Today there are over 1.6 billion* Muslims in the world. It is likely that you live in or near a city where Muslims reside. No matter where you live, Muslims are now your neighbours. Sadly, over 80 per cent* of Muslims today do not personally know a Christian. We are told in Leviticus 19:18 to love our neighbour as ourself. In Luke 10:27 Jesus said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’” (NIV).

You might ask: How do I love a Muslim? Don’t they speak a different language, believe in Islam and think Jesus is a prophet who did not die on the cross? Doesn’t the media portray Muslims as dangerous and untrustworthy?

Jesus does not call us, as Christians, to love people who are just like us. He says to love your neighbours and your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you. So, what does it mean for us to love our Muslim neighbours? 

My wife and I learnt much from living in a Muslim neighbourhood in North Africa for many years. We discovered that Muslims are friendly, social, hospitable and religious. They love children, food and music, they honour their elders and they are devoted to their families.

We raised our three children in an apartment building, where they played on the street with our Muslim neighbours. We discovered that if we were intentional and open in our relationship with our neighbours, God gave us countless opportunities to share the love of Jesus.

How can you love your Muslim neighbours?

Firstly, smile and greet. Learn the common Muslim greeting (As-Salaam-Alaikum). If they speak another language at home, learn greetings and phrases in their native language. Feel free to introduce yourself as a Christian or a follower of Jesus Christ. Religion is a vital part of their life, as much as your Christian faith is to you.

Secondly, take an interest. Ask questions. Learn their names and practice the correct pronunciation. Ask about the meaning of their names. Find out about their culture, their family and their religion. In doing these things, you communicate that you value them as people.

Thirdly, learn. Allow your neighbours to teach you something. Learn some of their language or how to prepare a traditional dish from their culture. Learn about where they shop, what sports they play or what apps they like. Be willing to be a receiver and learner. It will give you the opportunity to share with them later.

Fourthly, make yourself available. This is a challenge with our busy schedules. When you start to get to know a Muslim in your community, try not to look at your phone, wondering what’s next on your schedule. In North Africa, my local friends would often say, “You Westerners all have nice watches but no time. We don’t wear watches, but we have lots of time!”

Finally, practice hospitality. Paul tells us to do this in Romans 12:13. My wife often tells me that she learnt hospitality from our Muslim friends. She learnt how to make tagine and couscous sitting in the kitchen for hours helping her friends prepare food. There is nothing like sharing a meal with a Muslim family in their home or inviting them into your home. If you are worried about what to serve, look up dishes online from their culture, serve hallal meat or go vegetarian. When you share a meal together with a Muslim in a home, so many walls come down and you will have freedom to relate.

Loving our Muslim neighbours is an opportunity and privilege. God has brought them to our doorstep. Now, you not only have a Muslim who lives in your city, you have a neighbour, made in the image of God, whom you know by name, and whom you can reach out to with the love of Jesus.

*Statistics provided by the Joshua Project and Pew Research Center.

“He is living in the sky,” they told him. “If we do something bad, he will be angry. If we do something good, he will be happy with us. He is kind. He is merciful. And he is also angry.”

“Nobody really gave me a good answer,” Fred remembered. “Still my question was, ‘Why can’t I see Him?’”

Jihad

In 1978, the majority of Afghan people started to fight against the government, protesting the revolution and occupation by what Fred termed the “red army,” USSR presence in the Afghan government and military. “We called it jihad. It means holy war,” he said.

At age nine, Fred watched his uncle and cousins join the jihad. Fred was too young to fight, but he strongly supported the majority group. When he was ten, Fred asked the religious teacher at his school another question about how to see God. “If some infidel people come [to] an Islamic country, and people start jihad against them and are martyred…can they see God and go to paradise?” he wanted to know.

“Exactly,” the teacher confirmed.

As soon as he graduated high school, Fred joined the majority militia. “This was my plan: to be a martyr and go to heaven and see God,” he explained. Impressed by Fred’s physical fitness and bravery, the commanders offered him a position overseeing 10 men. Later, after he completed a sensitive attack, they put him in charge of a weapon storage area near the Iranian border.

Jesus in the Qur’an

High in the mountains, Fred had time to read books and study. Although he had read the Qur’an previously, he hadn’t understood its original Arabic. Now, he had a copy of the Qur’an translated into his own language. “Through the Qur’an I found Jesus Christ,” he exclaimed. “All other people died, but Jesus Christ is alive!”

“Who is Jesus, son of Mary?” Fred wondered. A few weeks later, Fred had a dream. A person wearing a white robe stood across from Fred on the other side of a huge dark chasm. Fred couldn’t see his face. “He was a like a light,” he described. The person spoke to Fred: “Come to me. Come to me. Come to me.” But Fred could not bridge the gap.

