New Book Explores Muslims and Christianity

Brother Andrew will be launching a new book 'Secret Believers: what happens when Muslims believe in Christ', at 'UNITE' events on Saturday 29 September, in West Bromwich.

He will also be addressing delegates at the day and evening events, speaking on the Muslim challenge for Christians today.

Brother Andrew said, "We have created an enemy image of Muslims. We fear fundamentalists. We fear the consequences when a Muslim state acquires nuclear weapons. We worry about Muslims emigrating to the West, taking over our neighbourhoods, imposing Sharia Law. Isn't that why we fear them?

"Or maybe the real reason we fear Muslims is that we won't tell them 'God loves you'. Do we see members of al-Qaeda or Hamas as potential temples of the Holy Spirit? They won't be if we don't pray for them and if someone in whom Christ dwells doesn't go to them."

Secret Believers calls Christians to join a new "jihad" - one of forgiveness, radical love and unyielding prayer - and it proposes four challenges to help persecuted Christians.

Rather than view Muslims as enemies, we must seek to win them to Christ, he said, adding that Christians should always offer forgiveness if they are attacked, rather than seek revenge.

"We must accept the challenge of Islam by striving as Christians to imitate Christ," he said. "We must commit to participate in the spiritual war, beginning on the battlefield of prayer."

Sharing his inspiration for the book, Brother Andrew said, "I wanted to tell the stories of Christian communities in Pakistan such as Shantinagar, destroyed by Muslims and how we publicly said 'We forgive you Muslims for what you've done to us'. The result: within a year we had a community centre, a literacy centre and a clinic there.

"Because the Christians were so open and learned to forgive it, was a new start for them too. It was a new start for Open Doors as well, because we were never in that town before and now we are. So we see in practice what forgiveness can do. Instead of a God of revenge, we have a God of forgiveness."

In Secret Believers, co-authored with Al Janssen, Brother Andrew also tells the stories of Muslims who have come to faith in Christ and have faced serious, life-threatening persecution, including being disowned and even hunted by family and community, living under constant surveillance and with terrifying threats, being kidnapped and arrested, interrogated, tortured and even killed.

"Brother Andrew's new book will enable you to enter their stories and experience life from their perspectives," said Open Doors, the persecution ministry founded by Brother Andrew more than 50 years ago.

Now in his late 70s, Brother Andrew still travels extensively, telling Muslims and others about Jesus and encouraging members of the suffering church. His messages to those in the West find an eager response from both young and old.

Mike Pilavachi, founder and leader of 'Soul Survivor', said, "Brother Andrew has the most life-transforming message for Christians in Britain today."

Also addressing the issue of Muslim-Christian relations at the UNITE day event on 29 September will be the Rt Rev Dr Michael Nazir-Ali, Bishop of Rochester, renowned speaker and author. In addition, overseas visitors will share their firsthand experiences of living and working in Islamic nations.

To find out more about the UNITE events, log on to: www.opendoorsuk.org/unite