc., in 1983, AND Yusuf Ali & M. Pickthall translations as found in Alim for Windows, 1999, ISL Software Corporation.

© 2004 by Kevin Greeson

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations for review or critical articles.

ISBN-0-9747562-9-6

Foreword

by David Garrison

If you are looking for another book about understanding Islam or how to dialogue with Muslims, then keep looking. Neither is this a book about debating or bashing Muslims. This book is about sharing the gospel with Muslims and bringing them to a saving faith in Jesus Christ. Kevin Greeson doesn't tell you how you could do it, he tells you how it is being done and how you can join in!

Greeson's Camel Training offers hope for a whole new relationship between Evangelical Christians and the world's hundreds of millions of Muslims. And it is a hope that is born of experience. To date, more than a quarter of a million Muslims have come to faith in Christ through the approaches described in this little book.

When I was a missionary in Egypt and North Africa a decade ago, I would have loved to have had this tool in hand. I can only imagine how God must have been at work all around me stirring the hearts of Muslim men and women. Camel Training provides the tools to engage those ripened souls.

Camel Raining is not only for missionaries on foreign fields, though, it applies to Muslims wherever they are found, in Europe, America, or in your own community.

Christians no longer need to fear Muslims nor despise them, they can love them as God loves them and see them respond to His love in Christ as men and women from other faiths have all over the world. Camel Training treats Muslims with respect and invites them to confront their own sacred writings as a bridge to the good news found in the Bible.

However, evangelizing Muslims is not enough. Winning individual Muslims to Christ is not enough. Planting a church among Muslims is not enough. Camel Training recognizes that the world's 1.3 billion Muslims will only be reached through an explosive multiplication of indigenous churches filled with and led by Muslim-background believers, what Greeson calls Isahi - literally, "those belonging to Jesus."

Sound too good to be true? Then look at what God is already doing among Muslims. North Africa, Sudan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, India, Bangladesh-God is at work across the Muslim world reaping a great harvest. The long-awaited Muslim Church Planting Movements are unfolding across the house of Islam, today!

This book and the training it offers are urgently needed by today's Christians because today is the day of salvation for Muslims. If Greeson (and the Gospel of Luke) is correct, there are thousands of "Persons of Peace" scattered throughout the world's Muslim communities just waiting for the gospel.

God is already at work in these restless seekers filling their hearts with spiritual hunger and thirst for His Word. Camel Training will teach you how to find these hidden friends of the Gospel and how to partner with them to stimulate Church Planting Movements across the Muslim world.

Don't wait any longer. Climb on board the CAMEL.

Preface

"I didn't know we could do that!"

"Riding the Camel is so easy."

"This is the most peaceful and effective way of witnessing to Muslims I have ever used."

These are the statements of Christians who attend the Camel Seminar. Two months after attending a Camel seminar, a new missionary flew to Karachi, Pakistan and witnessed for Jesus in three mosques. He not only walked out alive, but was invited back to share more.

Walk into any Christian bookstore and you will find numerous books on Muslim evangelism. The differences between those books and the one you have in your hand are many. Most books on Islam teach that in order to be an effective witness to Muslims you must fully understand Islam, its history and beliefs, and that the best method of winning Muslims to Christ is through a long-term friendship.

This training book is different. The Camel Training Manual teaches that:

You can be an effective witness to Muslims regardless of how much or how little you know about Islam.

Friendship evangelism is TOO SLOW. There are 1.3 billion Muslims in the world and they are growing faster than any other major religion. A more aggressive approach is needed.

This training book also teaches:

That God is at work among Muslims today.

How to find where God is at work among Muslims.

What to say to a Muslim.

Which Muslim to say it to.

How to plant churches among Muslims.

How you can be a part of a church planting movement among Muslims.

Bridges and Barriers

A bridge is designed to get us over barriers such as treacherous waterways or dangerous intersections. Once we cross a bridge, we no longer need it and can move forward. Standing in between Christians and Muslims are many barriers. So many are the points of difference, it would be exhausting to try and list each one. There are numerous bridges that can help Christians connect and communicate with Muslims. Christians wishing to effectively communicate with Muslims will use the bridges and overcome the barriers.

This training manual introduces a method for effectively communicating with Muslims. Lessons taken from a modern day indigenous church planting movement among a Muslim people group in South Asia shaped the Camel Training Manual. In this movement, over 7,000 Muslims are being baptized each month.

But why the name, "Camel Training?"

The name has two meanings. First, the "Camel Method" refers to a simplified method of using the Koran as a bridge to the gospel. Numerous verses in the Koran are being used to bridge a Muslim to the truth about Jesus. The Camel Method uses a single passage in the Koran (3:42-55). For English speakers, C-A-M-E-L is an acronym used to remember the contents of this Koranic passage (Chosen, Announcement, Miracles, Eternal Life.)

Secondly, every Muslim knows that there are 99 names for God. Many Muslims know of an old tradition claiming that only a camel knows God's 100th name. After going through Camel Training, you too will know the secret of the camel. The Koran gives us a hint to the answer. The 100th name of God is none other than 'Isa Masi (Jesus, the Messiah).

No matter where you live in this world, you will come across Muslims. My desire is that you will be ready when you do. Without hesitation, your mouth will fall open and you will know exactly what to say. With training and a little experience, you will be ready.

Hundreds have already been trained in the Camel Method. Join us as we aggressively take the Good News to our cousins, the other Children of Abraham.

"I'll walk a mile for Camel Training!"

Acknowledgements:

Special thanks to those who have helped to explain and influence the evangelical and church planting methods presented in this training manual. These have helped to shape the Camel Method. For security reasons, full names are not used.

Koran as Bridge (Leah P.)

Experiencing God (H.B.) Man of Peace (Thom W.)

Church Planting Movements (David G.)

T4T (Y.K.)

Discipling Muslims (Randy O.) Seven Prophets (Scott)

Editing (Bill V., Linda S., Don, David, Sonia, Debby, Carla, Teresa, Neill)

Introduction

The first time I met Abdul' was in 1996 at a Muslim church planting conference where he was one of the speakers on the program. In the conference, Abdul claimed to have 20,000 baptized Muslims converts in his country. The churches in this church planting movement were considered "underground" and off limits to outsiders, especially Western missionaries.[1]

It took me two years to earn the right to get a peek into the inner workings of this movement. My goal was to learn as much as I could and begin applying what I learned to my own church planting efforts. Riding along in a rickshaw with Abdul, he took me into four different villages that day. In each village, I interviewed the leaders of the churches and took notes. My note taking continues to this day.

That day I learned to trust my friend Abdul and see that God was indeed actively working among Muslims. I was a believer and I could not wait to take what I learned and begin applying it. I am indebted to Abdul. (Read the full story of Abdul and the church planting movement in Appendix 1.)

Of great significance for me, I learned from Abdul the method his church planters were using for evangelism. The team of church planters I was working with began using the same method. And soon, we too began to see results.

The Camel Training Manual is an attempt to package the method being used to lead more than 7,000 Muslims to faith in Christ each month in this South Asian country. The method presented in this training manual has been simplified so it will not overwhelm "beginners."

Camel Training goes beyond teaching an evangelical method for reaching Muslims. Reaching Muslims for Christ is NOT the ultimate goal. The goal even goes beyond evangelism that results in churches. The goal of the Camel Training seminar is nothing short of training you to be a facilitator of a massive church planting movement among the Muslims in your community. Jesus' return is imminent, he's coming soon. The 1.3 billion Muslims in the world today need to hear the truth about Jesus before it is too late. We must look to methods that plunge the gospel deep into the Islamic world and then spread it like wild fire.

The Camel Trail

Our journey begins with a quick survey of what God is doing across the Muslim world. Next, we will focus our attention on the largest Muslim church planting movements in the world today.

In 1996, through Abdul, we discovered an emerging church planting movement among Muslims in the country where we lived. We will call this movement "CPM-A". Our team (comprised of foreigners and local Christians from Muslim and non-Muslim backgrounds) decided to learn all we could about how God was at work in movement CPM-A, because we wanted to see if we could apply the same principles and stimulate a new church planting movement. This is exactly what happened. We'll call this new church planting movement, "CPM-B."

The purpose of this training manual is to share with you the church planting movement principles that can help YOU stimulate "CPM-C" in YOUR community.

Roadblocks!

Be prepared for some roadblocks along the trail. These obstructions must be overcome or surmounted in order for you to survive the pitfalls along the trail.

The Camel trail leads you into Muslim territory. Before entering, you must be taught what to say and which Muslim to say it to. Finally, you will be given practical training for getting your new Muslim-background believer to reach out to other Muslims and form a church. But not just any church, a church that rapidly multiplies itself into a movement.

Terms

You are entering into a world that is not your own. This world does not speak your language. To survive and thrive in the world of Islam, you must learn certain key words. Below is a brief list of vocabulary words. These terms will be used throughout this training manual. These Muslim terms may be pronounced and spelled differently depending on where you live.

Note that the word for God in this training manual is "Allah." This is controversial in some Christian circles. This issue was resolved for me when I began asking South Asian Muslims, "What is the name of the God of Abraham and creator of this world?" The unanimous answer was "Allah." Note that many of the Christian terms and Islamic terms are used interchangeably throughout the training manual. As you work your way through this manual, you will notice an increase in the use of Islamic terms.

Key Terms:

Allah = God

Imam = Muslim leader of a mosque or pastor of a

Muslim-background church.

Injil = New Testament

Taurat = Old Testament Books of Moses 'Isa = Jesus

'Isahi = follower of Jesus

Jamat = Muslim-background church

Kitab = holy book

Masi = Messiah

Maryam = Mary, the mother of Jesus (also "Marium") Nuh = Noah

Ibrahim = Abraham Musa = Moses

Abbreviations:

CPM = Church Planting Movement

MBB = Muslim-Background Believer (baptized)

(Muslim converts prefer not to identify themselves with Western culture by calling themselves "Christians" instead, they prefer to identify themselves as MBBs or "`Isahi")

Inside the Koran

This may be the first time you have looked into the Koran. Here are some helpful hints:

Books in the Koran are called "Surahs." Each surah has a name. Muslims typically do not refer to surahs by their number, but rather by the name of the chapter. For our study in this manual though, I provide you with the surah name and corresponding number. It's good to know both the English and Arabic names for the surahs. Verses are called "Ayats." Also keep in mind that as you read a variety of English Koran translations, you will quickly notice the wide range of interpretations.

Unit 1, Islam Today

In September of 1997, I laid my head down on the pillow in my hotel room in Singapore. I was attending an extended training seminar for strategy coordinators. Before slipping off into sleep, I experienced a vision from God. In that vision, I saw thousands of Muslims from the people group that I had recently adopted falling into the flames of hell. The reality of this vision impacted me to the extent that I began to cry. Tears of sorrow and fear soaked my pillow so that I had to turn the pillow over just to find a dry spot on which to lay my head.

Both the vision and the tears were unusual for me. It had been 22 years since the last time I had tears flow from my eyes. As this horrible scene was playing out in my mind, I was gripped with fear for this Muslim people group. In a few moments, the flames of hell began to diminish and a new and fresh vision came to me. In that moment, I felt the presence of God fall upon me. The Muslims that I had earlier seen falling into the flames of hell were redirected and taken up into heaven. With this peaceful assurance, I drifted off to sleep.

The next day, I became excited when I realized that at the moment I was having my vision, an estimated 30,000 Christians in the U.S.A. had awakened and were praying for my Muslim people group which was the daily focus on a widely circulated unreached people group prayer calendar. I had prayed that morning according to the prayer calendar for my people group, but forgot that as darkness was falling upon Singapore, the morning light was rising in my homeland. Mornings in the U.S.A. are prime time prayer time for most Christians.

That was a good start for a new strategy coordinator for a Muslim people group with a population of over 100 million. I knew that God was about to do something big.

The first two years were hard. Our team saw no baptisms. Our only success was that we had gathered a group of 23 Muslim women to make baskets for export. After many failed attempts to witness to these women, we decided that a new method should be used.

Meanwhile in CPM-A, the indigenous church planting movement that Abdul was leading, was seeing an explosion of baptisms and new church starts. In 1998, Abdul reported 50,000 baptisms. A church planting movement assessment team from a large mission organization conducted an extensive survey in 2002. Although they were unable to survey the entire movement, they verified a total of 90,000 baptized Muslims in one section of the movement. At the end of 2003, Abdul's central committee reported 250,000 baptized Muslims with over 8,000 churches.

Applying what we learned from CPM-A, we asked the 23 women to call their husbands for a meeting. Each brought their husbands or fathers. At the meeting, verses dealing with Jesus in the Koran were shared. From the verses in the Koran, they were shown that Jesus was more than a prophet. They displayed both excitement and anger; excitement about the truth of 'Isa and anger at Imams who had been hiding this truth. Finally, the Jesus Film in the local language was shown. What happened next was incredible.