The next day when Fred woke up, he was confused. During breakfast, he shared his dream with his friend, a mullah (Islamic teacher). “You had a really important dream,” the mullah told Fred. “You saw the Mahdi, the last leader of the Shia Muslims.”

“You will be martyred very soon,” he added. The mullah’s interpretation and prophecy troubled Fred. First, the person in his dream did not match other descriptions of the Mahdi. Secondly, Fred wanted to find the figure in his dream before he died. “I was pretty sure He was Jesus Christ,” Fred admitted.

Three days later, the Afghan government attacked Fred’s post. In the middle of the fray, Fred noticed a friend who had been shot. “I took his dead body from behind the machine gun, and I sat behind the machine gun, and I started to fire,” he said. The next moment, he and the machine gun blew up.

When Fred woke up, he found himself in an Iranian hospital. “We saw from the other hills, you crashed down from that hill, but we found you at the top of the hill. How did you come [up]?” his friends asked.

“I don’t know,” Fred told them. “But I felt some person was with me, the person I saw in the dream.”

Journey to faith

Three days after his hospitalisation, Fred was approached by commanders and asked to return to the fight. He said no. They offered him more money and a higher position. After Fred declined those incentives, they used shame. “We are sure that you are afraid,” they accused.

“No, I want to go back to my family,” Fred replied. He joined his parents, who were refugees in Iran. Then he began searching for Christians. He found a church and knocked on the door. A small window slid open. “What do you want?” a voice asked.

“I want to know about Jesus Christ,” Fred said.

“Go away,” the voice responded. “We don’t have time. That’s very dangerous.” The window slid closed. Fred knocked again five times, persisting until he received a slip of paper with a phone number. Through that number, Fred contacted a Christian man who invited him to his house.

That man tried to answer Fred’s questions about Jesus, “but after some months, I was like a one-month-old baby in the faith, but [he] gave me very strong steak, very heavy food, and that was difficult for me,” Fred said. He, “told me Jesus Christ, Son of God.” Although the man tried to explain, Fred could not accept the concept, rejecting the theology.

Later, Fred moved to Dubai for work. For the next 15 years, “sometimes I was a Christian, sometimes I [was] Muslim, sometimes nothing,” Fred said. “But I never was able to forget Jesus Christ.” Still, Fred felt Jesus asking him, “Where are you?”

Eventually, Fred went back to Iran, got married, and finally, returned to Afghanistan. There, Fred managed a business frequented by Westerners. One woman stood out, though. Finally, Fred approached her. “Who are you?” he asked. “You are different.”

“Fred, I am a Christian,” she responded. “I am a believer, a follower of Jesus Christ.”

“All white people are Christian,” Fred replied. “Look, some of them [wear] a cross!”

“No, Fred, all the white people are not Christians,” she countered. “If we do not give our lives to Jesus Christ, we are not really Christian.”

No longer silent

On 4 January 2004, Fred read Matthew 10:32-33: “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge you before my Father in heaven” (NIV).

The passage shocked Fred. “I was a silent Christian,” he said. He believed in Jesus but was afraid to tell his wife, afraid he would lose his children. For more than two hours, Fred knelt on the office floor, crying. In his mind, he saw his life play out like a film, “how I’m bad and how Jesus Christ is good with me.”

When he came out of the room, he went straight to his friends: “From today, I am a Christian. I want to tell you about Jesus Christ. He is alive. He is the right way.”

Several months later, Fred’s wife, Mia*, also became a believer. In 2005, however, following severe persecution, Fred’s family fled to Pakistan, where they spent the next seven years.

During that time both Fred and Mia attended Bible college. The school was good, but life was dangerous, he commented. Sometimes, Fred simply parked the car on the side of the highway, so the family could sleep. In 2011, after receiving another death threat, Fred applied for asylum from the UN.

Within eight months, Fred’s family procured visas to Australia. “Since the first day we arrived in Australia, God used us with our case worker,” Fred shared. When Fred told the case worker he was a Christian, the case worker asked whether he had a Bible. “Yes, I have a Bible in your language,” Fred said, gifting the man God’s Word.

In 2014, Fred joined OM Australia “and God is using us everywhere here in Australia” to reach out to Muslims, he exclaimed. “Praise the Lord for this opportunity God gave us.”

*Name changed

Nicole James is a world traveller and writer for OM International. She’s passionate about partnering with believers to communicate the ways God is working across the globe.

