Ted Bearup
Islamophobia Day

March 15 is the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, designated by the UN to honour the victims of the 2019 terrorist attack on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Islamophobia Day
Guest User
Ramadan: Asking Questions

Find out how questions can help engage our Muslim friends in gospel conversations during Ramadan, but they must come from a heart of compassion and love.

Ramadan: Asking Questions
Vlogs
Guest User
Ramadan: A Time of Opportunity

The Islamic month of Ramadan is a time of opportunity to start conversations with Muslim friends and colleagues.

Ramadan: A Time of Opportunity
Network update
Mahabba Network
Ramadan - A time for opportunities

The Islamic month of Ramadan runs from 10 March to 8 April this year (2024). Ramadan is a great time to start conversations with Muslim friends and colleagues and to focus on praying for Muslims in our local community and across the UK. These next few weeks are full of opportunities!

Ramadan - A time for opportunities
Guest User
A Halal Christmas

A network member writes about a Christmas time when they invited a group of Muslims to their home.

A Halal Christmas

Lovefast 10: Lift - the Poor and Humble

Lovefast prayer and action campaign from the Mahabba Network

Day 10 of 30

By Ted from Mahabba’s Network Team

Inspired by today's entry in the 30 Days of Prayer booklet, but with a UK twist!

If you’ve not signed up to receive the daily prompts to your inbox - see here →

Daily verse

“He lifts the poor from the dust and the needy from the garbage dump. He sets them among princes, placing them in seats of honour.”
— 1 Samuel 2:8

Thought for the day

God lifts up the humble

He thrust the Arabic Bible back at my friend.

“This is nonsense,”

he hissed.

He had seemed so friendly at first. My friend was at a loss.

The passage that enraged the young man was 1 Samuel 2:8: ‘He lifts the poor from the dust and the needy from the garbage dump. He sets them among princes, placing them in seats of honour.’

“That’s not nonsense,”

my friend said.

“It is the Gospel.”

In Romans 13:7, Paul says: ‘Give to everyone what you owe them: … if respect, then respect; if honour, then honour.’

In many cultures this elicits a loud 'Amen'. That it is right to show honour to those whom it is due is just so obvious.

The fact that God would show his favour to the unworthy, that he would lift up lowly and seat them with princes – that is shocking.

It needs to be experienced to be believed.

Prayer for the day

Lord, open our eyes to the fullness of your Gospel and teach us how to share it with all.

Daily action

As you read scripture, look for references to honour and shame. Reflect on the strength of feeling behind them.

Your turn

Let us know how it went! Leave a comment below, or tag us on social media with the #lovefast hashtag on social media. You can find us on Facebook and Twitter!

Resources

Do you want to involve your church in blessing Muslim people through prayer and friendship?

There are new 30 Days of Prayer church resources available for you:

  • Pray Together as a Congregation

  • Small Group Session

  • Night of Power Prayer Meeting

  • Prayer Walk Guide

What’s your next step after 30 Days? There are loads of resources to help you on your journey.

Partners of 30 Days of Prayer

Lovefast 9: Turkish delight - Turks in the UK

Lovefast prayer and action campaign from the Mahabba Network

Day 9 of 30

By John from a local Mahabba group

Inspired by today's entry in the 30 Days of Prayer booklet, but with a UK twist!

If you’ve not signed up to receive the daily prompts to your inbox - see here →

Daily verse

“When a foreigner resides with you in your land, you must not oppress him. You must treat the foreigner living among you as native-born and love him as yourself, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.”
— Leviticus 19:33-34

Thought for the day

Turks in the UK

After the attempted coup in Turkey in 2016 the government clamped down on anyone even vaguely associated with it. Some were able to flee the country, even leaving their families behind. None can return without likely arrest.

For over a year a group of local Christians in our town has been meeting with some of these Muslims from Turkey to discuss the Scriptures. This is something they were very keen to do. The local Mahabba Group wrote about these encounters:

We have looked at the significance of Abraham and Joseph, some psalms and issues of hospitality, life-style, forgiveness, grace, judgement and eternity. All of us have come to understand ourselves and each other better from these encounters. We have enjoyed celebrating Christmas and Easter together and joining in Iftar parties. Friendships have developed and we have been able to give support to this group of relative newcomers to this country.

This is an example of what Mahabba love for the 'foreigner in your midst' can achieve when you love them as yourself..... It has been a source of real delight.

Prayer for the day

Pray that people find Jesus as they seek to understand and integrate into British society and who face great difficulties as they cannot visit family members back on their country of origin (like these friends from Turkey).

Daily action

Are you and your church ready to welcome refugees? Visit Welcome Churches below to see what you could do.

Your turn

Let us know how it went! Leave a comment below, or tag us on social media with the #lovefast hashtag on social media. You can find us on Facebook and Twitter!

Resources

Do you want to involve your church in blessing Muslim people through prayer and friendship?

