JOYFUL WITNESS IN THE MUSLIM WORLD PB

This up-to-date textbook features global perspectives on current Christian engagement with Islam, equipping readers for mission among Muslims. Evelyne Reisacher, who has worked extensively with Muslims in Europe, helps readers move from fear to joy as they share the gospel with Muslims.
Reisacher surveys areas where Muslims and Christians encounter one another in the twenty-first century, highlighting innovative models of Christian witness in everyday life. Drawing on insights from global Christianity, this survey takes account of diverse conceptions of Muslim-Christian relations.

The book may surprise those who believe mission among Muslims is nearly impossible.

This is the first book in the Mission in Global Community series, which reframes missiological themes and studies for students around the common theme of mission as partnership with others. Series authors draw upon their own global experience and that of their global colleagues to illumine present realities and chart a course into the future.

Series editors are Scott W. Sunquist and Amos Yong.

Author biography

Evelyne Reisacher, associate professor of Islamic studies and intercultural relations, has taught at Fuller since 2001. Her current research involves exploring gender issues in Islam, Muslim-Christian relations, world religions and affect regulation across cultures.

Before coming to Fuller, Reisacher worked at an organization called L’Ami for 20 years in France, facilitating the relationship between churches and North African immigrants and developing courses, teaching tools, and seminars for sharing the gospel cross-culturally. She trained Christian leaders and church members in Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and South East Asia.

Reisacher has published several articles on gender issues in Islam and Muslim-Christian relations. She is the general editor of Toward Respectful Understanding and Witness among Muslims: Festschrift in Honor of J. Dudley Woodberry (2012), and the associate editor of From the Straight Path to the Narrow Way: Journeys of Faith (2006). Additionally, Reisacher has published chapters in the books Peace-Building By, Between, and Beyond Muslims and Evangelical Christians (2009) and A Worldview Approach to Ministry among Muslim Women (2007) and articles in Christian Reflection: A Series in Faith and Ethics and Fuller’s Theology, News & Notes.

She also assisted in securing the Conflict Transformation: Creating Collaboration and Reducing Conflict in Muslim-Christian Relations grant for Fuller. Reisacher is a member of the American Academy of Religion, the International Association for Mission Studies, the American Society of Missiology, and the Association of Professors of Mission.

Book review by GLO General Director, Dr. Stephen McQuoid 01/06/2017
'Joyful Witness in the Muslim World' by Evelyne Reisacher, a French missiologist who teaches Islamic studies at Fuller, is a book I have thoroughly enjoyed. I found it refreshing mainly because of its premise. Reisacher argues that all too often Christian think of Muslims as hard to reach and see the world of Islam as impenetrable and grim. However, she argues, that we should see witness to Muslims as joy and that should inspire us to reach out. From this point she looks at some of the connections that we can use in Muslim evangelism. These include reaching out to Muslims through art, environmental concerns and a concern for the poor. Each of these areas are important precisely because many Muslims are interested in art, the environment and also have a social conscience and so care for the poor. These issues therefore give us common ground to make connections with the Muslim community and express the biblical perspective on each of these areas.

Reisacher also points out the Muslims, like virtually everyone else on the planet, use the internet and so this medium allows Christians to reach out even to Muslims who live in very closed countries where freedom of religion is unknown. She also points out that there are millions of Muslims who live in cities where communities are thrown together in a way that does not happen in rural areas and this social setting facilitates Christian witness. While Reisacher writes from the perspective of a well-travelled academic, she nevertheless promotes the value of normal everyday engagement with Muslims. She adds to the value of this book by including numerous comments from a variety of people from fellow academics to church leaders who share from their own experience of witnessing to Muslims. While this book does not deal with the theology of Islam, there are also some practical illustrations of the mind-set we encounter as we witness to Muslims. For example, she mentions a new convert she once dealt with who surprised Reisacher by telling her that her favourite bible book was Leviticus. The reason for this was that the woman’s Muslim background had taught her to value religious law and therefore she greatly warmed to the contents of Leviticus and understood its purpose. Overall I found this book useful and uplifting, especially its encouragement to be positive and joyful about sharing the good news with Muslims. If witnessing to Muslims is something you do, or ought to do, this makes for very good background reading.

Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Baker Academic (20 Sept. 2016)