For decades, countries in Europe and North America have seen a steady flow of refugees, international students, business people and immigrants streaming into their countries. Muslims have always been among those leaving their home countries and settling in diaspora situations. However, in 2015, an unprecedented situation arose with more than one million, primarily Muslim refugees, pouring into Europe. In some places in Europe the development led to chaos and left the world wondering what was happening. In the mix of sympathy for—and compassion with—the refugees was the realisation that Europe was dramatically changed forever. People everywhere asked what this change would mean for Europe and the world.

It is obvious that such a large number of people with a different culture and religion will bring changes to our culture, lifestyle and perhaps even to our freedom and security. Because of this, many people seem to think we must protect our culture, lifestyle, freedom and certainly our security. Many Christians seem to think we need to ask God to protect our way of life. After all, they reason, our way of life is built on the values and beliefs of Christianity and the teaching of the Bible. But is it truly God’s main goal to see our way of life protected?

In Acts 17:26-27, Paul tells the Greek philosophers what the one true goal of God is. In verse 26, he explains that God made every nation on earth from one man, and He determines WHEN and WHERE they should live. In verse 27, Paul goes on to state that God has but one goal in determining the when and where of our life: so that they (every person on earth) may seek Him, experience Him and find Him.  

When we look at the mass movement of refugees to Europe in 2015, we can be sure that God has something to do with it. God sets the lifetime of people and moves them to the place where He wants them in order that they may become interested—desperate for Him. He wants them to experience Him, often through the love, kindness and compassion of God’s children. And He wants people find Him and His saving grace.

Yes, the refugee crisis is truly a world emergency. Yes, Muslim diaspora groups in non-Muslim countries will bring dramatic change, which might be uncomfortable for many and perhaps dangerous for some. But it is also clear in the midst of this crisis that God has but one goal: That people will seek Him, reach out to Him, experience Him and find Him.

OM Muslim Diaspora Ministries exist because God’s goal must be our goal. 

Climbers came from the local area, and from Brisbane, about an hour away by car, and ranged in ages from 10 to 79 years old.

“Every participant was filled with the desire and determination to do what they could to raise awareness and funding for the Jogini girls of India,” noted one team leader. The Jogini girls, sometimes as young as seven years of age, are dedicated to the temple goddess. Thereafter they become trapped in a life of ritualised prostitution.

Participants enjoyed a bake stall, a market stall showcasing hand-made goods from the project, a sausage sizzle, henna art, face painting and a kids’ club programme. A team prayed for the climbers and for the Jogini girls and the work in India throughout the event. Prayers were answered, as paramedics had a quiet day, with no injuries reported.

At 09:00 the first team of five climbers began ascending Mt Edwards, followed by other teams at 10-minute intervals. Progress was monitored by team leaders, and marshals offered encouragement and support to help the climbers summit.

Climbers carried a slave profile card that shared the story of a person caught in modern-day slavery and human trafficking. They also carried a pouch of sand, which was poured into the palm of each climber after they had a time of reflection. The women then scattered the sand over the mountain as a symbol of declaring freedom for those who have no voice, and proclaiming that their lives are not worthless.

As a result of the climbers’ and supporters’ hard work, determination and generosity, the event raised over $10,000 AUD ($7,200 USD), with donations and sponsorships still coming in.

“All involved played a vital role in bringing hope to the hopeless, giving a voice to the voiceless, and being a part of transforming the lives of Jogini girls in India,” said Kate Rodwell, director of Freedom Climb Australia. “With five more climbs taking place over the next six weeks in Australia and New Zealand, it is encouraging to see a grass-roots movement of people wanting to partner with OM to make a difference in the lives of women and girls caught in human trafficking, oppression, exploitation and modern-day slavery.”

For more information about the Freedom Climb in Australia, visit the website here.

John has heard ideas across the spectrum – ranging from lashing out against Islam to handing out roses to Muslim women to show they are accepted. What can and should Christians around the world be doing?

“Jesus, as the incarnate Word of God, came to live out the message of God among us,” continued John. “He then commissioned his followers to go and make disciples of all nations, so in a similar (though different) way again to live out and proclaim the message of the Gospel to all people – to the sympathetic ones, as well as the ones who are very opposed to the message.”

According to MAP Australia, research has shown that more than 60 per cent of Muslims who become followers of Christ do so because they have Christian friends.

“The tragedy is, most Muslims in Western countries never have a single Christian friend,” added John. “Building genuine friendships in which we openly share our beliefs and values is the single simple way by which every Christian can impact the lives of others, including Muslims.”  

A Fijian-Indian Muslim woman, who has been a friend of John’s wife, Lydia, for a few years, recently went to church for the first time. She had been afraid for some time, due to a pending operation she needed. After praying with her, Lydia gave her a Bible and biography of George Mueller. Greatly impacted by the book, she asked to go to church and has since been introduced to a small Nazarene church in her neighbourhood, to which she is now well connected.