There are new 30 Days of Prayer church resources available for you:

  • Pray Together as a Congregation

  • Small Group Session

  • Night of Power Prayer Meeting

  • Prayer Walk Guide

What’s your next step after 30 Days? There are loads of resources to help you on your journey.

Partners of 30 Days of Prayer

Breaking news: Steve Bell joins Mahabba's Network Team

Steve Bell, formerly of Interserve, joins Mahabba Network

Steve Bell, formerly of Interserve, joins Mahabba Network

From Bryan Knell, chairman of the Board of Trustees, Mahabba Network (UK):

“It is my great pleasure to announce that Steve Bell will be joining Mahabba Network (UK)’s Network Team, with particular responsibility for leading strategy.

“Steve is best known for his book ‘Grace for Muslims’, which exactly represents the Mahabba ethos, and the course, ‘Friendship First’ which Mahabba is constantly promoting.

“We believe this is a strategic addition which will strengthen the Mahabba UK Network and expand its influence going forward.”

Find out more

Lovefast 8: Pearls

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Day 8 of 30

By Georgina from Mahabba’s Network Team

Inspired by today's entry in the 30 Days of Prayer booklet, but with a UK twist!

If you’ve not signed up to receive the daily prompts to your inbox - see here →

Daily verse

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.”
— Matthew 13:45-46

Thought for the day

A pearl of great price

The pearl industry in United Arab Emirates flourished throughout most of the nineteenth century after establishing a Treaty of Maritime Peace with Britain in 1853.

The Imperial State Crown worn by Queen Elizabeth for her coronation has 269 pearls. The crown is made up of many precious stones and metals that were brought to the UK from across the Empire; their beauty and value sufficient to be given to a king or queen.

The Quran tells of pearls that will be given in the Hereafter to the faithful and those who have done good works (see chapters 22:23, 35:33).

The Bible likewise places value on pearls and precious stones, e.g. the city gates of pearl in Revelation 21:21.

Jesus uses pearls to explain what the Kingdom of Heaven is like in Matthew 13:45-6. He likens it to a merchant who sells everything to obtain one pearl of great value.

Here we see that the Kingdom/pearl is not the reward that awaits us for good works, it is in the willingness to give up everything that we receive Him as our greatest joy.

Prayer for the day

Make us courageous and willing, Lord, to seek you with all that we have and all that we are.

Daily action

Look out for the beautiful description of pearls as 'raindrops filled with moonlight' in this video:

Your turn

Let us know how it went! Leave a comment below, or tag us on social media with the #lovefast hashtag on social media. You can find us on Facebook and Twitter!

Resources

Do you want to involve your church in blessing Muslim people through prayer and friendship?

There are new 30 Days of Prayer church resources available for you:

  • Pray Together as a Congregation

  • Small Group Session

  • Night of Power Prayer Meeting

  • Prayer Walk Guide

What’s your next step after 30 Days? There are loads of resources to help you on your journey.

Partners of 30 Days of Prayer

Lovefast 7: Sharing my faith

Lovefast prayer and action campaign from the Mahabba Network

Day 7 of 30

By Charlotte from Frontiers

Inspired by today's entry in the 30 Days of Prayer booklet, but with a UK twist!

If you’ve not signed up to receive the daily prompts to your inbox - see here →

Daily verse

“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience.”
— 1 Peter 3:15-16

Thought for the day

Sharing my faith

I had a friend from the Maldives at school. She and two of her cousins had been sent to a boarding school in the UK. At the time I didn’t even realise she was Muslim or how different her life growing up in the Maldives was from mine.

I first made a commitment to follow Jesus when I was a teenager and I remember telling her all about my faith in Jesus. I may not have done this in the most culturally sensitive way, but I was unhindered by any preconceptions of how as a Muslim she would respond to my faith.

I hope that today I would be just as bold, but sometimes my preconceptions and fear of rejection get in the way. I want to be prepared to share my faith with any Muslims I meet today with gentleness and respect but with a certainty that what I have to share with them is truly life changing.

Prayer for the day

Lord help me to be bold in sharing my faith with Muslims that I meet. Help me to always be ready to give an answer to those who ask about my faith, sharing with them with gentleness and respect.

Daily action

God brings people from far flung places across our paths every day. Think about a simple way you can introduce faith into conversation with any Muslims you meet today. Then give it a try. Let us know how it goes!

Your turn

Let us know how it went! Leave a comment below, or tag us on social media with the #lovefast hashtag on social media. You can find us on Facebook and Twitter!

Resources

Do you want to involve your church in blessing Muslim people through prayer and friendship?

There are new 30 Days of Prayer church resources available for you:

  • Pray Together as a Congregation

  • Small Group Session

  • Night of Power Prayer Meeting

  • Prayer Walk Guide

What’s your next step after 30 Days? There are loads of resources to help you on your journey.

Partners of 30 Days of Prayer

Lovefast 6: Another cuppa - Hospitality

Lovefast prayer and action campaign from the Mahabba Network

Day 6 of 30

By Simon from Mahabba's Hub

Inspired by today's entry in the 30 Days of Prayer booklet, but with a UK twist!

