Birmingham: Over 170 Christians gathered in Birmingham for the annual Mission of God conference, jointly organized by Christian Concern and the Ezra Centre for Christian Thought. The event aimed to equip attendees with a deeper understanding of Islam and practical strategies for engaging with Muslims in the UK, where cities like Birmingham have a significant Muslim population.
Contrasting Beliefs: The Crescent and the Cross
Joe Boot, Director of the Ezra Institute, opened the conference by exploring the foundational differences between Islamic and Christian beliefs. Highlighting the Islamic doctrine of Tawhid versus the Christian doctrine of the Trinity, he underscored how these theological differences shape cultural and societal norms. Boot argued that Islam’s singular view of God limits diversity and individual expression, while Christianity’s covenantal God invites relational engagement with creation.
Islam and the Nation: The Growing Challenge
Tim Dieppe, Head of Public Policy at Christian Concern, presented a comprehensive overview of Islam’s influence in the UK, supported by detailed statistics and real-life examples. His presentation emphasized the urgency of countering Islam’s growing political and cultural presence with a robust biblical response grounded in love and truth. Dieppe proposed five pillars for Christian engagement: loving Muslim neighbors, prayer, confronting Islam as a false ideology, exposing its realities, and resisting its advancement.
The Church’s Role: Community and Visibility
Apologist Bob of Speakers’ Corner urged Christians to adopt a collective and visible approach to evangelism. He called for a recovery of Christendom’s focus on cultural transformation and the establishment of supportive Christian communities for Muslim converts, who often face isolation and loss of family ties.
Personal Evangelism: Sharing Christ with Muslims
Beth Peltola, CEO of the One Truth Project, focused on individual efforts in evangelism. She dispelled common misconceptions, encouraging attendees to rely on scripture and Christ’s teachings to engage Muslims meaningfully. Peltola emphasized the importance of addressing core theological differences, such as the deity of Christ, while using personal testimonies to connect with Muslim women.
A Call to Action
The conference concluded with a Q&A session, addressing practical challenges such as reaching Muslim men, youth, and women. Panelists encouraged attendees to take their evangelism efforts to social media, recover the militancy of the Christian faith in confronting societal challenges, and deepen their knowledge of both Islam and Christianity.
Reflecting on the event, Tim Dieppe remarked, “This conference highlights the hunger among Christians to understand and engage with Islam in an informed and loving way. Churches must now take the lead in equipping their members for this vital mission.”
The Mission of God conference reaffirmed the need for Christians to rise to the challenge of Islam by living out their faith with conviction, knowledge, and unity, aiming to bring the light of Christ to every sphere of life.
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