“We Muslims live in close community – but we don’t trust each other,” said another friend, sadly. “I cannot tell any of my problems to my Muslim friends. They will think I am weak, and they will use this against me. I can only be open with my Christian friends… Since meeting Christians, I have become very disappointed with my Muslim culture. I want to understand why Christians are different.”

Pray for OM Australia’s MAP team, as they live out the message of God in various communities in Australia, and pray that more Christians across the globe would be encouraged to engage with their Muslim neighbours.

*Name changed

To share God's love with these visitors, MAP Australia hosted Bound for Paradise (B4P), a week-long mission outreach to Muslims from the Persian Gulf in Queensland, Australia, from 25-29 August.

Under the guidance of full-time workers in Muslim outreach, who speak both English and Arabic, 24 participants from many different backgrounds joined this outreach.

Daily, participants met for training, debriefing, prayer and praise from 10:30 to 16:00. Each evening, they set up a tent and offered free Arabic coffee and sweets to Muslim visitors, who they invited to stop for a chat. Tracts and DVDs were also handed out to those interested in knowing more at the end of conversations.

“A number of Muslim people came to the tent on more than one occasion, which was encouraging,” said Eric*, the co-ordinator of B4P. Although numbers seemed to drop during the week, approximately 80 people visited in total. The outreach team was also blessed by the help of an unbeliever, who loaned them a trailer – free of charge – for the whole week.

Within a few metres of where the tent was located, the road was being resurfaced. One night, Eric had the chance to speak to one of the local men, who was controlling traffic with a stop/go sign.

“At the end of the night, when we were packing up, he came over and asked what we had been doing,” said Eric. “I explained that we were Christians, and that we wanted to share the love of Jesus with Muslim visitors. At the end of the conversation, [the road worker] paused for a thoughtful second and said, ‘Good on ya mate; there should be more of it.’ Our team was encouraged by his words, which were said in a typically Australian way!”

The next B4P outreach will be hosted in Queensland, Australia, from 13-17 July 2015. For more information, contact: map.info@om.org.
 
*Name changed

A few days later, a Muslim friend of Peter went to the book table to chat. Over a cup of coffee, Peter and his Muslim friend talked about issues with coming to faith, but their conversation was constantly interrupted by the friend’s phone. “You should meet my friend and convert him,” Peter’s friend said as he hung up the phone for the umpteenth time. “He is coming to see me now.”

Tired of the constant interruption of the phone, Peter went back to the book table. A short while later, his Muslim friend joined him at the book table with his Chinese stepbrother.

“He introduced me [to his Chinese stepbrother] as his teacher whom he goes to when the Sheik can’t answer his questions,” said Peter. “The Chinese guy looked at me with utmost respect and told me how Jesus helped him in life and how politicians in China were more and more pro-Christianity.”

Taking a Bible, the Chinese man told Peter he would be at church on Sunday. “[And] he was,” said Peter. “He came to me and told me he had spent five hours reading the Bible and got to Genesis 25. He looked at me like I should be doing more about the Bible. He said everyone needed to read the Bible. He was again at my place on Tuesday night with his $3 distribution Bible as I led a Bible study. My Muslim friend laughs at us in a friendly, praise-God kind of way; he told me he had not expected this.”

Added Peter, “It still amazes me when I see prayer and the Word of God change lives, as I peer over my book table on the busy Muslim street.”

Praise God for the impact MAP Australia is making in the Muslim community in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, and for the fruit Peter and his team have seen in recent months.

*Name changed

Some time ago, after listening to his friend over coffee, Peter invited him to dinner at church. “He stayed for the service after dinner and has been coming ever since,” said Peter.

Peter’s friend was invited to the church camp, but he didn’t have walking shoes, sunglasses, a hat, a pillow or most of the things on the “what to bring list”. He told Peter that it had been 20 years since he had been outside the city.

“So I drove him there just for one day, and we went home again to sleep,” said Peter. “We enjoyed bush walking and having a huge barbecue lunch. We studied about the church in the Book of Acts, and the preacher asked the crowd if anyone would like to be part of this type of church. My Muslim friend was the only one to reply with a loud, ‘Yes’.”

“He found lots of other people to talk to in this community,” continued Peter. “He still prayed the obligatory Muslim prayers at the appropriate times of day while on a church camp. However, he shared with me his frustration about all his friends—Muslim or not—that they were not interested in joining the community with us.” As they drove home after spending 14 hours out of the city, Peter asked him if he thought it had been worth it. “He told me it was a life-changing moment,” said Peter.