If you’ve not signed up to receive the daily prompts to your inbox - see here →

Daily verse

“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.”
— Romans 12:12-14

Thought for the day

Another cuppa

We often hear about the importance of tea in Muslim contexts. One that struck me was warfare.

I remember news reports about British Army officers sitting down for tea with tribal elders in Afghanistan before discussing local matters and issues.

The tea often comes with mint in it; sometimes it's coffee, highly spiced with cardamon, depending on which region you are in.

Among Muslims in the UK, the tea might be less important, but the act of hospitality certainly isn't.

While Brits might be worried to pop in unannounced to a friend or neighbour, this is not a concern to Muslims.

The honour and privilege lies with the host; you bestow a blessing on your guest by visiting them, as you've set aside space and time to be with them.

This is a way that we can all show the love of Jesus Christ to Muslims.

Perhaps you need to get into the habit of dropping round to your Muslim neighbours more often, and take a little sweet something too.

Clearing out your diary and being less busy might help too!

By sharing time, homes and tea with Muslims you are able to build relationships and may even be invited to share your faith in the fullness of time.

All that because of a cup of tea - not bad!

Prayer for the day

Father God, thank you that we can learn a lot about Jesus’ command to show hospitality through our Muslim friends and neighbours. Help us to take that command seriously and as we do so, bless our relationships with Muslims that they might see Jesus in our heart, words and actions.

Daily action

Look at your diary, as suggest above, and think about how you can build space in your week to visit Muslim friends and neighbours. It might be on a Sunday afternoon or perhaps you’ve got some space mid-week. If you need more structure, are there local places or events where you can start to build relationships? Ask yourself what is getting in the way of you finding a little time for a cup of tea?

Your turn

Let us know how it went! Leave a comment below, or tag us on social media with the #lovefast hashtag on social media. You can find us on Facebook and Twitter!

Resources

Do you want to involve your church in blessing Muslim people through prayer and friendship?

There are new 30 Days of Prayer church resources available for you:

  • Pray Together as a Congregation

  • Small Group Session

  • Night of Power Prayer Meeting

  • Prayer Walk Guide

What’s your next step after 30 Days? There are loads of resources to help you on your journey.

Partners of 30 Days of Prayer

Lovefast 5: Refuge & restoration - Syrian Refugees

Lovefast prayer and action campaign from the Mahabba Network

Day 5 of 30

By Georgina from Mahabba's Network Team

Inspired by today's entry in the 30 Days of Prayer booklet, but with a UK twist!

If you’ve not signed up to receive the daily prompts to your inbox - see here →

Daily verse

“But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God...”
— Isaiah 43:1-3

Thought for the day

Refugees: finding refuge and restoration

My Arabic teacher is a refugee from Syria who managed to flee with her 3 children to a refugee camp while her husband made his way to the UK across the Mediterranean.

They were reconnected 2 years later in an English city after a lengthy asylum seeking process.

Their children have adapted to school and social life, and the family tries their hand at anything to earn an income.

Mobile phones connect them to family and friends back home, sharing snippets of good and bad news.

She has lost all her worldly possessions but most of all, my teacher feels the loss of social networks and connections - people who would have helped her to find work and connect her children to marriage partners as they grew up.

She once exclaimed that she has lost all honour and the only thing that might restore it is if her children excel at school.

Prayer for the day

Lord, give us awareness of the pressures refugee children face to restore their families' honour. May those who have found safety with us also find refuge and restoration in the God in whose sight they are precious and honoured as Isaiah 43 promises.

Daily action

Sing together with Casting Crowns for Jesus to break our hearts for what breaks His

Your turn

Let us know how it went! Leave a comment below, or tag us on social media with the #lovefast hashtag on social media. You can find us on Facebook and Twitter!

Resources

Do you want to involve your church in blessing Muslim people through prayer and friendship?

There are new 30 Days of Prayer church resources available for you:

  • Pray Together as a Congregation

  • Small Group Session

  • Night of Power Prayer Meeting

  • Prayer Walk Guide

What’s your next step after 30 Days? There are loads of resources to help you on your journey.

Partners of 30 Days of Prayer

Lovefast 4: The power of forgiveness

Lovefast prayer and action campaign from the Mahabba Network

Day 4 of 30

By Gillie from Mahabba's Network Team

Inspired by today's entry in the 30 Days of Prayer booklet, but with a UK twist!

If you’ve not signed up to receive the daily prompts to your inbox - see here →

Daily verse

“And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”
— Matthew 6:12

Thought for the day

The power of forgiveness

In Bosnia, people meet and talk over tiny cups of thick, strong Bosnian coffee. Where I live, my Pakistani friends and I meet and talk over cups of milky chai, flavoured with cardamom and fennel. My Syrian friends and I meet and talk over cups of black tea, flavoured with mint and lots of sugar! Whatever the drink, talk often drifts to the problems people have getting on with each other. Sometimes it is family issues, sometimes problems with neighbours, and sometimes national and international concerns.

