Evangelism

When examining the issues between evangelical Christians and Muslims, many point to the history of Isaac and Ishmael as a source of the tension. However, some experts believe the history surrounding Isaac and Ishmael does not play a major role.

According to Steve Strauss, chair and professor of World Missions and Intercultural Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary, the Jews and Christians trace their spiritual ancestry through Isaac while Muslims trace their spiritual ancestry through Ishmael.

"Of course the biblical evidence is clear that Isaac is the physical progenitor of the Hebrew people," said Strauss in an interview with The Christian Post. more >>

A group of prison and jail Christian ministry volunteers from Illinois are combating the nation's skyrocketing incarceration rates and failing prisoner release programs by launching the state's first Bible college within a prison – hoping to be a model for the rest of the U.S.

Having witnessed the changed lives and positive impact from prisoners who have accepted Jesus Christ within several state prison systems, the volunteers from Willow Creek Community Church in the Chicago area are determined to stand in the gap where government cannot help, they said.

The Divine Hope Reformed Bible Seminary officially opened its doors at the Danville Correctional Center on March 10. The seminary offers a fully accredited two-year course, administered by The Miami International Theological Seminary, with plans to expand to a four-year degree program. more >>

Depression, chronic anxiety and thoughts of suicide continue to plague the people of Japan – post-tsunami.

Though this month marks the anniversary of Japan's devastating earthquake that struck the nation last March, taking nearly 16,000 lives and injuring more than 25,000 people, there is no need for reminders as residents continue to grapple with the aftermath.

Looking to combat the hopelessness felt by many of the people today, the Japan Campus Crusade for Christ is launching a suicide-prevention campaign, given that March also happens to traditionally be the highest suicide month. more >>

Atheists represent less than 1 percent of the population of the U.S. military, but at the end of this month they will be holding a public festival and rock concert to celebrate "freethought" (atheism, humanism and skepticism) on one of the largest military bases in the U.S.

North Carolina's Fort Bragg will host "Rock Beyond Belief" (RBB), an event organizer Justin Griffith, a sergeant in the US Army and an atheist, hopes will generate more support for nonbelievers serving in the military.

According to some reports, military nontheists have said they feel they are unwelcome targets of proselytism, and complain of compulsory religious prayers and practices at official events. more >>

A Christian author and ministry leader says this Easter season the church should focus on the de-churched, not the un-churched.

Ed Galisewski, author of the book A Simpler Faith, said that during the season when most churches are gearing up for Easter services and encouraging its members to think about who to invite to church, "it is time Christians [should] rethink their target audience."

For him, that audience should be the de-churched – people who might have grown up in church or have had church experiences but now don't attend regularly, or at all. more >>

With the U.S. Muslim population steadily rising, experts in evangelism are asserting both Christians and Muslims should first shed fear, and then work to form mutually respectful relationships as a foundation for sharing the American experience. While it is incumbent on Christians to cast fear aside and follow Jesus' call to "Love your neighbor as yourself," Muslims also have a responsibility, according to academics interviewed for this series, to take a "courageous stand" against radicals overshadowing their faith with violence.

"We're not trying to build a relationship based on theological agreement. We're building a relationship based on the need of a civil society," Bob Roberts, senior pastor of Northwood Church, located in Keller, Texas, told The Christian Post. Northwood Church has had an extensive outreach to the Muslim community for the last eight years.

Roberts' church seeks to connect with local Muslims by forming relationships around common interests, such as cooking, hunting and camping. Recently, Roberts and six other pastors partook on a hunting and camping trip with seven imams, or Islamic religious leaders. more >>