Praise God for Peter’s friend’s openness to attending church, and for the impact the church camp had on him that day. Pray for Peter’s friend as he continues to invite his friends to the community, that they too might be encouraged by what they find.

*Name changed

They also had the opportunity to be ‘Jesus' hands and feet’ in the local community by showing His love in practical ways. Two hundred and fifty teens and leaders visited nursing homes, painted houses and did gardening, cleaning, prayer walks and barbecue outreaches one afternoon. Many of the teenagers and leaders were stretched in their faith and positive responses were received from the community. 

Gwen Kuhrt, resident of Grantham, an area affected by the flood last year, said, “God bless you all, and especially the young hearts who opened themselves up to us yesterday and shared with us a bit of their courage, enthusiasm and determination to continue.”

TeenStreet Australia culminated with a few teenagers coming to Christ for the first time, many re-dedications and people feeling God placing a call to missions on their lives. “It was an amazing week where we saw God moving powerfully in the lives of teens and leaders alike,” said Danielle from Australia.

"He has given me the courage and the joy to go out there and call other teenagers to God, to share the word of God to anybody and welcome them,” said one of the teenagers. “I encourage other teens to just come to TeenStreet and see what God has for them."

While Ben* was reading the Book of Isaiah over a cup of chai latte, a man from Djibouti sat down next to him. He had been watching Ben and said that he had a Christian friend. He added that he had a lot of questions too. Praying for guidance, Ben flicked through the Bible to a relevant section to answer his questions. The man said he felt the pull of the Scriptures and asked if Ben believed he was going to paradise. Ben told him he was 100 per cent certain because of Jesus. The man told Ben that wasn’t so, because he called Jesus the Son of God. “That’s what the Qur’an says,” replied Ben, smiling.

Teams all over Australia connect with their Muslim neighbours and share God’s love. An Australian from a Maltese Catholic background became a Muslim through the influence of friends. This man thanked the team for explaining biblical Christianity to him. He had studied full-time in a madrasa and could recite most of the Qur’an. He spoke about a spiritual force holding him in Islam. Team members sat in his house going through Scripture. He was overjoyed to find that things he hated about Australian culture were rebuked in the Scriptures, and he said that if someone could explain why God had planned to put His son on the cross from the beginning of creation, he would become a Christian.

Please pray for the Ministry to Australian People (MAP) team and for Muslims in Australia as they confront modern life, Islam and Scripture. Pray that God would speak to them, and that they would hear the voice of their Maker as they read the Scriptures. For more information and a DVD about the MAP team in Australia, please contact Stephanie.Hale@om.org.

* Name changed 

40,000 people attended Australia’s leading three-day music festival, Easterfest, held in Toowoomba, Queensland, over Easter to hear artists such as Darlene Zschech, Michael W Smith, Roma Waterman and Vita Adam, as well as bands like P.O.D, Mercy Me and Hawk Nelson. An OM Australia team shared about mission opportunities at the music festival, and many interested people inquired about TeenStreet and gap-year possibilities, as well as short- and long-term options with OM.

Farther south near Melbourne, the Belgrave Heights Easter Convention attracted about 4,000 people. OM Australia staff was invited to the panel to talk about global missions, and a team from the OM ship manned a stand on site. The OM Australia staff will be kept busy as they follow up the many expressions of interest that came from both of these events.

Praise God for the interest shown at these events. Pray that God opens hearts to the adventure of joining missions.

On Monday, 19 March 2012, the OM Australia team moved into their new home in Melbourne. The old rented office space was cleared of all office equipment and volunteers filled cars and a truck with furniture and boxes. “The dream of purchasing a home for OM Australia began some years ago,” reported Kate from OM Australia, “with the goal of seeing more training and preparation of people for world mission; more funds raised for relief, development and outreach projects; better debriefing and member care for those serving on the field and more effective communications to resource the Australian church for awareness, prayer and understanding of world needs. With the opportunity to rent out two-thirds of the building, we anticipate even more money will be released for kingdom expansion.”

The lead up to the move was a busy time of culling, sorting, prioritising and filing, and the staff has seen God’s faithfulness over the past nine months since the project was launched. It has been a growing and stretching time for the team, but they are in awe of God’s goodness and sustaining grace throughout. “We are very thankful for all the help, finances, prayer and support we have received to make this dream become a reality,” said Kate. “We look forward to serving more effectively to see more people excited for world missions, and God glorified through this new office.”

The team is also grateful to the many partners nationwide who caught the vision, prayed and gave so that the building could become a reality. A million dollars is still needed to cover the renovations and the bank loan. OM Australia knows that God is good and they look to the future to see more people excited about how God will use them to reach the world with Christ’s love. Please pray for the team as they settle into their new home. Pray that God continues to cover their financial needs.

