Welcome to this week's edition of the roundup.
One of the Mahabba Facilitators has been in Lebanon recently and has met an inspirational couple who are running a school for refugee children.
They explain how they started the school and state:
“This is a special time. You can look at the refugee issue and see it as either a problem or an opportunity. They are coming to us now, so we can ask, do we have something to give? And of course we have a lot to give...
The Syrians are coming to us. Instead of hating them, we should preach the gospel. Where others see horror, I see children of God; I see future pastors and apostles among them.”
There is also an account of a Muslim lady who started to attend church in Lebanon and came to faith.
She saw the love of Jesus and got baptised and then her husband did the same after a month. They are now in another country, sharing about the Lord with Muslim people there.
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I thought I was coming to help refugees, but I see now they are helping me, praying for me. All the relief work this church does is now done by Syrian people. It’s like living in the book of Acts. I’ve learned not to put God in a box; I knew he was big; now I’m seeing this with my own eyes.”
I think that is a challenge to us, wherever we live!
A Muslim woman who spent time in a Bosnian refugee camp has been crowned Miss World Australia.
Twenty five year old Esma Voloder moved to Australia at five months old. She has a degree in psychology and currently works as a criminal profiler.
She has been reported to be using her new found fame to challenge Islamophobia. She will go on to compete at the finals in China at the end of the year.
She has stated:
“The Islam that I know, that is in the Quran, I don’t associate that with any acts that are occurring around the world.”
Women's clothing is also once again in the news. The burkini which was often in the news last summer in France has now reached the the headlines in the Czech Republic.
Apparently complaints about wearing the garment aren't abased on religious intolerance rather concerns regarding hygiene.
Water parks vary in their response to the burkini - with some banning them, others 'tolerating' them and other locations inspecting swim wear on arrival.
A denim hijab, modelled by a Somali refugee, has also made the headlines.
Staying on the hijab theme, a new hijab emoji has been created by a Saudi teenager after being unable to find an emoji that represented her.
The design was accepted by Apple on Monday- and now headscarf wearing women around the world will have an emoji to represent them.
And finally a Muslim sex guide for women has been published - entitled The Muslimah Sex Manual: A Halal Guide for Mind Blowing Sex.
Written anonymously, the author has received "disgusting messages" as well as praise.
“Muslim women’s organisations have praised her, saying the book will empower Muslim women and protect them from entering into sexually abusive relationships”
The range of articles referred to today comes from Lebanon, Australia, America, The Czech Republic, and the UK. They are about people in different situations dealing with different issues.
I am sure there are other views. But I suggest that this week's media snap shot illustrates some of the diversity of the Muslim world.
So how should we respond? I'll leave you with one suggestion:
“Relax. Enjoy your friends. Enjoy their company along with the company of Jesus. Point Him out, freely, without fear or intimidation. You’re not responsible to sell Him to them. You’re simply saying what you’ve seen. You’re not the judge. You’re the witness. We’ll go further and further into this way of thinking until you’re free to speak of Jesus often and always. And you’ll see - people will listen. Not because we’re so good, but because He is compelling!
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