Ever since 9/11 we have been bombarded with generalizations as to the peaceful nature of Islam.

I meant well. My heart was filled with love for my Muslim friends and I wanted them to know how liberating salvation in Christ was. The more acquainted I became with my friends’ religion, the more I realized how bound they were to the plethora of futile rituals.

In early 1997, a regional church development working group asked what could be learned from existing churches to benefit those planting new churches of Muslim background believers (MBBs).

As the Muslim chief and I stood beside my white Toyota wagon, the traditional African gestures and greetings were exchanged. The scorching Saharan sun was beating down on all of us. Men greeted the chief and then turned to me. All of us were shaking hands and gesturing to our own hearts and foreheads showing that no ill will or thoughts stood between us.

How should missions proceed within the clash of civilizations? How should American missionaries operate within the context of anti-Western sentiment?

In this article I will suggest a few key issues of conversion and then, echoing the perspectives of my friends from Russia and other countries, offer some applications for our approach to cross-cultural evangelism.