Shortly after, a faithful man who had served on the ships for many years called Jonathan to say, “I’ve got $12,500 in the bank and I reckon I only need about $2,500 to live on, so why don’t I send you $10,000 and if I need it later you can give it back to me.”

Jonathan and the team were touched by the generosity of God’s people. OMA now pray for God to provide a tenant to rent the majority of the building, as the existing tenant leaves at the end of the year. The board and staff are grateful to God and to all those who have partnered with them over the past several months, both financially and in prayer.

OMA anticipates that the building will be used to send more into missions, raise more funds and bring greater awareness of global needs. All through this, OMA hopes to see an increase in effective ministry for God’s kingdom. 

One hundred and seventy teens and leaders descended on Warwick, Australia, for TeenStreeet Queensland from 4-9 July. Although only in the second year, the event in Queensland had gained momentum from the previous year. The leadership team remained focused on prayer throughout the event and asked God to do abundantly more than could be imagined in participants’ hearts.

They found God to be faithful in every aspect: teaching times led by Dan and Suzie Potter, NET groups, Throne Room experiences, electives and the “hands and feet” outreach. God challenged and encouraged those present in powerful ways. A stream of testimonies from teens and parents flowed into OM Australia inboxes and onto Facebook pages after the event, giving glory to God for what He had done during the week.   

Many teens came to TeenStreet not expecting more than a fun time away from the challenges they face in their everyday lives. What they found, however, was a safe place to express their frustrations and learn to be open and vulnerable with each other.

Many teens came to TeenStreet not expecting more than a fun time away from the challenges they face in their everyday lives. What they found, however, was a safe place to express their frustrations and learn to be open and vulnerable with each other. One participant shared that after a time of worship on the topic of suffering, he had the opportunity to share his pain with a friend and they were able to pray together. He recalls, “My friend, who has been through the ringer with suffering, stayed with me and we prayed for each other. This was a beautiful time of growth for both of us.” This time inspired this teen to look beyond himself and pray for his NET group, that they too would feel God’s love and be encouraged.

Another teen said, “Before TeenStreet I didn’t have any Christian friends, but now I have my NET group and my coaches to ask for support.” Sharing their lives and faith was more valuable than simply reuniting with old friends and making new ones.

TeenStreet is designed to provide teens an environment to worship God in spirit and truth, and the prayer of all involved is that it would not stop there. Kathy, the mother of one participant, says, “We need to be prayerful and consistent; [the teenagers] face many challenges, and for them to stay close to God after this experience is crucial.”

Many teens recommitted their lives to God. Amelia, a participant, said, “After TeenStreet last year, I left pumped for God, but after about a week I went back to where I was before. Now I’ve made a promise to myself and God to live for Him in all aspects of my life. I also want to be baptised at my church, to take my dedication to the Lord further.”

The transformation of young lives also impacts their families at home. Parents reported back to OM about their teens wanting to act on their renewed faith. One mother shared of her son’s transformation: “He has been sick since he returned and I think it’s always a bit hard coming back, but he’s doing the Bible study and getting a lot out of Acts. He’s very keen to go to Nepal too. It’s exciting what God is doing.” A grandmother of a participant shared, “He went to camp under a cloud of disharmony with his family and miserable, feeling tossed. There is too much to go into detail, but enough to say he came back a different boy.”

One of the girl leaders describes the impact of TeenStreet in her life: “As a leader, I was so challenged by the week. I felt like the whole thing was for me. He has challenged me to think less of myself. Overall, I’m just so refreshed—ready to go home and be the aroma of Christ.”

OM Australia looks forward to many more teens joining TeenStreet in 2012! 

TeenStreet originated in Europe and has since spread around the world, from Germany to Brazil to Malaysia and more. Thousands of teens a year are challenged to greater relationship with God through the ministry of TeenStreet. Please pray that the lives of the teens who attend TeenStreet Queensland will be impacted for eternity. For more information about TeenStreet Australia, visit www.teenstreet.org.au. To learn about TeenStreet International, visit www.teenstreet.org.

The damage was not severe, with only 3 homes in the town considered uninhabitable once the water subsided. Certainly, there was no loss of life in Forest Hill as there was just kilometres away at Grantham. But this caused a problem. Most of the attention and the focus of recovery has been directed to Grantham while the town of Forest Hill has sometimes felt left out.

