Overcoming stereotypes with genuine Christian faith
By a member of SEND’s Diaspora | North America team
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Do you always agree with everything that goes on in your own country, religiously or politically? I would guess that the answer is probably a resounding, “No!”
I love my country, but there are still things that happen across this great land with which I am certainly not in agreement. I say this because too often we get caught up in grouping people together unfairly based on stereotypes. We hear someone is from so-and-so country, and we feel negatively toward them because of our dislike for the country’s leader.
The current leader in Iran, for example, is accused of sponsoring terrorism in the past and present. But we have Christian brothers and sisters in Iran. According to Operation World, the church in Iran is growing rapidly, with estimates of over a million new believers in recent years! God is not bound by borders, time, or religious fanaticism. When he moves to change peoples' hearts, lives are changed!
I love my country, but there are still things that happen across this great land with which I am certainly not in agreement. I say this because too often we get caught up in grouping people together unfairly based on stereotypes. We hear someone is from so-and-so country, and we feel negatively toward them because of our dislike for the country’s leader.
The current leader in Iran, for example, is accused of sponsoring terrorism in the past and present. But we have Christian brothers and sisters in Iran. According to Operation World, the church in Iran is growing rapidly, with estimates of over a million new believers in recent years! God is not bound by borders, time, or religious fanaticism. When he moves to change peoples' hearts, lives are changed!
In fact, the religious fanaticism found in Iran has caused many former Muslims to come to Christ. This also happens in other Muslim countries that forcefully push their faith and punish their own people when their Islamic faith is not “vibrant” or “visible” enough. In Afghanistan, I saw fear in people’s eyes as Islamic religious police drove around in pickup trucks, looking to pounce on and punish unfortunate Muslim men for not growing their beards long enough or not going into a mosque at prayer time.
Many of the Muslims who have immigrated to North America have moved from being religious Muslims to being cultural Muslims. They have fled brutal regimes. They are fed up and tired of Islam. Because of what they were taught growing up, Muslims typically consider all Americans and Canadians to be Christians. So, what do these people think when they come to the United States or Canada and see secular society and stale churches? If true Christians never have conversations with Muslim immigrants to show them what genuine Christian faith requires (loving God with all our heart, soul, and strength and loving our neighbor as ourselves), how are they to know the difference?
Until Muslims hear and see Christians living their lives surrendered to the Word of God, how will they know the difference between those who follow Christ wholeheartedly and those who don’t follow him at all? This does not mean that you have to quote every verse you have ever memorized to each and every Muslim you meet. Think of them as being on a spiritual journey, taking one step at a time. It can take many years to walk the full path to becoming a Christian.
What are some ways you can come alongside Muslims on this journey? Ask if you can pray with them, and offer to tell them a story from Scripture. Don’t forget about the Old Testament, because the entire narrative of the Bible is essential from beginning to end. Both the Old and New Testaments help Muslims to understand the complete picture of God’s grace. Give them time to process what you are telling them. You can even ask them to repeat the story back to you and then share it later with another family member. We do this with some of our Muslim English language students, and the next time we meet we ask, “Did you share the story we talked about last time?”
As you talk with Muslims, don’t feel that you have to have all the answers before you approach them. If they ask you a question and you don’t know the answer, just tell them, “That’s a great question, but I don’t know the answer. Can I get back to you?” Then research the question and bring the answer the next time you meet. There is not a lot of openness to questioning things in Islam, so your honesty and transparency can go a long way. In our interactions with Muslims, God will use some of us to plant seeds, some of us to water, and some of us to reap a harvest!
Many of the Muslims who have immigrated to North America have moved from being religious Muslims to being cultural Muslims. They have fled brutal regimes. They are fed up and tired of Islam. Because of what they were taught growing up, Muslims typically consider all Americans and Canadians to be Christians. So, what do these people think when they come to the United States or Canada and see secular society and stale churches? If true Christians never have conversations with Muslim immigrants to show them what genuine Christian faith requires (loving God with all our heart, soul, and strength and loving our neighbor as ourselves), how are they to know the difference?
Until Muslims hear and see Christians living their lives surrendered to the Word of God, how will they know the difference between those who follow Christ wholeheartedly and those who don’t follow him at all? This does not mean that you have to quote every verse you have ever memorized to each and every Muslim you meet. Think of them as being on a spiritual journey, taking one step at a time. It can take many years to walk the full path to becoming a Christian.
What are some ways you can come alongside Muslims on this journey? Ask if you can pray with them, and offer to tell them a story from Scripture. Don’t forget about the Old Testament, because the entire narrative of the Bible is essential from beginning to end. Both the Old and New Testaments help Muslims to understand the complete picture of God’s grace. Give them time to process what you are telling them. You can even ask them to repeat the story back to you and then share it later with another family member. We do this with some of our Muslim English language students, and the next time we meet we ask, “Did you share the story we talked about last time?”