The men insisted on meeting the next day. For four days in a row, the men met and listened as the gospel was explained to them. By the end of the week, the men were convinced that Jesus was the Son of God and the only way to heaven. They were organized into six churches.

Over the next 2 1/2 years, our team saw 4,500 Muslims baptized and 314 new churches started. Nearly two years later, church planters reported that the movement had baptized a total of 15,000[2] Muslims, over 800 churches planted, and that there were no signs of slowing down.

Is God up to something?

Missionaries around the globe are excited about what they see God doing among the Muslims in their communities. Is Islam about to see a massive turning to Christ? I believe God is up to something!

According to David Garrison, "More Muslims have come to Christ in the past two decades than at any other time in history.[3] In North Africa, 16,000 Berber Muslims walked across the line and became Christians. A Turkic republic saw 4,000 Muslims come to know Jesus as Savior. A mission group in India reported that they have seen an increase from three MBBs to 1200 in only eight months. In the last decade and a half, 13,000 Kazakh Muslims came to faith in Christ.

Missiologists are not the only ones noticing that Islam's foothold in this world is slipping. Sheikh Ahmad Al Qataani; president of The Companions Lighthouse for the Science of Islamic Law in Libya, an institution specializing in graduating Imams and Islamic preachers, was recently quoted as saying on Al-Jazeera's television station, "In every hour, 667 Muslims convert to Christianity. Every day, 16,000 Muslims convert to Christianity. Every year, 6 million Muslims convert to Christianity."[4] More than likely, the numbers that Sheikh Ahmad Al Qataani cited are too high. Nevertheless, there are those in the Islamic world who are seeing what we are seeing.

Join me for a look from a global perspective of what I believe is the state of the union for the Islamic world. Just as global Communism collapsed with a suddenness no one anticipated, God could be preparing Muslims for a great awakening to Christ.

Spotlight

At a theater, all eyes follow the spotlight. The one controlling the spotlight in a dark theater has control over what the audience sees. As the drama of history unfolds, the one controlling the spotlight has a beam of light fixed on the religion of Islam. Due to 9/11 and more recent events, Islam is on the world's mind. The religion that propagates itself as a religion of peace is under scrutiny. Where is this peace that Islam proclaims? Muslim leaders encouraging violence can no longer hide in the wings, they are at center stage.

The spotlight on Islam has also captured Christians' attention. Surf the Internet and you will discover numerous new websites encouraging Muslims to consider Christianity. Prayer for Muslims has escalated, especially during the time of Ramadan (Muslim 30 days of fasting). After 9/11, the largest missionary sending agency in the world quickly altered its strategic focus from a non-Islamic emphasis to a three-year world-wide Islamic emphasis.

Open Borders

Many Islamic countries, once thought to be closed to missionaries, are opening up for aggressive seed-sowing and reaping activities. Afghanistan and Iraq's borders have suddenly become easier to get through. Even countries that try to prevent missionaries from entering fail to stop the many evangelistic Internet sites and radio and television broadcasts.

Islam's Own Reformation

Prior to the Protestant Reformation in the year 1517, Roman Catholic priests maintained an advantage over the laymen in that they were generally the only ones who could understand the Latin Bible. Abuses became the norm as priests took advantage of their followers who could not read Latin by misinterpreting God's Word. Once the Bible was translated into the language of the people, the truth came out and the priests' misleading’s were exposed. The reputations of Roman Catholic priests were questioned and massive reforms ensued. The foundation of Roman Catholicism was undermined.

Similarly, Islam today is going through its own Re Reformation. In 1984, King Fahd of Saudi Arabia commissioned the Koran to be translated from Arabic into every language. As long as the Koran remained in Arabic, Islamic leaders such as Imams held an enormous amount of power and control over their followers. With Muslim lay people now reading the Koran in their own languages, misinterpretations by Imams are being exposed. Key teachings from Imams, thought to be in the Koran, are in actuality not there. This has led many Muslims to question their Imams' integrity and character.

It is not only the Imams who are losing integrity. The Koran itself may be its own worst enemy. Today, some missionaries are buying Korans in the local languages and distributing them. They want Muslims to read the Koran because they know that it will likely undermine their religious foundation.

One morning in May 1999, I read a South Asian national newspaper. I was surprised to read about a member of parliament who stood before his peers and said, "What is happening to our religion? Muslims in the capital city are throwing their Korans into dumpsters, and in ______district, they are throwing their Korans into the river."

Seeing this report in the newspaper, we began to investigate. After some time, we learned more about the events surrounding the report of Korans being thrown into the river. We discovered that one day an Imam boldly held up his Koran before the men of his mosque and said, "This book has not done anything to help us improve our lives." Then he threw it into the river. The men of the mosque, numbering 3,000-5,000 joined their leader and threw their Korans into the river as well.

Abundant Tools

Missionaries and national Christian organizations are recognizing as never before that God has not only given Christians the mandate to go into the world and preach the gospel, but he has also provided them abundant and effective tools to get the job done. In many Muslim countries, the Koran is being used by missionaries and Muslim-background believers as the number one tool for winning Muslims to Christ. Muslim-friendly Bibles and tracts, the Jesus Film, radio ministries targeting Muslims, cassette distributions, web sites and chat rooms for Muslim seekers are among a few of the abundant tools being used today to reach Muslims for Christ. Ten to twenty years ago, many of these tools hardly existed.

Increasing Missionary Force

In the mid-seventies, only 2% of mission organizations around the world had missionaries working among Muslims. Today, that percentage has climbed dramatically. Between 1982 and 2001, missionaries working with Muslims have nearly doubled from an estimated 15,000 to somewhere in excess of 27,000.

"In China more than 30,000 believers are baptized every day."[5] David Garrison describes the massive growth in China as "a church planting movement on steroids." But the CPMs in China do not see the winning of their nation as their ultimate goal. Those caught up in the China CPMs are looking beyond their borders.

Ask any church planting movement leader in China what "B2J" means, and most likely he will tell you, "2,000 years ago, the gospel originated in Jerusalem. Finally, it has reached us and now it is time to send it back to Jerusalem." In between China and Jerusalem lies the Islamic world.

The church planting movements in China have a new passion and burden for Muslims. Their goal is to establish CPMs among Muslim people groups. No group is more suited and qualified to spread the gospel into the most dangerous mission fields. Leaders in one Chinese CPM numbering 4 million members, recently told me, "The reason God has allowed us to face severe persecution in our country is only for practice ... he is making us ready for the Muslim world."

Dreams

The most revealing evidence that God's Spirit is mounting a massive movement among Muslims is the increasing number of Muslims having dreams in which Jesus appears to them. Globally, the second most prevalent means of Muslims coming to saving faith in Jesus is through dreams. A recent survey of 600 Muslims[6] who came to faith in Christ revealed that one quarter became believers as a result of a dream.

Even where missionaries are not working, God is. The most common theme in these dreams is the appearance of Jesus in a bright white robe. Some Muslims have been instructed in their dream to read about Jesus in their own Korans. Two women in Pakistan have documented their stories[7] in which it was through their dreams they were directed to follow Jesus. One of the women was instructed to read about 'Isa in her Koran. Upon reading the Koranic verses, she was compelled to find a Bible.

In the same country of CPM-A and CPM-B, a volunteer team in February 2003 decided to rent a large handmade boat and travel down a river. In the boat were 5,000 Bibles. Their intent was to distribute God's Word to remote villages along the river.

One day, at the top of the river's bank, an elderly woman began yelling at the team as they were in the boat. One team member got out of the boat and approached the woman. It took a while to calm the woman down so that they could understand what she was saying.

She explained that Allah had spoken to her in a dream the night before. Allah told her that foreigners would be coming down the river that day and that they would give her Allah's book. When they placed a Bible in her hand, she raised it above her head and said, "I will take this book home and read it to my children and grand-children and then I can die in peace."

Further down the river, a Muslim man[8] (seen in the center of the picture above holding a Bible) approached the volunteer team. Like the elderly woman, he had also had a dream in which he was told to go to the river to receive Allah's book of Truth. With God's Word in hand, he disappeared into the crowd. Numerous churches have been planted along this river as a result of the volunteer team's Bible distribution trip.

Unit 2, Nothing Short Of a Church Planting Movement

Time is running out for the 1.3 billion Muslims who need to hear the truth about Jesus. The fastest and most effective church planting methods for the fastest growing religion must be learned and utilized.

A new era in missions is now unfolding. We are moving into a period of time that history will record as the era of Church Planting Movements. Let's define what is meant by Church Planting Movements:

A rapid and exponential increase of indigenous churches planting churches within a given people group or population segment.[9]

By breaking apart and examining existing church planting movements around the world today, you can learn what it takes to move towards a CPM in your own community. We will do this by first digging deeper into the definition of a CPM.

Consider four key words or phrases in the definition of a CPM:

Rapid - Consider the example of the television. The television was invented in the 1940's and today is found in almost every village or city on earth. To cover the entire world so quickly is rapid. In the same way, a church planting movement moves so quickly through a people group that it causes us to be amazed.

Exponential - The difference between addition and multiplication illustrates the difference between church planting and a church planting movement. One church starts two churches, those two churches start four churches, the four churches start eight churches, and the eight churches start sixteen churches, and so on. As this process continues, growth becomes explosive.

Indigenous - Churches are planted within a particular culture by the people within that culture. This makes the movement indigenous. New church plants will not look like foreign Western churches. For example in a Muslim-background church, believers may sit on the floor and pray with their hands in front of them, palms facing upward.

Churches planting churches - As the movement builds momentum, the churches are no longer planted by local church planters or foreign missionaries, but by the local churches themselves. If churches are not being started by churches, then it is not a church planting movement.

Passion

Examine any church planting movement in history and you will find leaders of the movement to be people consumed with passion, passion for the lost and for church planting. They have a vision for the entire people group.

Never be satisfied with one new Muslim-background believer. Any Muslim drawing near to belief in Jesus as the one and only Savior must be viewed as the first member of the new Muslim-background church. Never be satisfied with one new MBB church. The new MBB church must be born with an instinct to reproduce and multiply itself into a movement.

To better understand the characteristics of a church planting movement, let's look closely at CPM-A located I n a South Asian country. After looking at CPM-A, we will examine CPM-B, the second largest Muslim CPM in the world. CPM-B ___________ was deliberately patterned after CPM-A, but unlike CPM-A, it included vital roles for outsiders. Both CPMs hold valuable insights into how God is at work in these movements and how we can join him.

Not all church planting movements have the same characteristics as the South Asia Muslim CPMs. To gain a more encompassing look at general characteristics of CPMs, read through Church Planting Movements by David Garrison available from www.churchplantingmovements.com

Characteristics of CPM-A

Identity of Evangelists and Church Planters

In CPM-A, evangelists and church planters were sent out as micro-businessmen. They earned their own salaries and most paid for their own transportation. This was done for two reasons. First, funds for salaries were not available. A small amount of funds from foreign mission sources were occasionally used to help start new businesses and for evangelists' transportation into new areas.

Secondly, funds for salaries from foreign sources were not wanted. Among Muslims in this South Asian country, non-government organizations (NGOs) earned a reputation for "buying converts" through relief and development projects for poor Muslims. Muslims have also been suspicious of NGO's for their close ties to Western Christian culture. Entering into new communities for the purpose of planting churches is easier for businessmen because they are seen as normal people with whom others can identify.

When questioned about their religion, the most common reply is, "I am an "Isahi Muslim." They do not see the claim to be Muslim, as misleading. The Koran teaches that the followers of Jesus identified themselves as Muslims (3:53). In fact, Muslims claim that all the personalities in the Bible, beginning with Adam, are Muslims. Even Jesus was a Muslim. [The meaning of "Muslim" does not mean "follower of Mohammed." It means, "One who submits himself totally to God."] Introducing themselves as "Isahi Muslims" always leads to conversation about the meaning of this identity which in turn gives the opportunity to witness.

2. How It Is Spreading

The gospel is typically moving along family lines. Church planting jumps beyond family lines when church planters are called out and mobilized to new frontier destinations.

3. Method of Evangelism

The Koran is used exclusively as a way of moving the conversation with a Muslim to spiritual matters. Evangelists do not limit themselves to the Camel Method in CPM-A. Since they are Muslim-background believers, they know their Korans better than outsiders. They use numerous verses which can be overwhelming for non-Muslim background evangelists.

Evangelists use the Koran to direct Muslims to see that the Bible is trustworthy. They quickly point out that in order to be a complete Muslim, one must read the "Before Books" (the OT and NT). Verses about Jesus are used to help Muslims understand that Jesus was more than a prophet. Finally, verses are cautiously used which reveal Mohammed's humanity.

Muslims coming to saving faith in Jesus retain their Korans. It is no longer read for spiritual development, but rather it becomes a tool for evangelism. This method of evangelism is a main factor for the speed by which the gospel is spreading. For evangelists using the Koran as a bridge to the gospel, they feel comfortable and more relaxed because the Koran places them on common ground with Muslims.