Amina is a new believer who reads the Bible hungrily. God’s word is changing her, and changing her relationships. One day, prompted by reading Jesus’ words about forgiveness, she sat down with her mother and forgave her for past hurts. Amina talked about her hope in Jesus and, with tears, her mother said, “These words about Jesus must be true.”

The power of forgiveness is huge in Muslim cultures, where grudges and resentment can damage relationships for years. As people like Amina are transformed by Jesus, the Kingdom of Heaven advances.

Prayer for the day

St Francis’ prayer:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life

Daily action

What story could you have ready to share if a Muslim friend asks you about forgiveness?

Your turn

Let us know how it went! Leave a comment below, or tag us on social media with the #lovefast hashtag on social media. You can find us on Facebook and Twitter!

Resources

Do you want to involve your church in blessing Muslim people through prayer and friendship?

There are new 30 Days of Prayer church resources available for you:

  • Pray Together as a Congregation

  • Small Group Session

  • Night of Power Prayer Meeting

  • Prayer Walk Guide

What’s your next step after 30 Days? There are loads of resources to help you on your journey.

Partners of 30 Days of Prayer

Lovefast 3: Fancy a cuppa?

Lovefast prayer and action campaign from the Mahabba Network

Day 3 of 30

By Ted from Mahabba's Network Team

Inspired by today's entry in 30 Days of Prayer, but with a UK twist!

If you’ve not signed up to receive the daily prompts to your inbox - see here →

Daily verse

“Each of us should please our neighbours for their good, to build them up. ”
— Romans 15:2

Thought for the day

Fancy a cuppa?

My friend was far from home on a three-month course. Tea was served at regular intervals. The trouble was it wasn't real tea so far as he was concerned. He needed his tea at least once a day and drinking it alone was just not right. Making it was a whole palava. The result, the perfect tea that was just right for him, it was disgusting to me.

Years ago, sitting on the ground eating with some Muslims in a former French colony, my host lent across to me and said “You people are OK. You eat our food. The French never would.” I don’t know how fair that was on the French but I learnt that loving our neighbours includes eating their food and drink.

Jesus did. Whether he enjoyed it or not, we are not told.

Prayer for the day

Lord, help me bless people by being their guest just as you did.

Daily action

Accept an invitation from a Muslim to eat or drink with them.

Your turn

Let us know how it went! Leave a comment below, or tag us on social media with the #lovefast hashtag on social media. You can find us on Facebook and Twitter!

Partners of 30 Days of Prayer

Lovefast 2: Generous hospitality

Lovefast prayer and action campaign from the Mahabba Network

Day 2 of 30

By Phil S from Mahabba's Network Team

Inspired by today's entry in 30 Days of Prayer, but with a UK twist!

If you’ve not signed up to receive the daily prompts to your inbox - see here →

Daily verse

“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”
— Hebrews 13:2

Thought for the day

Generous hospitality

Jesus spent a lot of time in homes eating with ordinary people (eg in Bethany John 12:1-8) When he sent out the 12 apostles and then 72 disciples, he told them to eat with ordinary people and receive hospitality as part of their mission. (Luke 9:4 & 10:5-19)

Eating together breaks down barriers; people tell stories and share lives as they share food together.

Whilst Ramadan is all about fasting from dawn to dusk for Muslims, there is also the joy of breaking fast – iftar – at sunset. This is usually a shared public event. And an opportunity for 'us' to share with 'them' and become 'we'. There will be opportunities later to return the hospitality and invite your Muslim friends to your own table.

The Biblical word for hospitality is philo-xenia ‘kindness to strangers’. It is the opposite to xeno-phobia, ‘fear of the other’. As xenophobia seems to be on the increase in our country, let us come in the opposite spirit and practice hospitality (both giving and receiving), and have a go at ‘entertaining angels’.

Prayer for the day

Pray this Celtic prayer - BRIGIT’S FEAST

I should like a great lake of finest ale, for the King of Kings
I should like a table of the choicest food, for the family of heaven.
Let the ale be made from the fruits of faith, and the food be forgiving love.

I should welcome the poor to my feast, for they are God’s children.
I should welcome the sick to my feast, for they are God’s joy.
Let the poor sit with Jesus at the highest place, and the sick dance with the angels

God bless the poor, God bless the sick, and bless our human race.
God bless our food, God bless our drink, all homes, O God, embrace.

Daily action

Watch the video ('The British') and enjoy the diversity of both people and food, that we have in Britain. Find out about an Iftar meal in your area (put on by the mosque or as part of the BigIftar http://thebigiftar.org and resolve to attend.

Your turn

Let us know how it went! Leave a comment below, or tag us on social media with the #lovefast hashtag on social media. You can find us on Facebook and Twitter!

