How can you put on an event for your Muslim neighbours as a church or Mahabba group? First of all, you need a pool of ‘warm’ contacts.
A Mahabba member shares advice on how Christians can help traumatised refugees and asylum seekers in the UK.
A Mahabba member describes some of her experiences as a Muslim Background Believer in a UK church and writes about the attitude of Jesus all Christians should display.
It is important to identify a cultural launch pad that will help the listener start their journey with context. This member articles explains the idea with two examples of reaching out into Muslim communities within the UK.
This month we want to share with you two events that tie in with our values of Encouraging Prayer and Enabling all Christians. Our vision is to grow regular, persistent prayer for our Muslim brothers and sisters. We also want to see Christians grow in confidence, equipped to share Jesus with their Muslim neighbours. Are these things that you could be involved in? Could you invite people in your church to join you in your vision?
For Mahabba, it’s all about the relationship – not strategies, not techniques just a real love for our Muslim friends and neighbours. And that’s why we love hearing stories from our groups. Stories are a genuine reflection of the work that our members are doing, and they spur us on and encourage us.
Your contributions helped us facilitate the prayer meetings that we hosted during Ramadan – thank you!
Many of you will have participated in our Network Survey which was an attempt to get a picture of how the pandemic affected our regional groups. The results have given us insights and encouragements.
The Mahabba Trustees will be meeting in Birmingham on 22nd June. Please pray for them.
Have you spotted the network survey in your inbox?
The pandemic has changed the way we relate to each other. In every sphere of life we’ve adapted to online meetings, smaller gatherings, and less face to face contact.
We’d love to check in with Mahabba prayer groups across the country, find out how you’re doing, and how we can support you moving forward.
Our English classes began more than ten years ago. The reason for starting the classes was to create an opportunity to build relationships with the local immigrant communities and to be a demonstration of God’s love by meeting a felt need.
The Love of God is shown by the fact that our classes are practically free, some students expressed surprise at that, because in their home country education is so expensive. Others have commented on the manner in which our teachers treat the students. One person said:
I feel like my teacher cares about me.
Another said:
Your class is not all work-sheets, you take time to teach us to speak.
In addition to English, the teachers offer help with form filling or other practical needs.
The position of teacher is respected by most cultures, so when relationships are built up, students often share their struggles and problems with us, this sometimes leads to opportunities to pray with the student.
The classes have helped to remove fear of mixing with Christians and the fear of entering a building associated with the Christian community. Being under the umbrella of the church gives the teachers freedom to talk about the Christian festivals and other religious events.
The English classes serve as a common platform where volunteers from four different churches work together, some teach others prepare the tea and coffee and look after the student’s children. The unity that comes from being in Christ is demonstrated by the diverse backgrounds of our teachers.
We use ESOL materials that we got from the British Council many years ago, so we are now looking for new resources.
We spoke to Lucy Rycroft, founder of The Hope-Filled Family blog, who gave us some great Christian family resources to add to the stockings this year. They’re all about prayer and mission and will open up conversations about the world, and the nations we find on our doorstep here in the UK.
Check it out, and help the little ones in your life grow closer to Jesus this Christmas.
With the conflict in Afghanistan and the plight of refugees being reported on our televisions, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. How should we pray?
This month we hear from a Mahabba Network member who is working in Colchester to help settle families recently arrived in the UK. As well as practical support, they share three key areas we can be praying for.