4. Point Of Conversion

Typically a Muslim does not receive Christ as Savior at the time of the first gospel presentation. The average time between hearing an understandable gospel presentation and actually coming to faith in Jesus Christ is three weeks to three months. It must also be noted that for most new believers, the time of conversion came when they were in the presence of an MBB. Tracts, radio programs, Bible correspondence, and dreams were tools that started them on their journey to become an MBB.

5. Baptism

Baptism follows as soon after conversion as possible. Often new believers wait until a sizable group of new believers is formed before baptism. Most baptisms are conducted in secluded locations and/or are performed at night. Almost all converts are baptized by pastors, not by evangelists or church planters. Occasionally women baptize women.

6. Terminology

Islamic terminology is used, i.e., "Jamat" is used for church and "Imam" is used for pastor. Using Christian terminology closely identifies an MBB with Western culture. Muslims are taught from an early age to reject anything that is "Christian" because Christians do not have the full truth and are sinful people.

7. The Majority

The Majority of MBB's were not Fringe Muslims According to the study done in 2002, 66.4% of those coming to faith in Christ were active, practicing Muslims. The movement is clearly not made up of "fringe" or non-practicing Muslims. The vast majority of those converting intentionally chose to make a clean break with their past practice of Islam. According to the 2002 study, MBBs returning to Islam after baptism is extremely rare.

8. Worship and Places of Worship

Typically, 'Isa jamats worship on Fridays. Prayer, offering, message, and singing make up the worship service. Some songs are written by new converts while most worship songs are taken from traditional Christian music. Christian terminology is changed into Islamic terminology. Out of the more than 8,000 churches that have been planted, there are only two reports of a mosque building being taken over by converts. The remaining churches meet in their villages either under a tree or on the veranda of a house.

9. Leadership Training

Leadership Training In CPM-A, 63% of the leaders have received and continue to receive leadership training. The CPM assessment team found no major doctrinal errors, though teaching on tithing and the ordinance of the Lord's Supper were weak. The content of the training divided its time between Bible Chronological Storytelling and using the Koran as an evangelistic tool.

10. Contextualized Bible

In 1997, a year before CPM-A began to take off, a contextualized Bible was introduced. A few missions had previously been circulating contextualized Muslim Bibles, but fell short of using familiar Muslim terms. For example, "Kudah" was used instead of "Allah" for God. Rarely does a Muslim use the word "Kudah" for God. When the fully contextualized Bible began to be circulated, MBBs began purchasing and distributing it with great enthusiasm. For the movement, the contextualized Bible was like a kerosene-soaked log thrown onto a fire.

11. Persecution

Persecution occurs in every instance where a Muslim becomes a follower of Jesus, but it was not as severe as anticipated. Intense persecution in the form of verbal abuse and rejection from the community typically lasts from six months to one year. Only three MBBs in this movement have been killed in which there was an apparent effort by local Muslims intent on stopping the movement. The low number of martyrs and mild persecution is credited to the technique of using the Koran as a bridge and family-based evangelism and conversions.

Characteristics of CPM-B

We learned all we could from CPM-A, and we tried to become closely involved with its day to day activities. But Abdul and his leaders knew that an outside influence, especially with Western missionaries, could critically disturb the movement. So, we knew that our job was to remain in the shadows.

But what about other areas in the country where CPM-A had not reached? We decided that we would step out of the shadows and take it upon ourselves to begin work in those areas.

As mentioned earlier, the first church, marking the beginning of CPM-B, was planted in December 1999. By May 2000, the team was seeing an average of five baptisms per week. By June 2002, we saw a total of 4,500 baptisms and 314 new churches. A survey conducted at the end of 2003 reported a total 15,000 baptisms and more than 800 churches.

Below Are Lessons Learned And Adaptations We Made.

1. Overcame the "Outsider" Syndrome

Being "outsiders" was difficult at first. Quickly we made adjustments to overcome this problem. God began to send us national Christians and MBBs to join our team. Each of these men had a strong calling from God to be involved in planting churches among Muslims. Some had dreams where God called them to work with Muslims. One had quit his high paying job for a year and entered into a journey of prayer trying to figure out to what new direction God was calling him. Another bore the scars on his arms where his cousins laid electrical wires on him as a means of getting him to come back to Islam.

From 1999-2002, team membership consisted of an average of four Americans and eight national Christians. Four of the eight nationals were Christian-background and the other four were Muslim-background. These men solved the problem of the "Outsider" syndrome.

2. Security

In the beginning, the team worked under an extremely high level of security. By 1999, few results were seen. Beginning in the year 2000, security was dropped to a lower level (more open). In that same year the team began to see tremendous results. Energy spent on protection and maintaining a presence in the country was transferred to aggressive evangelism and church planting.

Living and working on the edge became the norm. Instead of avoiding local politicians, the team began approaching them and asking for permission to distribute tracts or show the Jesus Film in their area. Rarely, did a civil authority deny distribution in his area.

Other missions working among the same Muslim people group who have maintained a high level of security have seen little results. A "007" style of working secures a position on the sidelines.

3. Massive Seed-Sowing

We knew that the gospel would travel along family lines. But we had no MBBs who could start the spread of the gospel to their family members. We needed a plan to solve this problem.

Since the team did not have any local churches or mission groups willing to be trained or mobilized to reach out to Muslims, the team decided to start their own Muslim-background churches. From these churches, the CPM would spread along family lines. To find Muslims who were already being called by God to become MBBs, massive seed-sowing campaigns were established.

We were not satisfied with a small scale seed-sowing campaign because we were consumed with the idea of establishing a church planting movement. The massive number of lost people demanded that we gear our efforts to be on a massive scale. Do you see the difference between the two styles of fishing in the pictures? One man is comfortable and content as he tries to catch one fish at a time.

Fishing is his hobby. The fisherman using a net is hungry and uses an aggressive approach.

One of our massive seed sowing effort involved placing the contextualized Muslim-friendly Bible into every village in a particular area. This area was home to more than one million Muslims with no known MBB church. The few churches present in this area had never reached out to Muslims or had any intention of doing so. Therefore, the team joined with a volunteer team from the U.S., divided into groups of two, and traveled from village to village distributing the Bibles. The following story illustrates what they found.

One particular village encounter eventually resulted in the establishment of 41 Muslim-background churches. As our team approached the village, we were greeted by a young man walking towards us. We asked the young man, named Mamoon, to escort us into his village. The village was home to more than 7,000 Muslims. The team shared the gospel at a school and at several homes including Mamoon's.

In all, the team distributed 14 Bibles in Mamoon's village. I gave my address to Mamoon. Two weeks later, after the team had left, Mamoon showed up at my house located in the capital city. He reported to me what had occurred in his village after our team had left.

Mamoon said that three local Imams went around and collected 13 of the 14 Bibles. Before a crowd in the village, they proclaimed that the Bibles could not be trusted because Christians through the years have changed its contents. To prove their point, one Imam opened a Bible to Luke 2 and read about Joseph marrying Mary. The Bible was closed and he told the crowd, "We as Muslims know that Mary was a virgin when she gave birth to the prophet 'Isa. This Christian Bible says otherwise. It claims that Mary was married." At that, the Imams instructed some of the village children to spread the Bibles on the ground in front of the mosque. After the children danced on top of the Bibles, they gathered them into a pile and burned them.

The Imams began looking for the missing Bible. They eventually found it to be with Mamoon. Once again, a crowd was gathered, this time in front of Mamoon's house and demanded that he hand them his Bible. Mamoon refused and said, "Let me read it first, if I find any mistakes, I will give it to you." Not being satisfied, the Imams petitioned Mamoon's father to force his son to hand over the Bible. His father said, "Give my son two days, if he does not give it to you by then, you are free to do with him as you wish."

It was at that point that Mamoon found his way to my home. He wanted to be discipled because he wanted to know more about the contents of the Bible. During Mamoon's four months of discipleship, his mother wrote a letter strongly advising her son not to come back to the village because she feared that they would kill him. In the fifth month of discipleship, Mamoon was baptized. He immediately wanted to visit his village. Against the advice of his mother and myself, Mamoon traveled to his village. In his village, a large crowd gathered. He opened his Bible to Luke chapter two and explained the full story of how Mary was a virgin when she gave birth to 'Isa.

Today, a church exists in Mamoon's village. Two of the three Imams are members of this church. Mamoon has gone on to plant 14 churches and continues to plant churches to this day.

It took this massive seed-sowing effort to find where God was working. For eight days, more than 500 Bibles were distributed throughout this area, home to more than a million Muslims grouped into 400 villages. None of the other teams sent out to distribute the thousands of Bibles saw any results. But since our net was large, a single fish was discovered and as a result 14 new churches were started.

4. The Koran as a Bridge

An extra measure of boldness came to the team once they began using the Koran as a bridge to the gospel. In order to drive the conversation with a Muslim towards spiritual matters, a statement like the one below was used.

"I have discovered an amazing truth in the Koran that gives hope of eternal life in heaven. Would you read Surah Al-Imran 3:42-55 so we can talk about it?"

This opening statement, more than any other, gave the team opportunities to share the gospel with Muslims. After reading the Koran together, no Muslim could honestly say that Jesus was only a prophet. Our goal was to lift Jesus out of "Prophet" status and up to "Savior" status. The Koran helped us achieve this goal.

It was not uncommon to hear an entire group of Muslims say that Jesus was more than a prophet and that he is the one best suited to help them get to heaven. Finally, we knew what to say!

5. Contextualization

At first, the Christian-background team members felt the need to throw away their Christian identity and take on as much as they could of a Muslim identity (contextualization). Their goal was to become in appearance and practice as a traditional "Muslim" by changing their names to Muslim names, wearing Muslim clothes, and worshipping in ways similar to Muslims.

Eventually, however, contextualization became a minor issue. Muslims coming to faith actually had a distaste for Islam and were not satisfied with it. One church planter put it this way, "As we were trying to become more like them (Muslims), they (Muslims responding to the gospel) were trying to become more like us (Christians)." Those responding to the gospel did not need us to be highly contextualized. Therefore, our verbal message remained contextualized, but dressing like Muslims and efforts to get deeper into the Muslim community were minimized.

Mission agencies working in this country that maintain contextualization as their goal and try to go deep into the Muslim community are not seeing significant results.

6. A Light in the Darkness

Most South Asian countries are agrarian societies. In this type of society farmers are accustomed to working all day. As darkness approaches, they begin their journey from the fields to their village homes. Arriving at home means washing, eating, and relaxing. It is at this time that listening ears are most attentive. It is the time that stories are shared.

The team, accustomed to normal working hours of 8am-5pm, began to realize that the society's listening ears were most attentive in the evenings. Since evangelism and discipleship were best received between the hours of 9pm to 2am, evangelists began to do their visitation during these hours.

7. Rejected By Local Church Bodies

From the beginning, the team sought after the support or the establishment of partnerships of existing local churches. None showed an interest in planting Muslim-background churches or in helping us. Reasons for their reluctance varied (see "Getting Beyond the Wall," p. 43). It should be mentioned that there were individuals in these churches who showed interest in our work, but churches as a whole did not support our work. Some churches actually tried to stop us.

In the end though, the churches' rejection turned out to be a tremendous blessing. National Christian-background church planters would say to Muslim seekers, "I have been rejected by the Christian community. You are not satisfied with Islam. Let's come together and form a new group." Church planters who communicated that they were rejected by the Christian community found a warm acceptance among Muslims.

8. Boldness

National church planters faced difficulties each time they would go out to the villages. A few were thrown in jail. However, these frightening and difficult experiences often led to the best results in church planting. The following stories are examples of this.

Hossain (a Muslim-background church planter) shared some verses in the Koran about 'Isa to a group of Jamat Islam (an Islamic radical political party) youth members. They quickly dragged Hossain to their mosque and sat him down at the feet of their Imam. They told the Imam that Hossain was teaching from the Koran and preaching Christianity. Surprisingly, the Imam said, "Study with Hossain and see if what he says is true. If he says anything false, it will come out and we will know it." This scary experience for Hossain resulted in all the youth becoming believers. Today, these youth are actively sharing their new faith with their friends and family members.

Simon (a Christian background church planter) and a new MBB named Mustak shared with two young boys about 'Isa in the Koran. The two boys ran to their Imam and told him all that Simon had said. The boys wanted to know if all they heard was true. Being intimidated, the Imam organized a mob of 300-500 and pulled Simon and Mustak into the street. At that point, the police intervened and put Simon and Mustak in jail.

In the jail, Simon was placed in the VIP cell where opposition party leaders were being held (It was an election year). He shared about 'Isa from the Koran with many of the leaders. Some requested Simon to come to their home and share all that he was telling them to their families once they were released from jail. One became a believer.

Upon Simon and Mustak's release, they both came forth from the jail praising God. Mustak, being a new believer, identified with the New Testament model of persecution and emerged from prison with his arms in the air, shouting, "I am Paul! I am Paul!"