Partners of 30 Days of Prayer

Lovefast 1: Getting together

Lovefast prayer and action campaign from the Mahabba Network

Day 1 of 30

By Georgina from Mahabba's Network Team

Inspired by today's entry in 30 Days of Prayer, but with a UK twist!

If you’ve not signed up to receive the daily prompts to your inbox - see here →

Daily verse

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock, and if anyone hears my voice, I will come in to him and eat with him and He with me.”
— Revelation 3:20

Thought for the day

Doing things so we can be together

For the past 4 years Christian and Muslim women have been getting together in our town to read their scriptures, to enjoy food and do crafts together.

We've built up relationships that carried on beyond these activities in each other's homes. While the meetings were informal and enjoyable, they do take planning and initiative. Someone needs to take responsibility for booking a venue and printing texts and sourcing crafts.

As (western) Christian women we don't have a particular code of hospitality like the Fulani 'koddirgal.' We sometimes felt burdened by strategic planning for these meetings. However, this changed at one of our recent community events when one of the Muslim women gave us a new perspective.

We were drinking tea and reflecting on the way people seemed to connect in a natural way throughout the day. Her explanation was that 'We want to be together, so we do things.'

Her comment turned our expectations upside down: our aim is no longer the clever planning or the smooth running of events but the being together. My Muslim friend reminded me that Jesus wants to be with us, so he knocks on the door of our hearts to enter in (Rev. 3:20).

Prayer for the day

Lord Jesus, give me a heart of flesh that truly wants to be with people, so that our encounters may lead to them hearing you knocking at the door of their heart.

Daily action

Take time to really listen to someone over a cup of tea (or coffee). Simply find an excuse to 'be together'

Your turn

Let us know how it went! Leave a comment below, or tag us on social media with the #lovefast hashtag on social media. You can find us on Facebook and Twitter!

Partners of 30 Days of Prayer

Lovefast 0: Fasting and prayer

Lovefast prayer and action campaign from the Mahabba Network

Day 0 of 30

By Phil S from Mahabba's Network Team

Inspired by today's entry in 30 Days of Prayer, but with a UK twist!

If you’ve not signed up to receive the daily prompts to your inbox - see here →

Daily verse

“Yet even now, declares the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning….”
— Joel 2:12

Thought for the day

Fasting and prayer

The overall theme for this years 30 days of prayer is 'hospitality'.

30 Days of Prayer represents an opportunity to pray for unreached people around the world.

And there seems to be a direct link between this global prayer movement and the rise in interest of followers of Jesus within the house of Islam.

Lovefast is about rooting this to our experience in UK. We will be looking at the same themes, but applied to Muslims in Britain.

The 30 days of Ramadan are a great opportunity to meet Muslims friends as they are desperately seeking Allah, as they fast and pray to draw nearer to God.

You can sympathise as they take ‘nil by mouth’ - no food or drink from sunrise to sunset, and then the joy of breaking their fast with dates and an Iftar meal.

You may be invited to an Iftar meal yourself at a local mosque, or an event run as part of the #BigIftar But use this opportunity to reach out to your muslim friends

Prayer for the day

Pray with Paul from Romans 10:1:

Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved

Why not write down the names of five Muslim friends you know and pray for them throughout Ramadan?

Daily action

Ensure you’ve got a 30 Days of Prayer booklet during Ramadan and sign up to Mahabba’s #lovefast so we can pray and act together as a Network for our Muslim friends

Your turn

Let us know how it went! Leave a comment below, or tag us on social media with the #lovefast hashtag on social media. You can find us on Facebook and Twitter!

Partners of 30 Days of Prayer

Lovefast -1: Hospitality

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Day -1 of 30

By Phil S from Mahabba's Network Team

Inspired by today's entry in 30 Days of Prayer, but with a UK twist!

If you’ve not signed up to receive the daily prompts to your inbox - see here →

Daily verse

“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”
— 2 Corinthians 9:6

Thought for the day

Hospitality in the Muslim World

Hospitality is an important, almost a central, part of Islamic culture. Offering kindness and generosity to guests is considered a duty which one owes to God. Therefore, many Muslims believe that to honour and welcome a guest is to honour and welcome God.

Hospitality is expressed in different ways in different cultures, but throughout the Islamic world it is characterised by generosity and self-sacrifice. No matter how little one might have, it is a point of honour to share it with guests.

In the prayer 30 day guide contributors to tell us about what hospitality looks like in the Muslim people groups they live among. And in Love Fast we reflect on these themes and apply them to our UK context

Food, of course, plays a significant part and you are warned that some of these articles may make you feel very hungry! Even during the month of Ramadan when fasting is the focus, the feasting that happens after sunset each day is sumptuous and shared freely.

Hospitality brings people together. It invites us to talk with one another and grow in spiritual understanding both as an individual and as a group. We hope you will enjoy these descriptions of hospitality in different Muslim cultures and be inspired to pray in a way that reflects that spirit of generous welcome.

