Since arriving in the United States as a Christian refugee nearly 13 years ago, after two difficult years of waiting in Turkey, I have watched the Muslim population in our communities grow rapidly. In his sovereignty, God has brought men and women from countless nations, neighbors once strangers to us and to this land, opening an incredible door for the gospel. Rather than seeing this as a challenge, I have come to view it as a providential opportunity prepared by God himself.
The question that presses on my heart is this: if they do not hear the good news of Christ from us, where else will they hear it?
When my three children began attending school, the presence of Muslim families became even more personal. Some of my children’s classmates and friends came from Muslim homes, which naturally led my oldest daughter to ask about the difference between their beliefs and ours as Christians.
That moment deepened our conviction that outreach to Muslims is not optional; it is part of our calling to raise our children in the Lord (Ephesians 6:4) and obey the Great Commission ourselves. Christ commands us to teach the nations to observe all that he has commanded (Matthew 28:20), and in his providence, he has brought those nations to our very doorsteps.
This reality makes the story of Jonah a sober warning. God has placed our Nineveh not in a distant land but in our neighborhoods. The question before us is whether we will respond with Jonah’s reluctance or with Christ’s compassion.
While the church rightly continues sending missionaries abroad, God has also brought people from Muslim nations into our communities as refugees and immigrants. Jesus tells us the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few (Matthew 9:37). That is not only true overseas; it is true on our very street, where the Lord of the harvest has placed Muslim men, women, and children beside us. If we do not proclaim Christ to them, if they do not hear the good news of salvation from our lips, from whom will they hear it?
The Barrier of Fear
For many Christians, the greatest obstacle is fear, beginning with fear of the unknown. Too many of us know Islam only through news headlines, which can create suspicion and distance from our Muslim neighbors who, in reality, are simply raising families and seeking stability.
This fear is often compounded by fear of rejection. We worry that if we speak about Jesus, our friends may be offended, withdraw from us, or even respond with hostility. But perhaps the most paralyzing fear is the fear of inadequacy. Many Christians quietly wonder: Do I know enough to speak? What if they ask about the Trinity or the Bible and I stumble? Believing we might be outmatched, we stay silent.
I know this fear well. About three years after my conversion in Iran, I faced my first true trial. All young men were required to serve two years in the military, and I was assigned to the police department. During a background check, I was asked to declare my religion. When I marked “Christian,” even though my parents were Muslim, alarms were raised. Soon after, I was summoned to appear before the religious court to explain myself.
Fear gripped me. I had little theological training and no idea how to defend my faith. In desperation, I called a brother in Christ and confessed my fear. His counsel was simple but profound: “Do not worry. Just go. The Holy Spirit will teach you what to say.”
He was pointing me to the Spirit’s promised work. Jesus declared that the Spirit’s mission is to “bear witness about me” (John 15:26). Precisely because the Spirit testifies to Christ, he equips us to do the same. This fulfilled Christ’s promise: “When they bring you before the synagogues… do not be anxious… for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say” (Luke 12:11–12).
That trial taught me the truth Paul wrote to Timothy: “God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (2 Tim. 1:7). Fear kept me frozen, but in the end, it was Christ’s love that moved me to take the next step.
The Barrier of Ignorance
Alongside fear is the second great obstacle: ignorance. Many Christians do not know what Muslims believe about God, humanity, or salvation. In this vacuum, stereotypes and misinformation spread. This lack of knowledge leads to a deeper danger: doubting the gospel’s power. We may begin to believe that Muslims are “too difficult to reach,” forgetting that the risen Christ transformed Saul the persecutor into Paul the apostle. No heart is beyond his reach.
Ignorance also leaves us unsure of how to engage. We may not know how to start a spiritual conversation or how to explain the gospel clearly in a way that connects with a Muslim neighbor. And sometimes our silence is not just from fear, but from the false belief that someone else will do it, a pastor or a missionary. But Christ’s commission was given to the whole church, not to a select few.
Ignorance need not remain. Paul exhorts us: “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt” (Colossians 4:5–6). This wisdom is gained through study, listening, and most of all, depending on the Spirit.
How Muslims View God, Themselves, and Others
When we talk with Muslims, it often feels like there are four deep gaps between what they believe and what we believe:
- A Relational Chasm: Islam upholds tawḥīd (the absolute oneness of God), portraying Allah as a transcendent Master—merciful and just, yet distant. This creates a barrier between Creator and creation. Scripture unveils God as our Father, revealed fully through his Son, Jesus Christ, who invites us into communion (John 1:18; Romans 8:15).
- A Diagnostic Chasm: Islam teaches fitra, that every human is born pure. Sin is seen as forgetfulness or error, not a fallen nature. Scripture diagnoses original sin: a corrupt nature inherited from Adam that enslaves every heart (Romans 3:23; 5:12).