At the trial, Simon stood before a packed courtroom. He was asked by the magistrate to share his story. Like Stephen in Acts, he boldly told the court that 'Isa, as presented in the Koran, was more than a prophet. Fearing that the courtroom could erupt into a riot, the magistrate called for a recess until the following evening.

The next morning before the trial, the magistrate came to Simon's room and said to him, "After this trial is over, I insist that you come to my house and share with my entire family what you said in the courtroom." Charges against Simon were dropped. Later, Simon shared the gospel to the magistrate's family.

Just like a contagious disease, acts of boldness by both national and international team members affected each other. As the Apostle Paul used his citizenship to get him in and out of situations, so too the international team members used their foreign status to work boldly in places the national team members were hesitant to work. As well, boldness of the national team members affected the international team members. When two of the international team members received a threatening letter which stated that if the evangelistic activities did not stop that their children would be kidnapped, the two international team members did not give a single thought about giving in to the demands of the threatening letter.

Four "Out Standing" CPM Principles

Let's extract four key principles learned from our study of CPM-A and CPM-B. When sharing the Camel Training Seminar with Christian groups, these four principles should be mentioned.

Speak Out

When I talk to someone who does not speak my language, I must have a translator or he will simply not understand me. So we must speak to Muslims in terms that they understand and can relate to. If I use the term "Christian" to a Muslim he does not hear me say "a follower of Jesus." But rather, his thoughts go through his cultural filters and he hears me say "someone from a Western culture" who is ungodly, immoral, and does not have the final revelation from Allah! But if I use the term "`Isahi" (follower of `Isa), I have created an opportunity to explain what someone who believes in Jesus is like without having to overcome the cultural barriers of the term "Christian." Try to use terms that they can relate to.

As a group, make a list of Christian terms that should be changed into Muslim terms.

Act Out

The apostle Paul said, ‘…and to the Jews I became as a Jew...." (I Corinthians 9:20). Where it did not violate his conscience or affect the truth of the gospel, Paul simply conformed his behavior to the people around him. To use a modern term, he became "culturally appropriate" wherever he could in order to be able to communicate the truth of the gospel. For example, when Muslims pray, they lift their hands in front of them with their palms facing upward. If a Christian prays in this manner before eating a meal, it helps bring Muslims and Christians closer together.

What are some other actions you might adapt so the Muslims in your area will feel more comfortable with your presence?

Keep Out

Do not bring new Muslim-background believers into existing traditional churches. It is not that we do not want MBBs to be around other Christians, but when we pull them into a traditional church we pull them out of their cultural setting and often cause them to be rejected by their family and friends. It is among these very family and friends that a CPM has the best opportunity to start. We should rather plant new culturally-friendly jamats within the Muslim community.

Also, unfortunately, there are those in traditional churches who do not want to see Muslims come to Christ, for various reasons (fear, loss of influence, cultural differences, etc.), thus making a large harvest among Muslims virtually impossible.

Send Out

There is an old proverb that states, "As the root goes, so goes the tree." If the first MBBs that come to faith in Christ are trained to go out and take the gospel to their family and friends, then they will train the ones they reach to go out and take the gospel to their family and friends. Thus, churches will be planted that naturally think that they should plant other new churches. So, the pattern is established in that very first generation of believers.

A common complaint among Christians involved in Muslim church planting is that new MBBs are sent out too quickly. Keep these Christians at a distance because they will stifle the CPM. Maintain your strategy for discipling new MBBs, but do it on the run like Jesus did with his disciples. At the time when Jesus left his disciples, it would be hard for anyone to believe that these men who abandoned their leader would later change the world ... but they did!

Unit 3, Bring On The CPM!

I want to be a part of a CPM among Muslims in my community, but how and where do I begin?

Good News! You do not have to come up with a CPM strategy. God has already developed and begun work on his perfect master plan strategy for a CPM for the Muslims in your area. All you need to do is to find out where he is already working and join him.

At age 30, Jesus set his sights on joining God's existing CPM strategy for the people in his area. Just like you, he wanted to know where God was already working so that he could join him. The way in which Jesus went about doing this is found in John 5:17, 19-20.

1. 17 "But Jesus answered them, "My Father has been working until now, and I have been working."

2. 19Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.

3. 20 For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel."

Let's personalize these three verses. Write your name in the six blanks below. Read the verses out loud to yourself.

“________ answered them, "My Father has been working until now, and has been working."

...Most assuredly, I say to you, can do nothing of himself, but what sees the Father do; for whatever he does, also does in like manner....and He will show greater works than these, that he may marvel."

Principles on how Jesus pursued God's CPM Master plan:

Jesus knew God the Father was at work.

Jesus was committed to joining the Father wherever he was working.

Jesus knew that apart from the Father he could do nothing.

Jesus was attentive with his spiritual eyes and ears to know where the Father was working.

When Jesus saw where the Father was at work, he stopped what he was doing and joined him.

The Father showed Jesus where he himself was working because he loved Jesus and wanted to give him first hand encounters with him that would amaze him and us.

1. Jesus Knew God The Father Was At Work.

"My Father has been working until now,"

Sin came into the world separating man from God. Since that time, God has been working to restore man to himself. He has been seeking those who are lost. So you can know that God is already at work among the Muslims in your area, here are some of the works that God is possibly doing right now as you are sitting here reading this (use your imagination):

A Muslim is feeling an overwhelming sense of hopelessness. God's Spirit is now at work in him/her preparing him/her to hear the message you are going to give him.

Last night a Muslim had a dream where Jesus appeared to him/her and was told to search for truth. Today, he/she is looking for someone to deliver this truth to him/her.

A gospel tract was thrown down onto the ground by an angry Muslim. Another Muslim picked it up and began reading it. As he/she began reading it, his/her heart began to burn. Now he/she wants to discuss this burning feeling with someone like you.

Whatever work God is doing, you can be assured that it is BIG. As I read through the Bible, I have not found anything small that God did. The work God desires to do among the Muslims in your area is God-sized. It is so big that we can say that it looks like a 1,000-acre field of corn that is ready to be picked ("The harvest truly is great..." Luke 10:2).

2. Jesus Was Committed

Jesus was committed to joining the father wherever he was working.

"...and I have been working."

Jesus explained that he had come into the world to join the Father in the work of seeking and saving the lost. "...for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." (Luke 19:10) Jesus was always working together with the Father.

Have you ever been in a church planning meeting in which plans were discussed, agreed upon, and then written down. Finally, someone says, "Let's commit these plans to the Lord and ask him to bless them." Such a meeting illustrates how we often make OUR plans for evangelism and church planting, and then ask God to JOIN US.

Jesus knew that God already had established a perfect plan in his area. There was no need to develop a new plan. The only plan that was needed was the one to find where God was already working. This is your task as well.

3. Jesus Knew That Apart From The Father He Could Do Nothing.

"Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself,"

If Jesus could not do work that resulted in a church planting movement, we certainly cannot either. If you develop a strategy for establishing a CPM, you will fail. Here are two suggestions for making plans and strategies:

Make a strategy for finding where God is at work.

Once you find where God is at work, make a new strategy on how you will join God where he is already working.

4. Jesus was attentive with his spiritual eyes and ears, to know where the Father was working.

Use your spiritual eyes to see where God is at work! In Ephesians 1:18, Paul prayed that we would be able to see, not just with our physical eyes, but with our spiritual eyes. If you look with spiritual eyes you will see where God is at work.

Read 2 Kings 6:14-17. What difference did it make to Elisha's servant when he saw with spiritual eyes?

Do you see what the Father is doing where you are living and working? Can Jesus help us in our efforts to see where God is at work? Let's consider the following stories about Jesus' ministry.

Examples

Zaccheus - In Luke 19:1-9, Jesus came into Jericho where he was surrounded by a large crowd. The tax collector Zaccheus could not see Jesus, so he did something unusual and climbed a tree. Jesus, seeing him, sensed this was where the Father was at work, so he joined God by leaving the crowd and going to Zaccheus' house.

The woman at the well - In John 4:1-42, Jesus and the disciples were on their way to Galilee. They took a shortcut through Samaria. Beside a well, he talked to a woman who came to believe that he was the Messiah. Jesus delayed his trip to Galilee and stayed in Samaria, where the Father was working.

Use your spiritual ears to find where God is at work! "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me." (John 10:27)

"He who is of God hears God's words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God." (John 8:47)

It is very important that we hear God's voice. From these two verses we see that only the true followers of Jesus hear God when he speaks.

With your spiritual ears, you can hear where God is at work. Perhaps you have heard a Muslim say:

"I am ashamed for the way we Muslims have been acting." (John 16:8-11)

"I had a dream in which a prophet spoke to me." (Acts 10:30-33)

"I want to know what the truth is." (John 16:13, 17:17)

"I understand what the Bible is saying." (Matthew 13:10-11)

"I think that Allah is speaking to me." (John 10:26-27)

"I want to hear more about Isa." (John 6:44)

"What will happen to me when I die?" (Hebrews 2:15)

If you hear someone say words like these, your spiritual ears should tell you that God is at work inside that person. The Bible tells us that only God can do these things.

1. When Jesus Saw

When Jesus saw where the Father was at work, he stopped what he was doing and joined the Father.

"...for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner."

When God shows you where he is at work it is his invitation for you to join him. The invitation is not for a later time, it is right then. If you recognize where God is at work and immediately check your calendar to see if you are free, you will miss God's invitation. Train yourself to respond quickly to God's invitations. When you do join him, you will see the hand of God at work and will be amazed.

In Luke 8:41-56, we read that the daughter of Jairus was dying. Jairus came to get Jesus to come and heal his daughter. I'm sure that Jairus had one thing on his mind, "Quickly get Jesus to my daughter." On the way though, there was an interruption (or was it an invitation?) when a woman who had been suffering from a flow of blood for years touched Jesus' clothing and was healed. Even though Jairus' daughter was at the point of death, Jesus stopped to spend time with the woman because he sensed this was where the Father was working.

Abdul, an MBB, was riding on a bus one day. He shared the gospel with a young Muslim man sitting next to him. The young man invited Abdul to come to his home right then and share the gospel with the Muslims of his village. Abdul was on his way home from a long and hard journey. To go with this young man would be out of the way, nevertheless, sensing that God was at work, Abdul accepted the invitation. As night fell on the village and lanterns were lit, Abdul continued to share with the people. At one point, a man interrupted Abdul and asked, "I have killed a man, can 'Isa forgive me?" This caused a chain reaction. Another man interrupted and asked, "I am a thief, can 'Isa forgive me?" An outbreak of confessions broke out. In the end, eleven men came forward, confessed their sins, and asked if 'Isa could forgive them. Salvation visited the village that night.

When you see and hear God at work, stop what you are doing and join him.

6. The Father

The Father shows us where he himself is working because he loves us and wants to give us first hand encounters with him that will amaze us.

"For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these."

Amos 3:7 says, "Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets."

God does not need us to execute his CPM strategy. But, because of his love for us, he invites us to join him. He knows that when we find where God is at work, we will find God himself. Our encounters with God will change us forever and will enhance our worship of him.

Second-hand God

If you ask me to introduce my children to you, I will be able to tell you exactly who they are because I see them each day. But if you ask me detailed questions about the president of the United States, I will rely on what others say about him because I do not know him personally.

If your grandchildren ask you who God is, will you tell them what you have read or what others have told you about God or will you be able to tell them who God is from your own personal encounters and experiences with him?

God is inviting you right now to join him in his new work of turning Muslims in your area to faith in Christ. By joining God in the work he is doing, you will have personal encounters with him. These encounters will truly amaze you. When asked to tell others who God is, you will share your stories.

Unit 4, the Person of Peace

In 1995, I heard a sermon from Luke 10 about "Finding the Person of Peace." Five years later, I decided that I would actually try to find a Person of Peace (the one whom God is working inside is the Person of Peace) by following as closely as I could the instructions Jesus gave his disciples in Luke 10. Two friends joined me on this journey. We decided that we would take nothing with us except one change of clothes, a Bible, a Jesus Film video, and a small amount of money. We charted out a city that would be our destination. No MBB churches had been planted in that city or its surrounding area.

As we were dropped off on the side of the road to begin our journey, immediately a crowd gathered. We spent time sharing the gospel with them. Throughout the day, we continued to share the gospel with Muslims instead of going straight to our city of destination.

By the end of the day, we arrived into the city and felt discouraged because no one responded to the gospel along the road. According to Jesus' instructions, we were supposed to find a Person of Peace who would provide us with food and shelter. After some searching, we finally found a government office which had a small guest room attached to the back of the building and stayed there.

Just as we bedded down, we heard a knock on our door. As I opened the door, there were two Muslim men standing there. They told us that they had heard from people in the city that three men had come preaching Christianity. They had heard that I could speak their language and that I was using Muslim-friendly words. They then told us their story.

One of the two men said that a few years earlier, four foreign missionaries had come to their city and ended up going to his house. There the four men prayed over his daughter who had a problem with her leg. They prayed in the name of 'Isa. Within a few weeks, the daughter was healed and the two Muslim men were convinced of the power of `Isa.

