Longing for Community

Show Table of Contents

EPub (ebook) - $12.99
Paperback - $21.99

Quantity

Longing for Community

Church, Ummah, or Somewhere in Between?

by David Greenlee (Editor)

Understanding the strength and unity of the ummah— the worldwide Muslim community—and its role in an individual’s identity is essential in comprehending the struggles that Muslims undergo as they turn to faith in Jesus Christ. It has been a place of security, acceptance, protection, and identity; turning away from it entails great sacrifice. Where, then, will Muslims who choose to follow Jesus find their longing for community fulfilled: ummah, church, or somewhere in between?

Longing for Community compiles the research and reflection of twenty missiologists, sociologists, anthropologists, and linguists- among them Muslims who have become believers in Jesus Christ - presented at the second Coming to Faith Consultation in February 2010. The contributors explore multiple levels and hybrid nature of social identity, pointing to the need to free our discussions from single-dimensional scales, which are far from adequate to describe the complex nature of conversion and lived-out faith. Beyond the issue of identity, the contributors offer important lessons from mission history, explore liturgy as an appropriate vehicle for teaching, discuss appropriate means of communication, and point to both the need and contextually appropriate possibilities of greater involvement of women in training and ministry.

Endorsements

An excellent presentation of how to achieve a proper balance between sociological and spiritual realities within the challenge of outreach to Muslims. The concept of “Ummah” (community) is explored and suggestions made on how to integrate believers into a new grouping that preserves biblical integrity while not denounc-ing Muslim culture and life. A valuable resource for practitioners on the front lines

Phil ParshallSIM, Missionary at Large
In the present day, sharing the Gospel to Muslims (or to anyone else) is different than the “mission compound” methodologies. I highly recommend this book to be read by readers who are striving to share Christ to anyone, especially to Muslims. It is also a thoughtful reading for general Christ followers (Christians) who are interested in understanding the issues in a mission field context. This book will encourage all of us to pray for those who are involved every day in helping people to understand the Injil.

K. RajendranWorld Evangelical Alliance Mission Commission; Global Roundtable
The chapters of this book introduce us to a new way of “bridging” the gap that many make us believe exists between civilizations. We will discover through these pages some explanations to the difficulties a Muslim faces in accepting a “new identity” and how sometimes in spite of our human efforts in “discipling” the new converts, God surprises us in dealing with the Muslim person through keeping their cultural Muslim identity while at the same time being faithful to Jesus in the inner “ego.” I found the book very thought provoking in the very issues that many missionaries are facing in the field. Our cultural ways as Latinos or Westerners are sometimes obtrusive of how God sometimes deals in His way with them. We need to be open to the manifold wisdom of God manifested in the East. To miracles, dreams, visions, and allowing the Holy Spirit to apply the revelation of the Scriptures in different homiletical categories that we have learned in Systematic Theology.

Pablo CarrilloFounder, PM Internacional