- A Solution Chasm: Islam prescribes guidance from prophets to correct behavior. Scripture reveals that guidance is not enough; we need a rescuer and redeemer. Jesus came not only as a prophet declaring truth but as our High Priest who offered himself as the once-for-all sacrifice for sin, and as our victorious King who conquered death. In his priesthood he bore our guilt; in his kingship he triumphed over the grave. No mere prophet could do this.
- An Assurance Chasm: In Islam, salvation depends on good deeds outweighing the bad, combined with uncertain hope in Allah’s mercy. The gospel replaces anxiety with assurance: salvation is not earned but freely given through faith in Christ’s finished work (Ephesians 2:8–9; Romans 8:1).
What do our Muslim neighbors see when they look at us? They cannot see the Spirit within us, but they can witness his fruit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Still, transformed lives alone are not enough. Scripture declares, “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). Our lives must point to gospel proclamation, where neighbors are confronted with the sinful nature of humanity, not mere mistakes but rebellion against a holy God. That rebellion demands repentance and faith in Christ alone, who bore God’s wrath and rose victorious.
It’s not our cleverness that bridges these gaps. It’s the Spirit himself. He’s the One who changes our lives and makes our words ring true. While his work may unfold swiftly, it often takes time for hearts to respond, and we may not always see the results of our efforts. Our task is not to produce conversion but to walk in faithful obedience, trusting that God, the Lord of the harvest, will bring about his purposes in his way and in his time.
Faithful Witness Across Generations
History bears witness to this reality. The first American Presbyterian missionaries arrived in Persia (modern-day Iran) in the early 1830s. Though their visible fruit seemed small, the Lord in his providence brought forth remarkable growth nearly 150 years later in the wake of the Islamic Revolution of 1979. Such patterns remind us that gospel labor is rarely quick; it may take years, decades, or even generations. Yet we press on with confidence, assured that Christ Himself directs the harvest according to His sovereign will.
Today, many Iranian Christians, including myself, are living proof of this truth. In the same way, we are now called to reach our Muslim neighbors here with confidence that the Lord, who was faithful then and remains faithful now. He is still the Lord of the harvest, and he will gather His people from every nation, tribe, and tongue.
From Fear to Friendship: A Practical Guide
Knowing the truth is one thing; sharing it in love is another. Moving from conviction to conversation requires a deliberate path:
- Start with prayer and trust. Pray for love to replace fear, compassion to replace suspicion, and confidence in God’s sovereignty. Your Muslim neighbor is in your life by divine appointment.
- Build genuine friendship. Begin with simple kindness. Share food, extend help, invite them for coffee. Listen with curiosity: “What was life like in your country? What role does faith play in your family?” Listening honors them and builds trust.
- Engage in spiritual conversations. Learn the basics of Islamic belief, but focus on the gospel. Keep Christ at the center, avoiding endless debates. For Persians, figures like Cyrus the Great (Isaiah 45:1) may provide an entry point, yet we must be clear: Persian kings were not saviors but instruments in God’s plan. The goal is not to exalt history but Christ, in whom all history finds fulfillment.
- Walk with patience and love. Bearing witness to Christ is seldom an event; it is most often a journey. It’s more like walking beside someone for a long time, step by step. Invite them to read the Bible with you. Each Muslim’s story is unique, so avoid stereotypes. Speak the truth with gentleness, but never compromise the gospel or encourage them to hide their faith.
The Simplicity of the Call
In the end, our calling is not complicated. We are commanded to proclaim Christ, trusting that the gospel itself is “the power of God for salvation” (Romans 1:16). Fear and ignorance may loom large, but they are no match for the Spirit who equips God’s people.
“I was a stranger and you welcomed me,” Christ said (Matthew 25:35). One day, he will ask us how we received the strangers he placed at our doorsteps. And why are they here? Because “God made from one man every nation of mankind… having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God” (Acts 17:26–27).
And let us never forget: we too were once strangers, alienated from God, without hope and without Christ – until, by his mercy, he welcomed us into his household (Ephesians 2:12–19). Having been embraced by such grace, how can we withhold that same welcome from others? To open our hearts and homes to the stranger is not a burden but a privilege, a living testimony of the gospel that once reached us.
The question is not whether God has brought the nations to us, but whether we will be faithful stewards of the gospel. The harvest is right here where we live — in the classroom, at work, and across the street in our neighborhoods. Let’s take courage, open our doors in Christ’s name, and share the only hope of salvation: Jesus our Lord.
If you would like resources to help you share Christ with Muslims, please contact us at info@mehrministries.org or connect with the MNA Refugee and Immigrant Ministry.
Hamid Hatami is the founder and CEO of Middle East Heritage Reformed Ministries (MEHR) and a member of the advisory board for MNA Refugee and Immigrant Ministry.