As these two Muslim men stood in our doorway, they explained that they needed more information about `Isa. They understood about his healing power, but for four years they have been waiting to hear more about him. We asked the two men why the four missionaries did not tell them any more about 'Isa. They replied, "They could not speak our language." We then asked, "Why did you not go to the Christian community?" (A few miles away was a Christian community). They said that they do not like to talk to Christians. At that point I realized that using Muslim-friendly terms had separated me from the traditional Christian community.

At that moment, our spiritual radars picked up spiritual activity. With this realization, we spent the next two hours explaining how God brought salvation to people through 'Isa. We concluded in prayer.

Before they left, we asked if they could arrange a meeting in which we could share 'Isa's story with some Muslim women. We knew that if Muslim women would become believers, then the entire family would follow. Gaining access to Muslim women in order to share the gospel had been an impossible task up until that point.

Early the next morning, we found that the two men had arranged the meeting which we had requested. We were led to a village home. As we entered, we were amazed to see 25 Muslim women sitting on the floor waiting for us. For three hours, we shared the gospel with them.

When it came time to tell the story about the birth of 'Isa, we told the two men that we wanted to show a film (the Jesus Film). They quickly went into the city and returned with a rented television and video player. After the women saw the Jesus Film, the two men fed everyone lunch. The only expense we incurred that day was the cost of a rickshaw ride to and from the meeting place. Having fully explained the gospel, we left. A church planter was immediately notified.

Six months later, we asked another national church planter to travel to the city and visit the two men. To his amazement, he discovered that 125 Muslims had been baptized and five new churches had been formed. Two years later the number of baptisms rose to 300 and there were 15 churches.

Finding a Person of Peace

Jesus is our model for finding where God is at work. He took the time to teach his disciples how he would do this. Jesus' encounter with Zaccheus was an example for the disciples to understand how Jesus found the person who God was working in at the time. Luke chapter 10 tells the story of the disciples' on-the-job training where they were sent out into the surrounding areas with the assignment to find the Person of Peace.

Read Luke 10:1-20:

1 After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. 2 Then He said to them, "The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. 3 Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves. 4 Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road. 5 But whatever house you enter, first say, "Peace to this house." And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you. 7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house. 8 Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. And heal the sick there, and say to them, "The kingdom of God has come near to you.' 10 But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, 11"The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you.' 12 But I say to you that it will be more tolerable in that Day for Sodom than for that city. 13 "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.

14 But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. 15 And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades. 16 He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me." 17 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name." 18 And He said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven."

Jesus' Instructions for Finding the Person of Peace

Let's examine closely Luke 10:1-20 and make notes on each aspect of the assignment Jesus gave them. Add your thoughts to my notes. Thoroughly discuss each of the points.

GO TWO BY TWO - 10:1

Testimony of two is accepted in court (Deuteronomy 17:6).

If one falls, the other can pick him up (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12).

Persecution is more bearable with two.

BELIEVE IN THE HARVEST - 10:2

If you do not believe that God is preparing a large harvest in the area in which you are going, then you will not likely find where God is at work and you will miss the Person of Peace.

The Spirit of God has gone ahead of you and has prepared the Person of Peace.

WATCH OUT! - 10:3

No disciple sent out into the harvest field to find the Person of Peace should go without first counting the cost. Do not expect the world to act favorably towards you. Knowing ahead of time that you could end up with a black eye takes much of the sting out of the pain. A boxer knows ahead of time that he will pay a price. The punches are painful, but the boxer's mind has prepared his body to endure the pain. Unexpected pain tends to hurt more than expected pain.

GO NEEDY - 10:4

By taking care of your own needs, it is likely that you will miss finding the Person of Peace. It is the God-given duty of the Person of Peace to take care of you. Let him perform his assignment that God has given him, you perform your duty of searching for him. His actions of generosity will be a confirmation to you that you have found the Person of Peace.

MAKE YOUR PRESENCE KNOWN - 10:5-6

The text says, "Whatever house you enter." This could mean,

"Greet people, and knock on every door." Regardless, make your presence known in the area. Jesus told his disciples to proclaim to the people that the Kingdom of God was near whether they believed the message or not (vs. 9-11).

Also note that the Person of Peace is looking for you just as much as you are looking for him. If you walked into a dark room that is full of cockroaches and moths, and you turned on the light, the roaches would scramble for darkness to hide, while moths would come to the light. In the same way, shine the light of God in the area. Persons of Peace are like moths in that they will be drawn to you as you share the light of the gospel.

IDENTIFY THE PERSON OF PEACE - 10:6-8

Accepts your greeting

Feeds you and gives you shelter

(Not included in this verse, but should be mentioned...)

Is ready to become a believer

Often is a known sinner - examples: Zaccheus, Samaritan woman, man in the tombs

STAY - 10:7 What do I do once!

This is a key principle. When find the person of you find the Person of Peace, peace? Invest time in him. Jesus went to Zaccheus' house. The text says, "Do not keep moving from house to house" (NAS). Switch from evangelism mode to discipleship.

EAT AND HEAL - 10:8-9

Luke 10: 8-9 - Whether you like the Person of Peace's food or not, eat it! Allow him to do his job and take care of you. Before leaving, pray for any sicknesses. You can also pray for his business or job, the community, or any personal problems.

SHAKE THE DUST OFF - 10:10-16

God is not at work everywhere.

(See Mark 6:1-6) When they

reject you, it is not you they are

rejecting, it is Jesus they are

rejecting. Maintain the theme

“I will work only where I see the Father working.”

RESULTS - 10:17-20

There is more to this than finding the Person of Peace. Jesus said, "I am the way... " (John 14:6a) When you find the "Way" you have found Jesus himself. When you find where God is at work, you find God. Remember, the happiest Christians are those who find where God is at work and join him (see Luke 10:17).

Find examples in the scriptures for each point that Jesus made in Luke 10:1-20. Tell how these stories illustrate the points above.

Summary

Here are the key principles from Luke 10 for seeking and finding the Person of Peace.

Go in faith with one or two others in search of where God is working and look for the Person of Peace.

Travel light.

Don't waste time along the way. Depend on God's guidance. He will show you where to stop.

Offer your peace. If it is accepted, stay there. If not, move on. Sometimes you will not find the Person of Peace until you walk away. He will pursue you. If your peace is not accepted, move on.

Travel expecting to encounter Muslims who have been prepared by God in a dream to hear your witness.

When you believe you have found the Person of Peace, go to his home. Stay with him. He will provide everything you need. He will open doors of opportunity for you to share with others.

Whether you are accepted or rejected, always remember that God is with you and the kingdom of God is near.

Recognize that your mission is to lead the Person of Peace to receive Christ and equip him to share the gospel with his family and friends.

Unit 5, Getting Beyond the Wall

Very few Christians and churches are involved in Muslim evangelism and church planting. The few who are involved are experiencing tremendous joy. I have not met an unhappy church planter who is seeing God at work among Muslims.

For others, conducting evangelism or church planting among Muslims is unthinkable. It's like they come up against a wall that prevents them from working with Muslims. The wall represents reasons for not working with Muslims. This is a man-made wall that must be overcome.

Let's identify the reasons why most Christians and churches are not involved in Muslim evangelism/ church planting.

Exercise

(The questions below are designed to draw out specific fears, prejudices, or non-communication issues and then as a group take these matters before the Lord in prayer.)

Individual Questions: (write your answers on a sheet of paper)

What does your church think about Muslim evangelism? How do you feel about witnessing to a Muslim?

Group Questions: (write answers on the board)

What makes people nervous about Muslim evangelism?

Common answers; fear, prejudice, do not know what to say and which Muslim to say it to.

If you were to lead a seminar on "Witnessing to Muslims", what would you teach to get people over their fear of witnessing to Muslims?

A Christian woman told me that the reason she does not want her church to evangelize Muslims is so that none will become believers and join her church. She does not want her daughter to marry an MBB young man. What would you say to this woman?

There are several stories in the Bible in which someone was asked to go to a people different from himself and to evangelize them. Some were obedient and had success. What are some of those stories?

Jonah - Sent to Nineveh, but he went unwillingly and missed the blessing

Peter saw a vision and was sent to the Gentiles

Jesus with the Samaritan woman

Paul went to the Gentiles and other non-Jews

How did they overcome the barriers of prejudice, fear, and not knowing what to say?

Conclusion

Beyond the wall is a harvest field. Beyond the wall is where

God is at work. It is where you will find some of the happiest Christians. If you want to climb over the wall, you need to learn how to evangelize Muslims. Let's look at the most effective method being used today by Christian evangelists and church planters working among Muslims

Unit 6, Using the Koran as a Bridge

Uddin's Story

Uddin is an educated farmer in a South Asian country. He is considered a devout Muslim because he prays five times a day and reads the Koran in Arabic. Uddin believes that Arabic is God's language.

In 2001, an MBB church planter walked into Uddin's village. Uddin quickly detected that this stranger was a Christian. Uddin asked him, "Are you preaching Christianity?" The MBB answered, "No, I am speaking what Mohammed said." At that the MBB opened a Koran and read Surah Jonah 10:94 which states, "And if you (Mohammed) are in doubt concerning that which we reveal unto you, then question those who read the Scripture (the Bible) that was before you. Verily the Truth from my Lord hath come unto thee. So be not thou of the waverers." He then read Surah the Table Spread 5:82-83 which claims that Christians are humble, friendly, and compassionate people and they know the Truth when they hear it.

Total silence fell upon Uddin, and for a time he pondered on these verses. He never had seen these verses before even though he was a student of the Koran. Finally, he looked up and said, "I want to hear another word from you."

The MBB went further to explain to Uddin that in order to be a proper Muslim (one who totally surrenders himself to God), he must read the holy books that came before the Koran (see Surah The Woman 4:136) and that he should not have any fear that God's holy Word can be changed by any man (see Surah The Cattle 6:115).

The MBB asked Uddin a convicting question, "How do we find out about the previous way of doing proper prayer, proper sacrifice, and proper fasting?" Uddin's faith was shaken. He knew that Muslims today are practicing their memorized prayers and animal sacrifices with empty hearts. He knew that Muslims are gaining weight during the month of fasting called Ramadan.

Uddin said, "We Muslims have been in the wrong way because we do not read the `Before Books.'” He concluded by saying, "I believe your words because you have spoken to me from the Koran; please come again." The MBB gave Uddin a Bible and promised to come again. The Apostle Paul used a similar method to gain a foothold in Athens.

Read Acts 17:22-34

22 Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, "Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; 23for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.

Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you: 24 God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. 25 Nor is He worshipped with men's hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. 26 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, 27 so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, "For we are also His offspring.' "Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man's devising. 30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead."

32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said, "We will hear you again on this matter." 33 So Paul departed from among them. 34 However, some men joined him and believed, among them Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

Questions:

- What bridges did Paul use to begin to communicate the gospel with the men of Athens? vv 23 and 28

- How does that compare with how the church planter began to communicate with Uddin by using the Koran?

- What did Paul do after he had used the bridges? vv 30-31-

- What was the result? v 32

- Were Persons of Peace discovered? v 33

- Should We Use the Koran?

Question: Is using the Koran as a bridge an acceptable means for Christians since we believe that only the Bible is the true Word of God?

Answer: There is a great divide, or chasm, between Muslims and Christians. Good Muslims have been taught from childhood that the Koran is the only true word of God. They may not know the meaning of the Koran's text, but nonetheless, they believe it is true. When approached with the Bible, Muslims immediately become defensive. A confrontation is imminent - your holy book versus his holy book. A Muslim cannot and will not deny the Koran. Relating to a Muslim from the Koran guarantees a listening ear. If attention is given to the verses in the Koran that deal with truths about Jesus, then you and your new Muslim friend can enter into dialogue on neutral ground.

Is truth any less true if it is found somewhere other than the Bible? When the Koran says that Jesus was born of a virgin without an earthly father, is it any less true than when the Bible says the same thing?

A $100 note placed between two counterfeit $100 notes does not make the genuine $100 less valuable, so long as it is known which one was real. Muslims need help in distinguishing truth surrounded by errors. You must start where they are and bring them along.

Question: Why do we use the Koran as a bridge to the gospel?

Answer: We must start where they are. Using the Koran enables a Muslin-background believer to relate to his family and friends and minimizes persecution.

We can use the Koran to lift Jesus of our Prophet Status and closer to Savior status in the mind of a Muslim.

Using the Koran as a bridge allows you to go deep into Muslim communities.

The Camel Method is a form of using the Koran as a bridge. The Camel Method uses only one passage from the Koran - Surah Al-Imran 3:42-55.

Why do we avoid spending too much time in the Koran?

Though we are familiar with the Bible, and can use many different verses, we are not so familiar with the Koran.

It saves us from accusations of abusing or misusing the Koran.

When we are witnessing to a Muslim, we may be nervous and not remember all of the verses.

