Dearborn, Michigan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dearborn, Michigan is one of the most densely populated Arab, Muslim communities in the US. It is estimated that out of 98,000 inhabitants, nearly 30,000 are Arab Muslims. That is why ACP took over 60 volunteers from 6 different states to reach out.

Full Story:

 

ACP Staff Writer

July 2007

 

In 2007, ACP hosted over 60 volunteers from 6 different states and distributed over 45,000 pieces of Gospel literature. Over 10% of the people at the festival received a Gospel of John, a film about the life of Jesus, a child’s DVD or a DVD of former Muslim testimonies. Some received all four. The main emphasis is not how much material was passed out, but what God did through the volunteers. Over 42 people trusted Christ; 80% of those being Muslims. God multiplied the efforts from 2006 where five volunteers passed out over 3,000 Jesus Film DVDs and brought 17 people to Christ. Read more about the experiences of volunteers below.

At the Mosque

It is imperative to uphold and offer the freedoms we have in American to those coming from Islamic backgrounds. Many, who came to this land for freedom, still find themselves living as though they are in an Islamic country. ACP volunteers stand outside on the public sidewalks as the faithful leave the Mosque. Even though some Muslims ask them to leave, a good number receive our material. A small group usually stays to talk for hours afterwards. One of our volunteers who visited a center in Dearborn gives his impression of the experience.

Dearborn 2007 Mosque.jpgOur first assignment was to distribute Jesus DVD’s and other literature to the Detroit Islamic Center. I was warned that this center is one of the most dangerous centers in the United States . To my surprise it happened to be the most interesting of all. We had a group of seven or eight people around us asking questions with one gentleman yelling at me. Another told me to leave right away because I was in a dangerous place. Another told me he was calling the police and would make me leave.

Dearborn 2007 Mosque.jpgLuckily the Ministry to Muslims pastor arrived and a dialogue began. It was intense for thirty minutes. Then conversations mellowed and broke into about five different groups. God’s Word was being taught in front of the most dangerous mosque. WOW! It was awesome. Clergy and Muslim leadership were listening and learning about who Jesus was. Amazingly, seeds were being planted because it went from arguments to talking to shaking  hands and exchanging Korans for Jesus DVDs. We were invited back to address the leadership.

Other team members who were at the mosque saw the intensity of conversations and asked their prayer support back home to pray. A direct answer to prayer was the calming of conversations.

Door to Door

Many who had come to Dearborn been never been on an outreach like this before. Some were a bit timid, but God overcame timidity by preparing the hearts of those we visited at home. He truly, “sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go.” (LK 10:1)

Friday I spent going door to door…what went on was phenomenal. A smile is truly the universal language…which my team member and I shared with the beautiful faces of babies, children, and moms/women who came to the door. My heart was filled with warmth and joy for all the people I saw…I was smiling and Dearborn 2007 Door to Door.jpgwarmly saying, “Hello, I have a free gift for you today…yes, free. Have you heard of Jesus, he loves you.” I would look right into their beautiful eyes and smile…90% smiled back and received the DVD, which I felt would do its job when  they watched it.

Here is another volunteer's experience of going door to door:

“What I would have thought was a ruined conversation turned out to be blessed. I visited a young girl and her mother. They were from Lebanon . As I chatted with them, the older, worldly, and seemingly frustrated son drove up. He disrespectfully obeyed his mom, parked in the backyard and came out to talk with us. Since Muslim men are very protective, I thought I would lose the conversation now that he arrived. But, after seeing the Jesus Film the night before and realizing he was a sinner (we talked about the 10 commandments and how we have broken them) he wanted to pray with me! Believing God has a son is the greatest sin in Islam. So, before I prayed with him, I made sure he understood Jesus was God and that he must worship Him as Lord. To my surprise and joy, he agreed. After the prayer, he said, ‘Something is touching me. Someone is with me. I have goose bumps.’ I explained the promise of Heaven and the power of God; he gave me a hug and invited our teammates to dinner with the family. Truly the angels are rejoicing in heaven.”

At the Festival

Dearborn 2007 Festival Ed Berry.jpg“Person after person received our material, smiled at us and walked away. A good number stopped to talk with us, even though they were at the festival to have a good time. One volunteer met D., a twenty year old man. He gave him a Jesus DVD, but D. did not leave. D. kept standing in front of the volunteer, so he asked him some questions about eternal life. He had no idea but was willing to listen, so the ACP volunteer presented the gospel to him. He listened intently and was willing to repent and pray to receive Jesus.”

Some volunteers experienced opposition from some of the festival attendees. But, even with opposition, God was still calling people to Himself. One ACP volunteer experienced the Spirit of the Lord speaking through her.

I offered the Jesus DVD to two young men in their twenties who were very hip and trendy. One of them said, “No, we’re Muslims.” As they walked away, I asked, “Do you go to the Mosque?” That same young man turned around and said, “No, so I guess you can say, I’m a bad Muslim.” Since they both stopped walking, I asked if they believed in God. One answered, “Yes, but I don’t know who He is yet, so I guess you can say, I’m seeking.” I asked, “What is your name?” He said his name was S. I said, “S. you just said something very scriptural, the Lord said, ‘If you seek Me you will find Me. ’” I shared my testimony and told them about God who answered my prayer. S. said, ‘So, you think Jesus is the way.’ I said, “S., you just said something again that is very scriptural. Jesus said, ‘I am the Way the Truth and the Life. No man comes to the Father but through Me. ’” The other guy, A., said, “No way.” I said, “Yes way. Do you see what’s happening? Jesus is right here now. He knew I would be here, even before the foundation of the world, to talk to you about Him. He sent me from California to Michigan for you both and is knocking at the door of your heart, saying, ‘Are you ready to let me in?’ So I ask you both, are you ready?” They both said yes, first S. and then A. They both said the sinner’s prayer and promised to watch the DVD’s and read the Book of John.

Even until the last minute, God still calls people. One volunteer had an exceptional experience the last day of the festival.

“As the festival was closing, on Sunday evening I spoke with a young man named A. He was the last person I spoke with actually. He came to me and I remembered that I had given him a Jesus DVD on Saturday. He said with a big smile that he had watched the DVD and now has Jesus in his heart and in his arms and all around making gestures with his hands to his heart, arms, and head. Praise God!”

Thank God He is always seeking those who are His. He never gives up. When the festival was over and all ACP volunteers went home, it was not the end of God's work. One volunteer spoke with an Iraqi Shiite. He fled from Iraq ten years ago because of the regime there. He was so sad, when an ACP volunteer told him about Christ, His eyes got wide and he said He got a Jesus Film last year. He said he believes in it, he just did not know what the next step is. The volunteer prayed with him and told him to contact the ministry to get information about how to get connected. He was so excited and almost cried. When we arrived to the office after our trip, we had a call from that same man asking for a Bible in Arabic and English. God’s work is continuing. Please pray for this ministry.

Dearborn 2007 Festival Children.jpg

 

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