This is where the Forest Hill Fun Day came in. Andrew Carnell from Operation Mobilisation suggested the idea as a good way to utilise some funds his organisation wished to donate to flood recovery. The Forest Hill Development Association Inc. in conjunction with the Laidley Baptist Church used this money to put on a community fair. It was an opportunity for the town to say thank you to those who had helped with the flood clean up and also to build the morale of the community. At the same time the involvement of the Church would raise the profile of Christ in the community.

Bracken Ridge Baptist Church were also offering their assistance for flood recovery they were included in the plans for the day. They provided people, resources and ensured a strong Christian presence at the fair.

            The local committee arranged:

• A demonstration 20/20 cricket match
• A skateboard competition
• State Emergency Service displays
• A Jumping Castle
• A Tug of War competition
• Helium Balloons
• Steak sandwiches and sausage sizzle
• Fairy floss
• Soft Drinks
• Tea and coffee
• Ice creams
• Local Christian performers

            The Bracken Ridge Baptist Church provided:

• Cooking facilities and cooks
• A live band
• PA system
• Clowns ‘Peebo’ and ‘Dagwood’

The whole afternoon was offered for free to the community.

What a day! About 400 people of all ages attended and made a significant impact on the community. Local State and Council politicians attended. The entire front page of the local paper was devoted to the event. More significantly, the name of Christ has been lifted in the community. The reputation of the Church has risen markedly as a result of the day.

Some significant quotes from the day:

            “I never knew there were so many children in Forest Hill!”

            “It is great to see God back at the forefront of the community!”

            “This is awesome! When can we do it again?”

            “I can't believe this is all free!”

The Forest Hill Development Association is now considering working with the Church to make this an annual event. Some of the committee members who do not already attend Church are considering attending.

No one could have predicted the significance the event would have on the community. I expect to see the fruit of the event in the community for some time. I expect to see the fruit of the event in Christ's Kingdom into the future as well

Rev. Andrew Otte

Residents of Queensland, NSW, Victoria and Tasmania are cleaning up after the devastating floods wreaked havoc on much of Australia last week. The death toll stands at 20 with a further 12 missing. While loss of life is tragic, it is a remarkably low number given the extent and ferocity of these floods.

Many communities were inundated after massive rainfall caused record flooding, and an unheard of ‘inland tsunami’ passed destructively through parts of Queensland. With 75% of Queensland declared a disaster zone and flooding also destroying houses, crops and livelihoods throughout NSW, Victoria and Tasmania, this is the worst natural disaster in Australia’s known history. While many places were insured, insurance clauses can prohibit claims for a number of those affected.

Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, issued the following statement honouring the work ‘faith communities’ are doing in assisting the flood relief operations.

"I want to particularly acknowledge everything that faith communities all over Australia are doing to assist. (in the flood relief efforts)

I have visited a church being used as an evacuation centre and seen the work being done amongst those in evacuation centres by church leaders. Faith-based charities have given crucial help to those in need.

Many flood victims I have met are also very grateful for the prayers that people of faith have been making. I know many churches especially dedicated Sunday, 16 January to pray for the flood victims, and that other faith communities will have similar observances in coming days.         

So as Prime Minister can I offer this simple thank you to Australian faith communities for everything you are doing. No good work is wasted at a time like this."

(Source: Australian Prayer Network) 

Andrew Carnell – OM’s Qld State Director says, ‘It has been amazing to see the way the community has rallied around those who have been affected. It has shown how adversity brings the best out in people and how relationships are so much more important than material possessions.

‘I was cleaning up in houses that had been completely gutted with the water completely covering two story buildings. One family I was with had their home totally inundated, lost boats, cars, all their possessions and had no insurance. I also spent time with friends and supporters in the Lockyer Valley. While it seems their house will be OK they lost most of its contents and are nervously waiting to see how their insurance company will respond.’

The clean-up is being hampered by continuing heavy rainfalls and storms in flood affected areas. A ‘Flood Relief Appeal’ has been established with funds being given directly to partner churches and ministries in affected areas for the rebuilding of communities and the support of families. These churches are currently providing support in many ways to their grieving communities and will continue to do so as people rebuild their lives and dreams.

Dave, Carnsey, and Sav arrived safely home in Stanthorpe after walking 2000 kilometres to raise awareness that there are still 2000 languages without the Bible. The three left Cairns on 24 August and arrived in Stanthorpe on 11 November, after walking on average more than 30km a day. Each kilometre represented a unique language that doesn’t yet have the Word of God. The team held evening meetings at local churches and town halls en route to share information about the 350 million people who don’t yet have access to the Bible in their own language.

The trio experienced plenty of challenges, including cooling their feet in a creek they were later informed is inhabited by crocodiles, suffering from heatstroke, chafing, severe blisters and painful feet. Highlights included frequent newspaper, radio, and TV interviews, and seeing the first road sign that read ‘Stanthorpe’ after walking for 73 days and 1818 kilometres.