We are only looking for a Person of Peace and only need enough spiritual meat from the Koran to draw him out. Do not stay too long in the Koran because there are anti-Christian verses.

Unit 7, the Camel Method

"Using Surah Al-Imran 3:42-55 from the Koran to find a Person of Peace"

Muslims have a saying that Allah has 100 names, but a man can only know 99 of them. Only a camel knows the 100th name of Allah. Of course, that is only a legend, but we want Muslims to know what the camel supposedly knows, the unknown 100th name of Allah. We want them to know that 100th name of God, the name that is above all names - 'ISA!

The Goal of the Camel Method

It is critical that you understand the purpose and goal of the Camel Method. It is not to lead a Muslim to salvation in Christ. Its purpose is to draw out a Person of Peace. It can also assist you to build bridges between you and the Muslim community. When you find a Muslim seeking to become an MBB, set the Koran aside and pick up your Bible.

We will use Surah Al-Imran 3:42-55 in the Koran in an attempt to raise Jesus from "Prophet" status closer to "Savior" status. After reading and explaining Surah Al-Imran 3:42-55, no Muslim can honestly say that 'Isa was merely a prophet. From the text of the Koran, it is clear that 'Isa was more than a prophet.

Three points from Surah Al-Imran 3:42-55 that raises Jesus closer to Saviour status:

‘Isa is holy.

‘Isa has power over death.

‘Isa knows the way to heaven.

Exercise: Look at Surah Al-Imran 3:42-55, provided for you on the next three pages. More spiritual truths than the three mentioned above rest within these verses. As you find spiritual truths and significant observations, write them in the space provided.

Your Notes

The Koran

Book of AI-Imran 3:42-55

42 And when the angels said: O Maryam! Surely Allah has chosen you and purified you and chosen you above the women of the world.

43 O Maryam! Keep to obedience to your Lord and humble yourself, and bow down with those who bow.

44 This is of the announcements relating to the unseen which we reveal to you; and you were not with them when they cast their pens (to decide) which of them should have Maryam in his charge, and you were not with them when they contended one with another.

45 When the angels said: O Maryam, surely Allah gives you good news with a Word from Him (of one) whose name is the Messiah, 'Isa son of Maryam, worthy of regard in this world and the hereafter and of those who are made near (to Allah)

46 And he shall speak to the people when in the cradle and when of old age, and (he shall be) one of the good ones.

47 She said: My Lord! When shall there be a son (born) to I me, and man has not touched me? He said: Even so, Allah creates what He pleases; when He has decreed a matter, He only says to it, be, and it is.

48 And He will teach him the Book and the wisdom and the Taurat and the Injil.

49 And (make him) an apostle to the children of Israel: That I have come to you with a sign from your Lord, that I determine for you out of dust like the form of a bird, then I breathe into it and it becomes a bird with Allah's permission and I heal the blind and the leprous, and bring the dead to life with Allah's permission and I inform you of what you should eat and what you should store in your houses; most surely there is a sign in this for you, if you are believers.

50 And a verifier of that which is before me of the Taurat and that I may allow you part of that which has been forbidden to you, and I have come to you with a sign from your Lord therefore be careful of (your duty to) Allah and obey me.

51 Surely Allah is my Lord and your Lord, therefore serve Him; this is the right path.

52 But when 'Isa perceived unbelief on their part, he said "Who will be my helpers in Allah's way?" The disciples said: We are helpers (in the way) of Allah: We believe in Allah and bear witness that we are submitting ones.

53 Our Lord! We believe in what Thou hast revealed and we follow the apostle, so write us down with those who bear witness.

54 And they planned and Allah (also) planned, and Allah is the best of planners.

55 And when Allah said: O `Isa, I am going to terminate the period of your stay (on earth) and cause you to ascend unto Me and purify you of those who disbelieve and make those who follow you above those who disbelieve to the day of resurrection; then to Me shall be your return, so I will decide between you concerning that in which you differed.

Camel Method Presentation Step By Step

Opening Statements

The Camel Seminar assumes that you will enter into a mosque and try the Camel Method. Once this is accomplished, take the Camel Method to the streets. Since Muslims do not carry their Korans around with them, you must be patient as they either go get their Koran or they take you to their house.

If the Apostle Paul was a missionary to Muslims today, what would his strategy look like? Where would he do the Camel Method?

Paul's habit when entering a new area was to go directly to the synagogue and begin showing them Christ in their book, the Old Testament.

Acts 17:1-2 states, "Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures...."

How to Begin: After a friendly introduction, use one of the statements below to direct the conversation towards the Koran.

"I have discovered an amazing truth in the Koran that gives hope of eternal life in heaven. Would you read Surah Al-Imran 3:42-55 so we can talk about it?"

Or you can say:

"The Koran says some very interesting things about 'Isa. Could you read Surah Al-Imran 3:42-55 from your Koran so that we could talk about it?"

Or you can say:

"I speak to Christians and Muslims about peace and salvation. May I show what I have found about peace and salvation in the Koran? Could you please read Surah Al-Imran 3:42-55?"

But what if the Muslim I encounter does not have access to a Koran?

Recommendations:

Tell them from memory the three points from Surah Al-Imran 3:42-55 found in the Camel Method Outline. Encourage them to go home or to their mosque and read it for themselves. Leave your contact information with them.

Tell them that you believe in one God and that you are praying for people in this area. Say, "Can I pray for you? Do you or anyone in your family need prayer for healing? Are there problems in your community? Can I pray for your business or job to be successful?" Close your prayer by saying, "I ask these requests in the name and power of 'Isa Masi." Check back in with this person at a later time to see if there is any spiritual activity taking place in them.

Add Two Important Ingredients to Your Presentation

The Rhetorical Question

A rhetorical question is a question in which the answer is already known by the one asking. Jesus used rhetorical questions because they are a powerful and peaceful way of drawing out correct answers from others. Jesus asked Peter, "...who do you say that I am?"12 Jesus knew the answer to his question, but he wanted to draw the answer out through

Peter's own mouth so that Peter could hear himself say, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."13

Use rhetorical questions when walking a Muslim through the Camel Method. Sometimes, you may need to help them verbalize the correct answer. Or you may build onto their correct answer.

Attitude

By and large, Muslims are a proud people. The last thing they would want is for a Christian to approach them with a superior attitude wishing to teach them something about Allah and the Koran. Approach Muslims with a humble attitude and as a genuine learner. This is good news for Muslim evangelists just starting out. For the first time in your life, a good measure of ignorance makes you highly effective at something.

Camel Method Explained

(Basic level)

Start using the basic level of the Camel Method. This level does not refer to other ayats in the Koran. The basic level remains focused on the three points, 'Isa is holy; all-powerful; and knows the way to heaven.

1. 'Isa is Holy

3:45-47 Bring out the point that 'Isa holds the same quality of holiness that Allah has. Ask,

1) "Does this ayat say that `Isa came directly from Allah and that he did not have a father?"

Comment: They will most likely agree that 'Isa came directly from Allah and that he certainly did not have a father. Ask two more questions:

1 Matthew 16:15

2 Matthew 16:16

2) "Are there any other prophets who did not have a father?"

Comments: Adam did not have a father. Tell the story of Adam in the Garden and how he walked with Allah because when he was first created, Adam had no sin. He was holy and therefore could be in the presence of holy Allah. When he disobeyed Allah, he could no longer be in Allah's presence. Allah is 100% holy and nothing unholy can be in his presence. This means to us that if you want to go to heaven to be with Allah, you must be holy.

3) "Why did Allah have 'Isa born without a father?"

Comments: All of Adam's descendants struggle with sin. If a person is not in the blood line of Adam, he will be just like Adam before he sinned when he and Allah were both holy. As we all know, 'Isa lived his entire life without doing any sin. 'Isa was holy.

2. 'Isa has Power over Death

3:49 After reading the list over 'Isa's miracles, draw out the point that `Isa is powerful and this power brings comfort to the world. We are naturally drawn to look closely at 'Isa because of the power he had over our greatest enemy, death.

Ask these two questions:

1) "Do you think that one of people's greatest fears is death?"

Comments: Death causes all of us to worry. Truly death is the most feared enemy of man.

2) "Do you know of any other prophet who was given the power over death?"

Comments: There is a touching story in the Injil that tells about a friend of `Isa who died. Three days later, 'Isa arrived at the graveyard where his friend's body was placed in a tomb. 'Isa had them roll back the stone. He called out his friend's name and said, "Come out." To everyone's amazement, his friend came walking out of the tomb.

3. `Isa Knows the Way to Heaven

3:55 Finally, use this ayat to help Muslims understand that 'Isa knows the way to heaven because he himself has traveled the straight path directly to Allah and is with Allah now. To get to Allah is a great desire for Muslims. Many believe that Mohammed can help them get into heaven. Most Muslims know that 'Isa is with Allah at this time. Ask these questions:

1) "If you wanted to come to my house and you needed help in doing so, who is best suited to help you?"

Comments: Naturally, I am the one best capable of leading you to my house. I know the road that leads to my house. And who better to know the way to my house than me, after all it's my home.

2) "I am a sinful person. I have done many good things in my life, but still I have Adam's blood in me. I know that I can never become holy on my own and get to be with Allah in heaven. Out of all the prophets, which one do you think is best capable of helping me get to heaven?"

Comments: If they answer, "`Isa is the one best able to help you get to heaven," get them to discuss why it is that they think he can help me. If they answer, "Mohammed is the one best able to help you get to heaven," then take them to Surah The Chambers 46:9. This ayat will show that Mohammed did not know where he or his followers would go after death. Carefully say, "If Mohammed did not know where he was going after his death, how can he help us?"

Camel Method Explained

(Advanced level)

As you continue to use the Camel Method, you can add the information below. The text for Surah Al-Imran is provided so that you can easily refer to it.

Ask your Muslim friend to read Surah Al -Imran 3:42-47. Then discuss with him/her what it says about 'Isa.

1. 'Isa is Holy

Key Points

Mary chosen by God to 42 And when the angels said: O bear Jesus into the Maryam! Surely Allah has chosen world you and purified you and chosen you above the women of the world.

43 O Maryam! Keep to obedience to your Lord and humble yourself, and bow down with those who bow.

44 This is of the announcements relating to the unseen which we reveal to you; and you were not with them when they cast their pens (to decide) which of them should have Maryam in his charge, and you were not with them when they contended one with another.

45 When the angels said: O 'Isa is the Word of God Maryam, surely Allah gives you good news with a Word from ‘Isa is the Messiah Him (of one) whose name is

Messiah, 'Isa son of Maryam,

‘Isa is near to Allah/God worthy of regard in this world and the hereafter and to those who are made near (to Allah)

'Isa is righteous 46 and he shall speak to the people when in the cradle and when of old age, and (he shall be) one of the good ones.

47 She said: My Lord! When shall there be a son (born) to I me, and man has not touched me? He said: Even so, Allah creates what He pleases; when He has decreed a matter, He only says to it, be, and it is.

What to say about these verses:

3:42-43 (Hint: Don't spend much time with verses 42-44. These verses are only an introduction to verse 45.) At a dark moment in the history of the world, Allah did something exceptionally unusual. Allah spoke through an angel to a young virgin woman named Maryam. He told her that he had chosen her for an unusual role.

3:44 The Koran says the angels cast lots to see who would be given the privilege to guard and protect Maryam during the time period of this all-important assignment given by Allah.

3:45 Muslims have two particular designations for 'Isa. Ask: "Do you recognize the names, "Isa-Kalimatullah' and "Isa-Ruhullah?"' Ask, "Why do you call 'Isa by these two names?"

The answer is in Al-Imran 3:45.

Allah said that he would put his Word into Maryam. "Word" (Kalim) is related to the terms used for `breath' or `spirit' of Allah. 'Isa Ruhullah means, "Jesus the spirit of Allah". Another reference to 'Isa being a Word and spirit of Allah is found in The Women 4:171 "... speak the truth; the Messiah, 'Isa son of Maryam is only an apostle of Allah and his Word which he communicated to Maryam and a spirit from him."

So the Koran teaches us that `Isa Kalimatullah or `Isa Ruhullah was sent from Allah himself and placed in the form of a baby in Maryam. That means that `Isa has come to us from heaven.

Allah told Maryam to name the baby "`Isa Masi". Masi or Messiah means, "The Anointed or Promised One." The verse concludes with the claim that 'Isa would be honored by all people in this world and forever in heaven and is one of the nearest to Allah. It's easy for 'Isa to be near Allah since he is Allah's Kalimatullah and Ruhallah. We can also understand why `Isa would be honored by all people of the world. Look at Surah Luqman 31:27, "And if all the trees on earth were pens and the Ocean (were ink) with seven Oceans behind it to add to its (supply) yet would not the Words (Kalim) of Allah be exhausted." Say, "I believe the Koran is exactly right. I cannot think of any major religion (Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism) that does not give honor and respect to 'Isa." 'Isa is a prophet for the entire world.