As you talk with Muslims, don’t feel that you have to have all the answers before you approach them. If they ask you a question and you don’t know the answer, just tell them, “That’s a great question, but I don’t know the answer. Can I get back to you?” Then research the question and bring the answer the next time you meet. There is not a lot of openness to questioning things in Islam, so your honesty and transparency can go a long way. In our interactions with Muslims, God will use some of us to plant seeds, some of us to water, and some of us to reap a harvest!
Prayer for the Muslim world
• Join with Christians all over the world praying for 10% of the Muslim world to come to Christ in the next 10 years. Sound crazy? It sure is, but with God, all things are possible! Let’s also pray that we will be ready to disciple the multitudes when God opens the floodgates of heaven!
• Pray for those still suffering in the darkness, who have never been told of the love God has for the nations and who still don’t know that he alone is the Light of the world.
• Pray that those living in difficult circumstances in Iran, the Middle East, and other Muslim countries will turn to Christ for their salvation. Pray for Christian radio, TV and internet broadcasts to go out with strong signals and to reach every corner of this vast area.
• Pray that SEND workers ministering in Muslim countries will have perseverance and wisdom for each conversation. Pray for spiritual discernment on how they should share of God’s grace and mercy.
• Pray for those still suffering in the darkness, who have never been told of the love God has for the nations and who still don’t know that he alone is the Light of the world.
• Pray that those living in difficult circumstances in Iran, the Middle East, and other Muslim countries will turn to Christ for their salvation. Pray for Christian radio, TV and internet broadcasts to go out with strong signals and to reach every corner of this vast area.
• Pray that SEND workers ministering in Muslim countries will have perseverance and wisdom for each conversation. Pray for spiritual discernment on how they should share of God’s grace and mercy.
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Additional Posts
Choosing a Missions Organization: Why SEND International Stands Out “Why should I be a missionary through SEND International?” Jenna, a new missionary in Eastern Europe, shared with us what she appreciates about working with SEND. The highlights for her are: - Devotion to prayer - Diligence in communication - Commitment to development - Intentionality in accountability Prayer “Back in September of 2022, the Lord reconnected me with SEND after I had met them a year prior at the Moody Bible Institute. However, before he would sign me up for anything, my Missions Coach encouraged me to pray. He said something to the effect of, "I know that you've been praying on your own for a long time. But as the Church, we are not called to walk alone. So, you and I won't talk for about a month unless you have questions. I want you to go pray with 5 or 6 others from your church about where God is calling you." That October, more than 10 friends prayed with me and we saw God answer as He directed me to Romania. From February 2024 to November 2025, I had the pleasure of being a part of team meetings in Romania with my SEND colleagues. Our meetings were four hours long, two for prayer and two for business. This has been the minimum for our team. There are also prayer meetings with the local churches we partner with, among smaller groups within our team, of course prayer with many of you across the pond, including those at our US office. The organization was built, has been sustained, and continues to run on prayer. This is my favorite thing about SEND. Communication As I mentioned above, we have a two hour block for business / ministry details in each of our meetings. This provides consistency across our team which works alongside three different churches and in a variety of ministries. It also helps us to communicate about the need for change or growth, alongside what is working well. In addition, my team director also meets with each of us, allowing us to communicate needs, considerations, and prayer requests. I've also enjoyed getting to work with SEND workers outside of my immediate region . We receive emails with the minutes from the Europe leadership team, Friday communications from our international director, and information regarding projects that affect our work among the unreached. In December of 2024, our international director at the time wrote a note to my parents for the first Christmas that I was gone. If nothing else had convinced my mom yet, this did. He took the time to care for me, but also to care well for the parents that were sending me (What it meant to my dad and mom for him to do this well has been one of the greatest ways I've been supported.). I also have some pretty wonderful regional directors. These people have prayed alongside us (while also serving in their own countries of service), they have taken time to come visit and encourage our team, and they have also taken the time to encourage the people in our churches. Development SEND has provided much in the area of development and care (spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally). At our regional conference (every three years), there have been medical check ups available, counseling options, and time for connecting with others on the field with similar experience. At our conference last October, I connected with a missionary who served overseas for many years, and is now serving on the administrative side of SEND. She has met with me since then for mentorship and has also invested much of her time recently in preparing a retreat for the singles across Europe. Accountability Over the years I have read and heard amazing stories of how God has worked through missionaries. God has done great things and great things He is still doing! However, people who have committed their lives to the Lord in this way are not “super Christians”. We are still humans with the same struggle against flesh that others have . A major challenge is in being isolated -- living in areas with little to no presence of other believers to sharpen them can cause many difficulties. SEND has been a great resource in this area too. Through my team, I have an accountability partner that I meet with monthly. When my regional director came to visit, he and his wife spent a day with me and asked intentional questions about how I lead, handle conflict, and how I am growing in general as a Christian. In addition, my teammates share their wisdom with me on a regular basis. These things and more have assured me that SEND International is a highly valuable organization and I'm excited to partner with them in service to, for, and with our great God! Interested in being sent by SEND?
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