Prayer for the day

Lord we pray that as we identify with our Muslim brothers and sisters during this month of Ramadan. You would help us to pray for them to discover more of You. And help us to find ways to act and get involved with their lives so that together we can discover more of Your Loving Heart.

Daily action

Make sure you have a copy of the 30 Days of Prayer booklet during Ramadan. Check on the website, and sign up with Mahabba for the daily feed of #lovefast prayer and action campaign.

Your turn

Let us know how it went! Leave a comment below, or tag us on social media with the #lovefast hashtag on social media. You can find us on Facebook and Twitter!

Partners of 30 Days of Prayer

Resurrection season

Resurrection season

Greetings to all across the Mahabba Network in this resurrection season!

May Jesus the resurrection and the life be revealed to our Muslim friends and neighbours - as he was to the two on the Emmaus road when their eyes were opened and their hearts burned within.  

This will be our prayer through the (fast-approaching) month of Ramadan when our friends are fasting, seeking God and often more spiritually open; a time when Jesus has been revealed to many, often in a dream or vision.

You are invited to join Lovefast this year - if you are not already signed up, do join with the growing number who will be reflecting, praying and engaging in simple ways on each of the 30 days of Ramadan. It starts Monday 6th May. This is a great way to catch more of God’s heart for Muslims - a daily email, informing and inspiring.

Lovefast will follow the daily topics of the 30 Days Prayer Guide - this year’s theme is hospitality. 30 Days of Prayer is a global prayer movement that has grown amazingly from small beginnings 26 years ago so we get to join with thousands of Christians praying worldwide. It should be no surprise to us that in that same period movements to Jesus have happened in numbers never seen before, right across the Muslim world! God is moving in response to the prayers of his people.

Lovefast supplements the 30 Days Prayer Guide and connects particularly to our Muslim neighbours here in the UK. May we see movements here too!

What better and more significant time to pray blessing for Muslim neighbours? Sign up to receive the daily Lovefast updates at www.mahabbanetwork.com/lovefast

Some comments from people following Lovefast:

“The daily email helped me not to forget!”

“Lovefast has helped me to notice more Muslims in the crowd each day!

“I have learned a lot.”

“It’s great to feel part of a community of people who are reaching out with God’s love and praying together.”

Depending on a God-given mediator

Depending on a God-given mediator

It was an unusual place to be. There were about eighty of us, mainly men but some women too. I was the only non-Muslim present. We were in a hall down a dingy back street used for Asian weddings and other social events by those unable to afford the high-status venues in Manchester. The gathering was in honour of a sort of Sufi revivalist preacher.

I had spotted the event on Facebook. I had heard about this man and wanted to hear him for myself. Most of those who attended belonged to his group. They sang their way through their standard liturgy in Arabic printed out in a beautifully presented book which supplied the text in Arabic along with a full English translation. The liturgy tells the story of the birth of Muhammad, embellished with legends and celebrations of his greatness. This was supplemented with hymns pronouncing blessings on Muhammad, who they styled as the mediating prophet.

Then the visitor delivered a thirty-five minute sermon. He spoke on Muhammad’s uniqueness, his perfection, how he was purer than any man that ever lived and possessed a personal knowledge of God greater than anyone else ever, that he alone was the means by which the immense mercy of God was available to those who put their faith in him. Yes, he was taking the attributes of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, and assigning them to Muhammad. It was depressing to listen to.

The speaker instructed his listeners that pronouncing blessings of Muhammad was the key to being blessed by God. He further instructed them that imitating every detail of Muhammad’s practice in worship must be their top priority. No other worship would ever be accepted by God.

How, I found myself thinking, could we ever talk about common ground with these people? But it was there. Here was an assembly seeking connection with God, knowing that they needed more than formal religion could supply. Here was a group of people convinced that God’s plan and purpose was that rather than depend on their own abilities to please God, that they should depend on a God-given mediator who could give them assurance of acceptance. What they were seeking exists and it is found in a different person, the man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5). May the glories of the true Christ be declared and revealed to them.

Responding to the New Zealand mosque attacks

Responding to New Zealand mosque attacks: Small gestures drown the voices of hate

Responding to the New Zealand mosque attacks in the city of Christchuch

Small gestures drown the voices of hate

The 150 Psalms of David have been called the ‘prayer book of the people of God’.

They help to give us language to talk to God and are full of praise and adoration, plus real questions and lamentation. They give voice to our concerns.

Psalm 10 has helped me express my own reaction to the Christchurch acts of terror at Masjid Al Noor and Linwood Mosque on 15 March.

(And I was able to share this at our local mosque in Woking – Shah Jehan the oldest purpose built mosque in the country - for their Prayer & Peace Vigil on 23 March.)

And it starts with the big question: WHY?

Why did this happen…

Why, O Lord, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?

