Dan Holland reflects on the challenges of cross-cultural encounter

Flashpoints

Roughly a year ago I led a weekend mission in Peterborough where long time TFMers pastor the hosting church. It was, overall, a good weekend within the lockdown restrictions. One thing that remains etched on my mind was a confrontational encounter Tao and I had with a Muslim shop owner. One of my favourite ministries is visiting small local business and offering prayer.

This shop, however, was instantly different. The Muslim owner said ominously “you have come to the wrong shop” as he slipped into fifth gear and launched verbal missiles at me! He aggressively attacked what he saw as fault lines in the Bible and Christianity, displaying impressive knowledge of history and the scriptures. I confess his relentless tirade got my hackles up a bit! I said ‘You would make a good politician, you won’t let me speak’!

We hit a flashpoint as he insisted the Bible has no authority. It’s been translated incorrectly, he claimed, and is constantly changed. I countered, what about the Koran? He was furious, saying I had  insulted the Holy Koran, and that it is identical wherever you go in the world. He put his arm on my back and escorted me out of the shop. A lifetime first for my generally polite self! His final riposte: ‘don’t come back without facts’.

Perhaps it was the Holy Spirit, I said, ‘I’ll be back.’

Confidence building

A few weeks ago I visited our hosting church again and walked past this same shop. I prayed outside and felt the release to go in, bracing myself somewhat. I said, perhaps euphemistically, “you may not remember me, but we had a discussion about faith a year ago”. There was a tiny flicker of recognition on his face.

I continued: “I’ve been praying for you, and I realise the source of some of the confusion between us. The Koran is read and prayed in Arabic (while they may be local translations) anywhere in the world”. His soft response astonished me. “Thank you, I will pray for you. You have investigated.  Also, if you ever want we can discuss the similarities between Islam and Christianity”.

We parted with ‘God bless you’ and I went on my way amazed at what God had done and the difference that prayer and a little subtlety had made.

My encouragement to you is – don’t give up on ‘disastrous’ first contacts, refuse to accept rejection and look toward our incredible God! Keep on praying ……

I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. (Matt 10 v16)

<<<<>>>>

Daniel Holland is a UK missionary with Through Faith Missions. He wrote “Through The Tunnel – Free at Last” published by PUSH Publishing, as his personal testimony. His second book “Prophetic Evangelism – Kingdom Exploits in the Risk Zone” was reissued in an expanded second edition in August 2021, via Christian Publications International: https://christian-publications-int.com/PropheticEvangelism.html . More recently he has penned 2 short-ish books on Growing As a New Christian and Caring for the New Christian.

<<<<>>>>

Here is a link to a Prophecy Today review of “Prophetic Evangelism”: https://prophecytoday.uk/study/resources/item/2076-review-prophetic-evangelism.html