3:46 Furthermore, Allah said that 'Isa would speak to the world, not only as an adult, but also from the cradle. How could `Isa speak to the world as a baby from the cradle? Surah Maryam tells a story of Mary holding 'Isa in her arms. She lifts back the blanket and the infant 'Isa speaks to the people. But it could also refer to 'Isa's birth being a testimony to the whole world!

Allah also said that 'Isa would be righteous. Ask if 'Isa ever sinned. Most will agree with you that, indeed, 'Isa never sinned. Remind them that 'Isa never married, never killed anyone, and was poor. In many cultures, people considered to be holy have these three traits. Some Muslims may quickly realize that these three observations are in direct contrast to another well-known prophet.

3:47 Maryam was shocked by the news that Allah had given. How could she have a baby? No man had ever touched her. But Allah explained to her that He could do anything He wanted. All he has to do is say "Be!" and it is so.

Remember: When Christians say that Jesus is the Son of God, Muslims do not understand this title as we understand it. They interpret the designation in a negative light. They think the "Son of God" title means that Allah had physical relations with Mary. To them, this is an evil insult to Allah.

Important Questions:

Do you know of any other prophet who did not have a father? Answer: Al-Imran 3:59 says that "Isa is like Adam. This is true, because both of these prophets did not have a father.

Secondly, "Allah does nothing by accident. Everything he does is his perfect plan. Have you ever thought about the reason why Allah decided 'Isa was to be born without a father?" (Never will you have a Muslim give the correct answer to this question. Your goal is for the Muslim to ask you what you think the answer is.)

The answer is apparent when you realize that Adam, before he committed his sin in the garden and became evil walked with God in the garden. Adam could walk and live with God because he did not have any sin. At first, Adam was righteous and holy, but once Adam committed sin by disobeying Allah, he and all of his descendants became unholy and could no longer live together with the holy God.

Someone may insist that although 'Isa did not have a father, he did have a mother and that she had the blood of Adam in her. This point is well taken. Explain to them that when a baby is in a mother, never is blood passed between the two. If blood is passed, very likely, both the mother and the child will die. Babies create their own blood as they develop in the mother's womb. 'Isa did not have Adam's blood in him.

Since Islam is a "works-based" religion, it is good to point out that Adam and Eve were banned from the Garden and from the presence of God because of one single sin. Explain what this means. Anyone who has committed only one sin has become unholy and cannot go to heaven and live in the presence of the holy God. Adam committed one sin and was cast out of God's presence without any hope of returning there. No matter how many good things man does, he cannot solve the problem of his unholiness. Only God can solve this problem for man.

The topic of Adam becoming a sinner and his descendents inheriting his sinful nature will arise. Use the Koranic verse below to help them understand that Adam was forever kicked out of the garden and his nature became evil, as did his descendents. Simply look at his descendents from Adam to Noah.

Surah Ta Ha 20:121 "Then they (Adam and his wife) both ate of it, so their evil inclinations became manifest to them, and they both began to cover themselves with leaves of the garden, and Adam disobeyed his Lord, so his life became evil."

When Adam was first created, he walked with Allah in the Garden. They could be together because both were holy. This is why the Koran says that 'Isa and Adam were similar. 'Isa was like Adam when Adam was holy. Then Adam sinned and could no longer stay with the holy God. The descendants of Adam who have Adam's blood in them are just like him. An apple tree only produces apples, it will never produce oranges. We long to be with Allah, but because we are unholy, we cannot get to Allah or heaven.

Transition Statement:

Say, "We need someone who is wise enough and powerful enough to help us. Is there a prophet who is wise enough and powerful enough to help us?"

Then ask him/her to read Surah Al Imran 3:48-54

2. Isa has Power over Death

Allah taught `Isa the 48 And He will teach him the book of wisdom and Book and the wisdom and the other holy books. Taurat and the Injil.

49 And (make him) an apostle to the children of Israel: That I have come to you with a sign from your Lord, that I determine for you out of dust like the form of a bird, then I breathe into it and it

'Isa heals the blind becomes a bird with Allah's

'Isa heals the leper permission and I heal the blind

'Isa raises the dead and the leprous, and bring the dead to life with Allah's permission and I inform you of what you should eat and what you should store in your houses; most surely there is a sign in this for you, if you are believers.

50 And a verifier of that which is before me of the Taurat and that I may allow you part of that which has been forbidden to you, and I have come to you with a sign from your Lord therefore be careful of (your duty to) Allah and obey me.

51 Surely Allah is my Lord and your Lord, therefore serve Him; this is the right path.

52 But when `Isa perceived unbelief on their part, he said "Who will be my helpers in Allah's way?" The disciples said: We are helpers (in the way) of Allah: We believe in Allah and bear witness that we are submitting ones.

53 Our Lord! We believe in what Thou hast revealed and we follow the apostle, so write us down with those who bear witness.

54 And they planned and Allah (also) planned, and Allah is the best of planners.

What to say about these verses:

3:48 In Surah Jonah 10:94 the Koran speaks about the "Before Books" or Scriptures (Kitabs): "And if thou (Mohammed) art in doubt as to what We reveal unto thee, then question those who have read the Scripture (that was) before thee. Verily the Truth from thy Lord hath come unto thee. So be not of the waverers."

Muslims know about the Scriptures (holy books or Kitabs) that were before. These scriptures to them include the Taurat (Torah), the Zabur (Psalms), Book of Wisdom (Proverbs, not normally mentioned by Muslims), and the Injil (Gospel). According to Surah Jonah 10:94, Allah tells Mohammed that if he has any doubts about Allah's words, then ask those who have read those books.

3:49 Allah demonstrated his power through 'Isa. The Koran says that the lepers were healed, the blind received their sight, and even the dead were raised to life again.

Don't let the first miracle listed in this ayat where 'Isa breathed life into the clay and it became a bird slip by without making a quick comment. Even though we do not accept this story, do like the Apostle Paul by using one of their stories to draw out a point. Direct them to the likeness and unity of 'Isa and Allah. Say, "Isn't it amazing that just as Allah made Adam out of clay and breathed life into it and it became alive, 'Isa had the same power to create life. He blew his "Ruh" (Spirit) into the clay and it came to life. This reaffirms that 'Isa is the Ruhullah of Allah.

Question: "What is our greatest enemy?" or "What bothers people the most?" Answer: death!"

Take the opportunity to drive home the fact that 'Isa has power over our greatest enemy. No one overcomes death - but 'Isa did!

Say, "Once again, this passage in the Koran floods my soul with hope. 'Isa had the power to raise the dead to life—POWER OVER DEATH! This is amazing. The world has been waiting for a prophet who can demonstrate power over our greatest enemy- death!"

3:50 'Isa said that his life verified or confirmed what the prophets had spoken about him in the `Before Kitabs (holy books).' The old prophets spoke much about "Isa Masi (the Promised One). When I read the `Before Kitabs,' I found over three hundred prophecies about 'Isa spoken by the prophets. For example this one was written 758 years before the birth of `Isa; it says: "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14) In the original language, the name 'Immanuel' means, `God with us.'

3:51 'Isa said that the Straight Path is to worship Allah alone. Say, "There is only one straight path to Allah. 'Isa knew about that straight path."

3:52-53 In order to get all of the people of the world to worship Allah alone, 'Isa asked for some helpers. A small group of men (the disciples) came forward and said that they are Muslims and that they will help 'Isa. In addition, they said that they believe in Allah's message and the Messenger ('Isa) that he sent down (note that not all translations say, "that He sent down). Down from where? Obviously, 'Isa was sent down from heaven.

The followers of `Isa are called, "Muslims". Use this opportunity to make a bridge. Say, "Isn't it amazing that the followers of 'Isa were called "Muslims?"

In closing of this section, ask your Muslim friend: "Do you know of any other prophet who was given the power that `Isa had?"

Then ask him to read Surah 3:55

3. `Isa Knows the Way to Heaven

"Terminate" in Arabic 55 And when Allah said: O 'Isa, I (mu-tawaffi-ka) means am going to terminate the period "to die." Other translations of your stay (on earth) and use the word you to ascend unto me and purify "gather." you of those who disbelieve and make those who follow you above 'Isa was raised to be those who disbelieve to the day of with Allah. Resurrection; then to Me shall be

Followers of 'Isa are your return, so I will decide between made superior to those you concerning that in which you who disbelieve. Differed.

What to say about this verse:

3:55 Ask if your Muslim friend knows the Arabic word for "death." If he has the Arabic Koran, ask him to read verse 55. Phonetically, it would be, "Iz qa lalla hu ya- `isa_ inni mutawaffika wa ra fi'uka ilayya wa mutahhiruka minal lazina kafaru_ wa ja 'ilul lazinattaba'u ka fauqal lazina kafaru_ ila_ yaumil giya mah(ti), summa ilayya marji'ukum fa ahkumu bainakum fima_ kuntum fihi takhtalifu_n(a)." Ask what the Arabic word, "Mutawaffika" means (root of the word is "Tawaffa"). He should answer, "To die" or "Death." Ask, "Does ayat 55 say that Allah would cause 'Isa to die then raise him?"

Say `It is exciting to read from the Koran that those who follow 'Isa and do his work will be lifted above all the Unbelievers in the world." To reinforce this statement, show them Surah Al--Imran 3:33 (or an easy way to remember this ayat is "3-3-3") which states, "Surely Allah chose Adam and Nuh (Noah) and the descendants of Ibrahim and the descendants of Imran (father of Maryam) above the nations."

Say, "According to the ayats that you have just read, is it true that `Isa came down from heaven, lived a holy life, had power over death, then left the earth and went to be with Allah, and is in heaven today?" Maybe there is hope for us to get to heaven after all. In Surah The Prophets 21:91 we read: "And she (Maryam) guarded her chastity, so We breathed into her of Our spirit and made her and her son a sign for the nations."

Along roadsides are signs that help us get to where we want to go. 'Isa is a sign for the entire world, according to the Koran.

Closing Questions:

Walk the Muslim you are talking with very carefully through the next two sets of questions.

If you wanted to get from here to my house, you would need someone to help you. Who would be the best choice to help you? Would you choose someone who has never been to my house before and admits that they do not know the way? Or would you say that the best person to help you get to my house from here would be me?

I am a child of Adam. I am a sinner and I need help. There is no way I can get into heaven. But heaven is where I want to go. Out of all the prophets, which one knows the way to heaven and is there now? Which prophet is best able to help me get to heaven?

Let the Muslim answer the questions.

At this point, you are finished with the Camel Method. Turn on your spiritual radar and see if God is at work.

Before you go out to use the Camel Method:

1. Before you go pray!

Pray in faith expecting results. Realize that God is already at work in this community and that there are already `people of peace' who are open to the good news of his gospel.

2. Before you go remember these things:

It's better that you not walk into a conversation with a copy of the Koran; you're only likely to offend Muslims. Instead, ask them to read from their Koran.

In your encounter with Muslims, it is better to ask questions and draw the truth out of them than to preach the truth at them.

There is not enough light in the Koran to bring them to salvation, but there are enough flickers of truth to draw out God's Person of Peace from among them.

As long as you stay within the Koran and ask questions, they cannot blame or attack you for teaching about 'Isa. However, once you have drawn out the Person of Peace, you will be able to leave the Koran behind and teach the Word of God.

There is a Koranic passage that can serve as a bridge between Muslims and Christians. It is Surah the Table Spread 5:82-83, "...And thou wilt find the nearest of them in affection to those who believe (to be) those who say: Lo! We are Christians. That is because there are among them priests and monks, and because they are not proud. When they listen to that which hath been revealed unto the messenger, thou seest their eyes overflow with tears because of their recognition of the Truth. They say: Our Lord, we believe. Inscribe us as among the witnesses." While Mohammed's estimation of willingness of Christians to receive his message may have been overly optimistic, it does lay a foundation for positive relations upon which you can build.

Unit 8, the Big Question

After completing the Camel Method, the number one question that I have been asked by Muslims is, "Who do you say Mohammed is?" An answer to this question that belittles Mohammed can be detrimental. Muslims feel a strong sense of obligation to protect Mohammed's honor. Below, I have provided a suggested answer to this excitable question.

Who do you say Mohammed is?

Suggested answer: "I say Mohammed is who he said he was in the Koran. Let's look at Surah The Sandhills 46:9 to see what Mohammed said about himself."

Surah The Sandhills 46:9 "I am nothing new among the Prophets; what will happen to me and to my followers, I do not know; I am only a plain warner."

Take the time to point out the three 3 parts to this verse:

1. He is not any different from the prophets before him.

He said that he is not the greatest.