“I’ve been surprised to hear the number of people who’ve followed us,” says Carnsey. “After watching a report on the news one night, I thought to myself, ‘when does Bible translation ever make it onto a secular news report?’”

Dave, Carnsey, and Sav walked the final kilometre with 100 supporters who joined them on the road. They were met at the finish line by a bagpiper and 350 cheering people who released helium balloons.

Although The 2000 Walk has finished, the task of translating the Bible into the 2000 remaining languages will continue for many years. For more information about how to get involved, contact OM Australia (www.om.org.au) or Wycliffe Bible Translators (www.wycliffe.org.au).

2000KM CAMINADOS - Australia
Dave, Carnsey y Sav llegaron bien a casa en Stanthorpe después de haber caminado 2000 kilómetros con el objetivo de crear conciencia de que todavía hay 2.000 idiomas, sin la Biblia. Los tres salieron de Cairns el 24 de agosto y llegaron a Stanthorpe el 11 de noviembre, después de caminar más de 30 kilómetros por día. Cada kilómetro representó un idioma único que todavía no tiene la Palabra de Dios. El equipo se reunió por la noche en las iglesias locales y en los ayuntamientos en el camino para compartir información sobre los 350 millones de personas que todavía no tienen acceso a la Biblia en su propio idioma.

El trío experimento un montón de desafíos, incluyendo el refrescar sus pies en un arroyo que luego supieron, está habitado por cocodrilos, sufrieron de un golpe de calor, lastimaduras, ampollas graves y dolores de pies. Los mejores momentos incluyeron frecuentes entrevistas en periódicos, radios, televisión, y ver el primer cartel que anunciaba 'Stanthorpe' después de caminar durante 73 días recorriendo 1818 kilómetros.

"Me ha sorprendido oír el número de personas que nos han seguido", dice Carnsey. "Después de ver un informe en las noticias de la noche, me dije a mí mismo, '¿cuándo la traducción de la Biblia estuvo en las noticias seculares?’"

Dave, Carnsey y Sav caminaron el último kilómetro con 100 seguidores que se unieron a ellos en la carretera. Ellos fueron recibidos en la línea de meta por un gaitero y 350 personas ovacionando y soltando globos de helio.

Aunque La Caminata 2000 ha terminado, la tarea de traducir la Biblia a los 2000 idiomas restantes continuará por muchos años. Para obtener más información sobre cómo participar, comuníquese con OM Australia (www.om.org.au) o Wycliffe Bible Translators (www.wycliffe.org.au). 

MARCHE DE 2 000 KM – Australie
Dave, Carnsey et Sav sont arrivés saints et saufs à Stanthorpe après avoir marché 2 000 kilomètres pour faire prendre conscience qu’il existe encore 2 000 langues sans Bible. Ils ont quitté Cairns le 24 octobre et sont arrivés à Stanthorpe le 11 novembre, après avoir marché une moyenne de 30 kilomètres par jour. Chaque kilomètre représentait une langue qui n’a pas encore la Parole de Dieu. Le soir, l’équipe tenait des réunions dans les églises locales et les mairies pour parler des 250 millions de personnes qui n’ont pas encore accès à la Bible dans leur propre langue.

Le trio a expérimenté beaucoup de difficultés, comme se rafraichir les pieds dans une crique dont ils ont appris plus tard qu’elle était infesté de crocodiles, souffrir de coup de chaleur, de démangeaisons, de grosses ampoules et de pieds douloureux. Les moments forts ont été les interviews pour les journaux, la radio et la télé ; et le moment où il s ont apperçu le premier panneau indiquant ‘Stanthorpe’ après avoir marché 73 jours et 1818 kilomètres.

« J’ai été surpris de voir le nombre de personnes qui ont suivi notre périple » raconte Carnsey. « Un soir, après avoir regardé un reportage nous concernant au journal télévisé, je me suis dit, ‘quand est-ce qu’un sujet comme la traduction de la Bible arrive à passer aux infos ?’ »

Dave, Carnsey, et Sav ont parcouru les derniers kilomètres avec 100 supporters qui les ont rejoints sur la route. Ils ont été accueillis à l’arrivée par un joueur de cornemuse et 350 personnes qui les ont acclamés en faisant un lâché de ballons à l’hélium.

Bien que la marche des 2 000 km soit terminée, le travail de traduction de la Bible dans les 2 000 langues qui restent continuera encore pendant plusieurs années. Pour savoir comment vous impliquer, merci de contacter OM Australie (www.om.org.au) ou Wycliffe Bible Translators (www.wycliffe.org.au).