Ps 10:1

It graphically describes a godless perpetrator of violence, who:

Sits in ambush in the village in hiding places, he murders the innocent; he lurks in ambush like a Lion in a thicket

And it uses equally graphic and realistic, very human language:

Arise O Lord… Break the arms of the wicked and evil doer, Call his wickedness to account till you find none

And the last two verses sum up our thoughts and prayers for those in New Zealand:

O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted,
you will strengthen their heart, you will incline your ear
To do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed
So that the man who is of the earth may strike terror no more

We stand together as people of faith (and none) and echo:

The terrorist wanted to instil fear This is a time to demonstrate LOVE through action:

Ultimately, with God’s help, LIGHT will always prove stronger than darkness and LOVE will prevail, despite the cruelty and brutality present in the world.

Muslims are choosing to follow Jesus; joining his family

Muslims are choosing to follow Jesus; joining his family

Today in Britain growing numbers of Muslims are choosing to follow Jesus; joining his family. We need to understand their needs, care for them and help them grow in him. And we want to learn from them.

God is answering the prayers of many over years and now there are churches across the country grappling with the joy and the challenge of welcoming believers from a Muslim background.

This month we are highlighting Joining the Family (JtF) resources – here is a message from Roxy, JtF coordinator.

I love the word hospitality which for Muslims often starts in the heart attitude of honouring guests into their own homes.

The Greek word for hospitality, Xenia (guest friendship), is again a heart attitude offering friendship to someone who may be far from home.

The word Xenophobia is the fear or distrust of someone who seems strange or foreign.

May we ask God to change our hearts towards people from Muslim backgrounds and not be afraid but be open to those who are far from home when they enter our churches, places that may seem strange and a long way from their spiritual home if not their physical home.

“Hospitality is something I appreciate about Eastern cultures. I have visited many countries of Asia and the Middle East, and in each place it’s the same. When I enter a home I will automatically be offered refreshments… It’s biblical too. Do you recall the account of Abraham rushing to kill the fattened calf for three random strangers who passed by his tent? That kind of elaborate hospitality seems extravagant to western readers but makes sense in an Eastern culture… But this full-blown treatment of guests can all get too much… That’s why I like the idea of ‘laid back’ hospitality. I want my friend of Muslim background to feel welcome and I will always offer drinks and nibbles if they drop by… Laid back hospitality lowers the barriers for me and, I believe, makes it easier for my friend to know they can come and I won’t have to make special arrangements.”
— Joining the Family book. P. 74-75

I pray that as described by Tim Green (above) we would be people who offer guest friendship to people of Muslim backgrounds in laid back hospitality.

Joining the Family aims to enable churches to be places of welcome for believers of Muslim backgrounds through providing resources, training and support to church leaders and those who disciple believers of Muslim backgrounds in the UK. Our vision is threefold:

  1. Churches are more confident to receive believers of a Muslim background

  2. Theological trainees have an increased awareness and knowledge of the needs of believers from a Muslim background

  3. Believers of Muslim backgrounds receive better emotional and spiritual support

To find out more or to contact JtF head to:

It’s a crazy idea… When do we start?

“Every Friday lunchtime, I go with hundreds of others. I go because this is the most blessed time to pray. I dress properly, wash properly, walk in the right way to the mosque and listen well when the Imam speaks. These things mean my sins are forgiven for the next week.”

This is how my friend described Friday prayers – an important time in the week for him.

How we long for our Muslim friends to know that they don’t have to do all these things to be right with God. How we need to pray that God will open their eyes to see the forgiveness that Jesus freely offers.

As we see the crowds going to Jumaa prayer every Friday, what better time to be reminded of Jesus’ compassion for the crowds and to cry out to the Lord of the Harvest.

250 years ago, Jonathan Edwards wrote,

“I have often said it would be a thing very desirable and very likely to be followed with a great blessing, if there could be some contrivance …..wherein we should all unite on the same day…Some perhaps may think its being all on the same day, is a circumstance of no great consequence; but I can’ t be of that mind…It seems to me, it would mightily encourage and animate God’s saints….. to think, that at the same time, such multitudes of God’s dear children, far and near, were sending up their cries to the same common Father, for the same motives.”

Well, we now have such a ‘contrivance’, a means to unite in prayer on behalf of our Muslims neighbours.

At noon on Fridays a UK-focused topic for prayer, a single prayer point, will be provided for us to unite in crying to the Father. It might not be possible for us all to pray at that exact same time but our prayers to the same end will powerfully combine.

“It’s a crazy idea, and it’ll never work… When do we start?”
— Ocean’s Eleven

We start next week! Please join us from Friday 1st Feb, and encourage others to share, in this simple crazy act - standing together to see God establish his kingdom. Initially the prayer point will be posted at noon on the following social media channels:

“Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests”
— Eph 6:18

Note from the Network: January update

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Note from the Network

January update

“We’re praying, believing and working for the gospel to spread through families and a whole community - for disciples to make disciples who make disciples. Why not here?”

This is a big prayer of one Mahabba group going into 2019. Remarkable things are happening in the wider Muslim world - more Muslims have come to faith in Jesus in the past 25 years than in the previous 14 centuries combined! Why not here in the UK?

