Greetings from Andy Larsen; Mosaics Project--Covenant World Mission

This Christmas, I extend my deep gratitude to you for your support, encouragement, and prayers in our efforts to engage Muslims with the Gospel. Below you will find some news to get excited about, opportunities to support on-going work in Morocco, and finally learn some new things we are discovering as we walk with Muslims on their journey to Christ.

If you were to tell me last year at this time what God had prepared for 2009 in ministry among Muslims, I would have said you're crazy! Glad that God has the last word and very happy he continues to invite inadequate vessels to do his bidding. 2 Corinthians 3:5 thru 4:7 is my plumb line on this matter. Clearly, "we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God."

I want to be mindful of people's fears related to the presence of Muslims among us. Many wonder quietly, if not out loud, when another Fort Hood incident will occur. It might help to know that our new friends in Dearborn, as well as my Muslim friends back home in Seattle, are as outraged as we are that a Muslim would engage in violence in the name of Islam. I am constantly told this by my growing network of Muslim friends. In fact, here is a link to an important and official body of Muslim leaders who vehemently denounce Muslim extremism. See "The

Amman Initiative: A Theological Counter-Attack Against Terrorism."  You might also want to watch a great video that documents a Christian living with a Muslim family for 30 days in Dearborn, exploring assumptions and misgivings! Don't be put off by the Mature Audiences rating and the ads. There is nothing inappropriate in the video. It will help you get an insider's perspective on Muslims among us from the lens of a Christian who lived with a family for 30 days.

As the year closes I look back while simultaneously looking forward. There has been incredible breakthroughs and important groundwork for deeper work among Muslims.

 

In 2009:
- I had the chance to speak in a mosque for Friday prayers.
- Became friends with several Imams.
- Worked with a team to build a home for a widow in Morocco.
- Saw churches, pastors and new friends catch the vision to engage Muslims with the Gospel. They rearranged their lives to pursue God's initiative among Muslims doing stuff they never would have dreamed of just a few months ago!
- Helped build bridges between pastors and Muslims in Dearborn and Seattle.
-We bought a house at auction and are close to moving in...maybe a month or two still but closer everyday!

 

My prayer list for 2010 follows:

Pray for:
On-going relationships in the Seattle area with Muslims and Christians seeking to engage them with the Good News of Christ.

For upcoming training and connections in Chicago between Muslims and Christians.

 

For the work among Muslims in Morocco that I continue to support, for Mohammad, Hadijah and their extended family.

 

For mobilization and training of Spanish speaking leaders at CIPE in Argentina in March for work among Muslims.

 

For discernment and leading regarding an immersion experience in the Arabic speaking world and the development of a class for North Park Seminary.

 

Continue to pray for my family, our relationships which always need God's grace. Pray also for the completion of our new house. We hope to move in by February but as we learned in Mexico, "si Dios quiere!"

 

I'm deeply mindful of your sustaining prayers!

 

Thanks for your partnership in the Gospel among Muslims,