2. He does not know where he or his followers are going (after death).

3. He is only a warner.

If the opportunity opens up, contrast Mohammed's words with those of Jesus':

"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life." (John 6:47)

"I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you unto myself that where I am there you may be also." John 14:1-7

Unit 9, Bridge from the Koran to the Bible

The Koran falls short of presenting the full gospel message. Therefore, you may need verses in the Koran that bridge your conversation to the Bible. Here are four verses from the Koran to help your Muslim friend understand that Allah's Truth and roadmap to heaven are perfectly revealed in the "Scriptures that came before the Koran." First look at Surah Jonah 10:94:

And if you (Mohammed) are in doubt concerning that which we reveal unto you, then question those who read the Scripture (that was) before you. Verily the Truth from thy Lord hath come unto you. So be not of the waverers.

Allah tells Mohammed, if you have doubts, you should question "those who read the Scripture that was before you," because the truth is found in those Scriptures. Christians and Jews are the ones who have read the previous scriptures referred to by Mohammed.

Then, ask your friend to read Surah the Women 4:136:

O you who believe! Believe in Allah and His messenger and the Scripture which He has revealed unto His messenger, and the Scripture which He revealed aforetime. Whosoever disbelieves in Allah and His angels and His Scriptures and His messengers and the Last day he verily has wandered far astray

It is common for Muslims to allege that the Scriptures "that came before," that is the Old and New Testaments, have been changed and corrupted and are therefore unreliable. Refer them to Surah Cattle 6:115-116 which reads:

...Those unto whom We gave the Scripture (aforetime) know that it is revealed from your Lord in truth. So be not (0 Mohammed) of the waverers. Perfected is the Word of the Lord in truth and justice. There is nothing that can change His words. He is the Hearer, the Knower.

So, Allah has assured Mohammed that the Scripture (prior to the Koran) was given by him. It is perfect and no one can change it.

Finally, show your friend that the roadmap for blessings and eternal life are found in the Taurat and Injil. Read the Table Spread 5:65-66

If only the People of the Scripture (the Jews - see verse 64) would believe and ward off evil, we would remit their sins from them and surely We would bring them into Gardens of Delight. If they had observed the Taurat (Torah) and the Injil (Gospel) and that which was revealed unto them by their Lord, then they would have been nourished from above them and from beneath their feet.

Summary

Surah Jonah 10:94 - Have doubts? Go to the people who have the “Before scripture."

Surah The Women 4:136 - Don't be a wanderer, believe in the "Before scriptures."

Surah Cattle 6:115-116 - Allah's words cannot be changed.

Surah The Table Spread 5:65-66 - Roadmap for blessings and eternal life.

Let's find a way to help us to remember these verses:

1. Remove the Surah numbers.

2. Group the first two verses together into a sentence, then the next two:

"When Jonah was 94, he warned 136 women."

"115 cattle taste best on my 65 tables"

Use the space below if you can think of an easier way to remember these verses.

Unit 10, Who to Say It To

If you help people know what to say and who to say it to, many will attempt to try it. From this training, you acquired some tools that you can use to reach out to Muslims. You have learned what to say:

"I have discovered an amazing truth in the Koran that gives hope of eternal life in heaven. Would you read Surah Al-Imran 3:42-55 so we can talk about it?"

Now let's answer the question, who do you say it to? Using the Camel Method you can begin a conversation with a Muslim or groups of Muslims almost anywhere, even in a mosque. As you share the Camel Method, keep your spiritual eyes and ears open. God may be working in the heart of someone. You will determine with whom to use the Camel Method by completing the following exercise.

1. Get a partner

Jesus sent his disciples out two by two. Together with your partner, make an appointment to do the Camel Method with Muslims in your community.

2. Make a list

Make a list of 8 Muslims in your community. If you do not know names, simply write a description such as "butcher at the market" or write the name of locations in your community where you know Muslims reside.

From the list of eight, choose two with whom you will share the Camel Method this week. Each week continue to share with two names from the list of 8 until you find the Person of Peace.

Write in the blanks below the names or descriptions of 8 Muslims

2 Muslims (from list above) this week that I will share the Camel with:

3. Go and do it.

Don't forget to revisit Muslims who do not receive Jesus as Savior but yet show an earnest interest or invites you to come back. Muslims need time to think.

Unit 11, Illustrated Version of Camel Training

David attends a Camel Training Seminar. He learns what to say.

He makes a list of eight Muslims with whom he will share the Camel Method.

David writes the names of the 8 Muslims on his calendar.

He then prepares for going out to find the Person of Peace.

David goes out and shares the Camel Method with the eight Muslims on his list until he finds a Person of Peace.

Possible Persons of Peace.

David finds Mustafa - The Person of Peace.

David goes to Mustafa's house. He finishes using the Koran as a bridge.

David has Mustafa lay the Koran aside. David tells Mustafa how to become a follower of `Isa. He visits Mustafa each day for 5 days for discipleship. (For a basic guideline for discipling a new MBB, see Appendix 4.)

David teaches Mustafa what to say (Camel Method) and who to say it to (Mustafa makes list of 8 Muslim names.)

Mustafa goes out to do the Camel Method with the 8 Muslims on his list, two each week.

David stays behind and prays for Mustafa,

Mustafa finds the Person of Peace

Mustafa trains the Person of Peace to use the Camel Method and has him make a list of 8 Muslims. Mustafa sends him out.

Mustafa gathers the MBBs and organizes a jamat.

Notes

[←1]

Names have been changed throughout this document for security reasons.

[←2]

The team reached a point where we could not give an accurate count on total baptisms and church starts. We do not have the manpower or the time to conduct such a census on the underground movement. Therefore, we resorted to giving rounded estimated numbers for baptisms and church starts.

[←3]

David Garrison, Church Planting Movements (Midlothian: WIGTake Resources, 2004) p. 99

[←4]

Reported by Ali Sina, Islam in Fast Demise, March 31, 2004, (to see the entire transcript of the interview on Al-Jazeeras' television, go to http:/ /www.faithfreedom.org/oped/sina31103.htm)

[←5]

Garrison, p. 49.

[←6]

D. Woodberry/R. Shubin, March 31, 2004. "Why I Chose Jesus," see: http://missionfrontiers.org/2001/01/muslim.htm

[←7]

Bilquis Sheikh, I Dared to Call Him Father (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House Co, date), 173 pp. and Esther Gulshan, Torn Veil (Great Britain,: Harper Collins, 1984), 155 pp.

[←8]

He was told in a dream to come to the river. Join the Dream Team Prayer Movement and become a prayer advocate who prays for Muslims to be visited in their dreams by the man in the white robe. To read more stories of dream encounters, see Appendix 2.

[←9]

David Garrison, Church Planting Movements (Richmond: International Mission Board, 1999), 160 pp.

Table of Contents

Camel Training Manual, Kevin Greeson

Copyright

Foreword

Preface

Bridges and Barriers

Acknowledgements:

Introduction

The Camel Trail

Roadblocks!

Terms

Key Terms:

Inside the Koran

Unit 1, Islam Today

Spotlight

Open Borders

Islam's Own Reformation

Abundant Tools

Increasing Missionary Force

Dreams

Unit 2, Nothing Short Of a Church Planting Movement

Passion

Identity of Evangelists and Church Planters

2. How It Is Spreading

3. Method of Evangelism

4. Point Of Conversion

5. Baptism

6. Terminology

7. The Majority

8. Worship and Places of Worship

9. Leadership Training

10. Contextualized Bible

11. Persecution

Below Are Lessons Learned And Adaptations We Made.

1. Overcame the "Outsider" Syndrome

2. Security

3. Massive Seed-Sowing

4. The Koran as a Bridge

5. Contextualization

6. A Light in the Darkness

7. Rejected By Local Church Bodies

8. Boldness

Four "Out Standing" CPM Principles

Speak Out

Act Out

Keep Out

Send Out

Unit 3, Bring On The CPM!

1. Jesus Knew God The Father Was At Work.

2. Jesus Was Committed

3. Jesus Knew That Apart From The Father He Could Do Nothing.

4. Jesus was attentive with his spiritual eyes and ears, to know where the Father was working.

Examples

"He who is of God hears God's words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God." (John 8:47)

6. The Father

Unit 4, the Person of Peace

Finding a Person of Peace

1 After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. 2 Then He said to them, "The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. 3 Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves. 4 Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road. 5 But whatever house you enter, first say, "Peace to this house." And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you. 7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house. 8 Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. And heal the sick there, and say to them, "The kingdom of God has come near to you.' 10 But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive yo

14 But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. 15 And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades. 16 He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me." 17 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name." 18 And He said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven."

Jesus' Instructions for Finding the Person of Peace

GO TWO BY TWO - 10:1

BELIEVE IN THE HARVEST - 10:2

WATCH OUT! - 10:3

GO NEEDY - 10:4

MAKE YOUR PRESENCE KNOWN - 10:5-6

IDENTIFY THE PERSON OF PEACE - 10:6-8

STAY - 10:7 What do I do once!

EAT AND HEAL - 10:8-9

SHAKE THE DUST OFF - 10:10-16

RESULTS - 10:17-20

Summary

Unit 5, Getting Beyond the Wall

Exercise

Conclusion

Unit 6, Using the Koran as a Bridge

Uddin's Story

22 Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, "Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; 23for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.

Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you: 24 God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. 25 Nor is He worshipped with men's hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. 26 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, 27 so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, "For we are also His offspring.' "Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man's devising. 30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now comma

32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said, "We will hear you again on this matter." 33 So Paul departed from among them. 34 However, some men joined him and believed, among them Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

Questions:

Unit 7, the Camel Method

The Goal of the Camel Method

Your Notes

Camel Method Presentation Step By Step

Recommendations:

Add Two Important Ingredients to Your Presentation

Attitude

Camel Method Explained

Camel Method Explained

Important Questions:

Transition Statement:

Closing Questions:

Unit 8, the Big Question

Unit 9, Bridge from the Koran to the Bible

Summary

Unit 10, Who to Say It To

Unit 11, Illustrated Version of Camel Training

Notes

Table of Contents

Camel Training Manual, Kevin Greeson

Copyright

Foreword

Preface

Bridges and Barriers

Acknowledgements:

Introduction

The Camel Trail

Roadblocks!

Terms

Key Terms:

Inside the Koran

Unit 1, Islam Today

Spotlight

Open Borders

Islam's Own Reformation

Abundant Tools

Increasing Missionary Force

Dreams

Unit 2, Nothing Short Of a Church Planting Movement

Passion

Identity of Evangelists and Church Planters

2. How It Is Spreading

3. Method of Evangelism

4. Point Of Conversion

5. Baptism

6. Terminology

7. The Majority

8. Worship and Places of Worship

9. Leadership Training

10. Contextualized Bible

11. Persecution

Below Are Lessons Learned And Adaptations We Made.

1. Overcame the "Outsider" Syndrome

2. Security

3. Massive Seed-Sowing

4. The Koran as a Bridge

5. Contextualization

6. A Light in the Darkness

7. Rejected By Local Church Bodies

8. Boldness

Four "Out Standing" CPM Principles

Speak Out

Act Out

Keep Out

Send Out

Unit 3, Bring On The CPM!

1. Jesus Knew God The Father Was At Work.

2. Jesus Was Committed

3. Jesus Knew That Apart From The Father He Could Do Nothing.

4. Jesus was attentive with his spiritual eyes and ears, to know where the Father was working.

Examples

"He who is of God hears God's words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God." (John 8:47)

6. The Father

Unit 4, the Person of Peace

Finding a Person of Peace

1 After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. 2 Then He said to them, "The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. 3 Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves. 4 Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road. 5 But whatever house you enter, first say, "Peace to this house." And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you. 7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house. 8 Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. And heal the sick there, and say to them, "The kingdom of God has come near to you.' 10 But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive yo

14 But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. 15 And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades. 16 He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me." 17 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name." 18 And He said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven."

Jesus' Instructions for Finding the Person of Peace

GO TWO BY TWO - 10:1

BELIEVE IN THE HARVEST - 10:2

WATCH OUT! - 10:3

GO NEEDY - 10:4

MAKE YOUR PRESENCE KNOWN - 10:5-6

IDENTIFY THE PERSON OF PEACE - 10:6-8

STAY - 10:7 What do I do once!

EAT AND HEAL - 10:8-9

SHAKE THE DUST OFF - 10:10-16

RESULTS - 10:17-20

Summary

Unit 5, Getting Beyond the Wall

Exercise

Conclusion

Unit 6, Using the Koran as a Bridge

Uddin's Story

22 Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, "Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; 23for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.

Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you: 24 God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. 25 Nor is He worshipped with men's hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. 26 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, 27 so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, "For we are also His offspring.' "Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man's devising. 30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now comma

32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said, "We will hear you again on this matter." 33 So Paul departed from among them. 34 However, some men joined him and believed, among them Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

Questions:

Unit 7, the Camel Method

The Goal of the Camel Method

Your Notes

Camel Method Presentation Step By Step

Recommendations:

Add Two Important Ingredients to Your Presentation

Attitude

Camel Method Explained

Camel Method Explained

Important Questions:

Transition Statement:

Closing Questions:

Unit 8, the Big Question

Unit 9, Bridge from the Koran to the Bible

Summary

Unit 10, Who to Say It To

Unit 11, Illustrated Version of Camel Training

Notes