Asylum

God is moving among Muslims

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God is moving among Muslims

This is a real-life story of recent events from one of the local Mahabba groups in the Network. Names and details have been deliberately removed to protect the identity of those involved, but praise God - he is working in the lives of Muslims to reveal Jesus!

He is moving

I was delighted to be invited to the birthday party.

Oz was a Syrian asylum seeker. I met him just at the time his application was accepted and he promptly moved away with his family into a big city

In our small town he had found Christian friends and even attended some church events. I visited him in his new home.

On the one hand it was gloriously multicultural and on the other hand it was not a nice neighbourhood. I knew it, he knew it.

I put him in touch with a nearby Christian bookshop which I understood to be run by a Pakistani believer and was pleased to hear later that he had visited it.

Then came the invitation for his two year old’s birthday party. It was quite an event. And the bookshop manager had been invited too.

He was not a Pakistani at all but fellow Syrian, young in the faith and keen as mustard. That was more than I had asked or thought.

Then came the news that Oz had found a better place to live and was moving out to a suburb. I was glad that his family had a nicer home, but could I put him in touch with local Christian friends?

I spoke to the bookshop man:

Oz is moving. This is his new address.

The bookshop man said:

Really? I live just round the corner from him!

Wow. God is on his case. Hallelujah!

 

Your turn

Have you been touched by this story? If so, you can play your part.

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Elliot's Weekly Round-up: Hijabs, frustration, Birmingham & asylum

female Muslim athletes are delighted
— http://www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/brands/nikes-first-high-performance-hijab-coming-female-muslim-athletes/

This is the big news that Nike are set to launch a sports hijab in 2018. The material it is made from has lots of little holes to ensure breathability.  It will be available in three colours. This demonstrates haw big business is becoming more aware of the Muslim pound. We too, as the church, need to become more aware of those around us.

#DearSister
You must be married by age______
What about my goals and aspirations?
Sister, your goal should be to serve your husband
(UGH)
— http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-39179674

A recent report states how Muslim women are frustrated about being told how to dress and behave. Women's comments in the article are very different to the often assumed repressed role.  

The second episode of Extremely British Muslims is on Channel 4 this Thursday.  The last episode was about the struggle to find a spouse using family connections, mosque matchmaking services, and Muslim dating sites.  This episode homes in on what it is like for young men growing up as Muslims in Birmingham. It highlights their difficulties when travelling internationally, their aid work with refugees in Greece, along with discussion of why some people become radicalised.

“You have people who are ex-bad boys who still have that gang mentality. And if you want to be in a gang, what’s the biggest gang in the world right now?

“ISIS is the biggest, baddest gang in the world. You can get an AK and get forgiven by God at the same time.
— http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/showbiz-tv/terrorists-why-extremely-british-muslims--12641261

Perhaps their conclusion is the most noticeable- and is a challenge.

“I know we have got to do more too, we have to work harder to mix. My community needs to be more outward looking.

“It’s up to all of us.”
— http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/showbiz-tv/terrorists-why-extremely-british-muslims--12641261

Finally a video that informs and may challenge preconceptions of asylum seekers.  Life as an asylum seeker here is tough.  Let's respond with Jesus love.