In order to be effective in cross-cultural ministry, it is important to have a basic grounding in the predominant religion or religions of the people you hope to work amongst. It is essential to not only have a theoretical understanding but also a knowledge of how to apply this practically in the context of your ministry.

 

Pre-field requirements:

  • A developing understanding of:
    • The history of the religion.
    • Beliefs & customs.
    • Contemporary expressions.
    • Comparisons to Christianity.
    • Our response to the religion.
  • Experience of ministry.

 

How to fulfil requirements:

    Essential (requirements which must be completed)

    • Be able to articulate the basic beliefs and practices of your group of interest.
    • Gain first-hand experience of the community (e.g. visiting a mosque, gurdwara etc.).
     

    Suggested resources

    Islam

    Ongoing development:

    Start here

    • How Shall They Hear?: Sharing your Christian faith with Muslims – E.M. Hicham.
    • ►Essentials of Islam – Timothy Tennent, Biblicaltraining.org.

     

    Introductions and overviews

    • Cross and Crescent: Responding to the Challenges of Islam – Colin Chapman.
    • The Call of the Minaret – Kenneth Cragg.
    • Ask your Muslim Friend – Andreas Maurer.
    • Kissing Cousins?: Christians and Muslims Face to Face – Bill A. Musk.
    • The Cross and the Crescent: Understanding the Muslim Heart andMind – Phil Parshall.
    • Islam in Context: Past, Present, and Future – Peter G. Riddell & Peter Cotterell.
    • Understand My Muslim People – Abraham Sarkar.
    •  Encountering The World of Islam – Keith E. Swartley, ed.
    • Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus: A Devout Muslim Encounters Christianity – Nabeel Qureshi. (Also see course: course here.)
    • ► Islam – Timothy Tennent, Biblicaltraining.org.
    • Islam and the Cross, Selections from “The Apostle to Islam” – Samuel M. Zwemer.
       

    Testimonies

    • Dream and Visions: Is Jesus Awakening the Muslim World? – Tom Doyle.
    • A Wind in the House of Islam: How God Is Drawing Muslims Around the World to Faith in Jesus Christ – David Garrison.
    • I Dared to Call Him Father – Bilquis Sheikh & Richard H. Schneider.
    • The Fifth Pillar: A Spiritual Pilgrimage – David Zeidan.
       

    Approaches to Muslim ministry

    • ► Journey to Truth video series – Babalhayat
    • Gospel for Muslims: Learning to Read the Bible Through Eastern Eyes – Steve Bell.
    • The Practical Approach to Muslims – Jens Christensen. (Available online here)
    • Fresh Vision for the Muslim World – Mike Kuhn.
    • New Paths in Muslim Evangelism: Evangelical Approaches to Contextualization – Phil Parshall.
    • Missiological Models in Ministry to Muslims – Sam Schlorff.
    • ► Christian and Islamic Theological Issues course– Sasan Tavassoli, The Wadi.
    • From Seed to Fruit: Global Trends, Fruitful Practices, and Emerging Issues Among Muslims – Ed. J Dudley Woodberry.

     

    The Qur’an and Hadith

    • The Qur’an and the Bible in the Light of History and Science – Dr. William Campbell. (Available online here).
    • Qur’an Course – Jeremy Hinds (PDF available from office).
    • The Quran with Christian Commentary: A Guide to Understanding the Scripture of Islam – Gordon Nickel.
    • Inside the Community: Understanding Muslims through Their Traditions – Phil Parshall.

     

    Being a Muslim in today’s world

    • McDonalds, Minarets and Modernity: The Anatomy of the Emerging Secular Muslim World – Bob Hitching.
    • Woman to Woman, Sharing Jesus with a Muslim Friend – Joy Loewen.
    • Miniskirts, Mothers and Muslims: A Christian Woman in a Muslim Land – Christine Mallouhi.

    The Unseen Face of Islam: Sharing the Gospel with Ordinary Muslims – Bill A. Musk.
     


    Hinduism

    Start here


    Introductions and overviews


    Testimonies


    Approaches to Hindu ministry


    Buddhism and East Asian Religions

    Note: East Asian religions are often intertwined and interconnected, with significant variation between countries and communities.

    Start here

    Introductions and overviews

     

    Testimonies

     

    Approaches to East Asian ministry


    Sikhism

    Start here

    • Sikhism: A Very Short Introduction – Eleanor Nesbitt.
    • Sikhi Wiki. 


    Introductions and overviews

    • ► Sikhism Through its Scriptures course, HarvardX, EdX.
    • Sikhism: Beliefs and Practices  - W Owen Cole and Piara Singh Sambhi.
    • The Sikh Gurus – Harish Dhillon.
    • A History of the Sikhs. 2nd ed. – Khushwant Singh.
    • A History of the Sikhs: Volume 2: 1839-2004.2nd ed. – Khushwant Singh.
       

    Testimonies

    Approaches to Sikh ministry

    • Light of the Satguru: Good News for Sikhs – Jasvir Singh Basi.
    • Lions, Princesses, Gurus: Reaching Your Sikh Neighbour – Ram Gidoomal and Margaret Wardell.
       


    Folk religions

     

    Start here

     

    Approaches to folk religion ministry

    Communicating Christ in Animistic Contexts – Gailyn Van Rheenen. 
     

    Other

    Atheism

     

    Catholicism

     

    The New Age