These monthly newsletters have been highlighting the four Es that describe the Mahabba network. Each local expression of Mahabba is Encouraging prayer and Enabling and Envisioning all Christians to Engage in love with Muslims.

We seek to envision the Christian community - all Christians, churches, church leaders - for God’s heart and purposes for the nations to be caught, for the church to see and seize the opportunities he has brought to our cities and towns.

Envisioning is happening in many ways - inspiring churches with stories of what God is doing, helping church leaders to strategise, to see their vision fulfilled for Muslims following Jesus, and to equip church members through courses and resources like Joining the Family:

“Recognising that it’s important to find and serve alongside local church leaders who share the vision and are open to collaborate, I presented the vision of church based outreach to Muslims at the ‘Churches Together’ Leader’s Meeting in our borough. It was attended by more than 30 leaders of different churches who then launched a prayer initiative which meets weekly moving between various churches and has led to outreach to Muslims.”
“The Joining the Family course was superb – all the better for having equal numbers of Iranians and Brits! Some positive outcomes were – Brits seeing the importance of being family to BMBs, Iranians seeing church as theirs and beginning to take ownership of what happens, two of the Brits engaging with our Farsi-speaking fellowship and befriending newcomers. Others are asking when we are running the course again!”
“We are investing time in talking with church leaders and gaining local church ‘buy-in’. So far we have run training courses in three main churches.”
“I would recommend the Joining the Family course without hesitation as it helps us understand where those from Muslim background are coming from and this in turn helps us understand where and how we can help them grow in faith and integrate into the church.”
“In the coming year we want to pray for local churches to connect with our group and to see how we can serve and equip them in engaging with Muslims and making disciples.”

Let’s keep sharing the stories. If you are not yet part of Discourse, Mahabba Network’s discussion forum, do sign up here. It’s the place to be for sharing and learning from one another.

This is an amazing time to be alive and partnering in prayer to see God’s purposes for Muslims fulfilled. Let’s pray this will be a fruitful year for us all, beyond all we ask or imagine.

This is part of a series of regular updates from all involved with the Mahabba Network. They will be published here on the blog, but the best way to stay up to date is to sign up for our newsletter; you will receive a prompt when the latest one is available. Previous updates can be found here.

Your turn

  • Pass this update on to those you know and encourage them to

  • We value your prayers for this and welcome your feedback here.

  • Feel free to leave any comments below or send them via the Contact Us page

  • Subscribe to the maillist so that you get further news as soon as it is published

Note from the Network: December update

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Note from the Network

December update

Christmas greetings to all across the Mahabba network! May we know, in a deeper way, Immanuel – the one who has ‘moved into the neighbourhood’ – for ourselves and our Muslim friends.

“Friendships with Muslims have enriched my life beyond all I could ever have anticipated, and yet there was a time when I didn’t know how to start making connections. Mahabba creates a bridge across the chasm of the unknown, and can equip you to start friendships that will enrich your life and those of your new-found friends.”
— Lynn Green, YWAM

At the heart of the Mahabba network vision is the enabling and equipping of all Christians. We certainly need experts and specialists - Mahabba draws on the understanding of those with deep cross cultural experience. But befriending Muslims can’t be the responsibility of just a few. We know it is through the everyday encounters of all Christians that Jesus will be made known to countless Muslim neighbours, colleagues and friends. Every local expression of Mahabba seeks to enable local Christians – help them to see the opportunities, grow in confidence, build bridges of friendship and share Jesus with Muslims. Here are a couple of quotes from the network:

“At the beginning of this year we ran a Friendship First course in Watford with 10 people from one church who all had significant involvement with Muslims most weeks during the course, and many of those contacts are continuing. In January, we are going with a second course.”
“‘How to Share your Faith with your Muslim Neighbour’ is a booklet and half day training. The training, which we have run in London, includes testimony, teaching and insights on how to answer the common questions asked by Muslims. The goal is to initiate friendships in our workplace and neighbourhood and share our faith effectively.”

These are just two of the courses and resources available. Find out more and think about planning a course or training with others near you in the new year.

https://www.mahabbanetwork.com/friendship-first

The booklet is downloadable free at https://www.mahabbanetwork.com/bookshelf/share-faith-muslim-neighbour

A means for learning from one another across the network is the on-line forum – Mahabba Discourse. This will be fully operational from 1st Jan and we invite you to sign-up now…

There are many ways equipping is happening and it would be great to hear what you have tried – what training has worked well and not so well. Please add a comment below.

This is part of a series of regular updates from all involved with the Mahabba Network. They will be published here on the blog, but the best way to stay up to date is to sign up for our newsletter; you will receive a prompt when the latest one is available. Previous updates can be found here.

Your turn

  • Pass this update on to those you know and encourage them to

  • We value your prayers for this and welcome your feedback here.

  • Feel free to leave any comments below or send them via the Contact Us page

  • Subscribe to the maillist so that you get further news as soon as it is published

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