Hi folks.  Just returned from an annual team meeting.  Very encouraging time and time of committing some plans to God.  In the next twelve months we will attempt to organize 3-4 communities in large cities across the Middle East/North Africa.  For security reasons I cannot name the cities and countries specifically.  We have a consistent number of visitors/members from key cities in the Middle East.  Of the thousands that visit, we will gather a dozen or so face to face for fellowship/discipleship.  The leaders are long time site members that have a mature relationship with our indigenous teams. 

We are seeing an uptick in visitor traffic this year from about 14,000 visits per month to 30,000 visits per  month.

Here is a link to our newsletter archive and a place to sign-up for future updates:

http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs038/1101372403842/archive/1103582945454.html

Country/Visits/% of Total

1. Egypt 18,174 19.88%
2. Saudi Arabia 12,341 13.50%
3. Morocco 8,305 9.09%
4. United States 7,830 8.57%
5. Algeria 4,197 4.59%
6. Jordan 3,885 4.25%
7. United Arab Emirates 3,544 3.88%
8. Syria 2,593 2.84%
9. Israel 2,419 2.65%
10. Libya 2,359 2.58%

I hope this letter finds you fully aware of God’s sovereignty. Our hope in this time is to abide in the knowledge that God is in control. Without this perspective, you will not be able to extend courageously God’s Kingdom in the way that He has established for you. See Hebrews 11:32-40.

With sovereignty assured, today’s troubles take on new meaning. Our King, Teacher, and Friend is teaching us and preparing us. Hebrews 12:11 says:

Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

I have taken heed of the phrase “those who have been trained by it.” This means that it is possible to suffer the circumstances and not be trained by them. Specifically, it is possible not to allow your heart to be changed, your character strengthened. It is possible to retreat into a fallen perspective and look out for your own survival.

Isaiah 42:23-25 (The Message) tells us plainly:

But is anyone out there listening? Is anyone paying attention to what’s coming? Who do you think turned Jacob over to the thugs, let loose the robbers on Israel? Wasn’t it GOD himself, this God against whom we’ve sinned– not doing what he commanded, not listening to what he said? Isn’t it God’s anger that’s behind all this, God’s punishing power? Their whole world collapsed but they still didn’t get it; their life is in ruins but they don’t take it to heart.

If you find yourself discouraged, seek fellowship. Be transparent with a brother or sister and let God restore your perspective. As He restores your perspective He will restore your joy and mission.

Our joy is the long arm of Jesus Christ. He is able to save and transform EVERY human heart. Our mission is to build relationships that allow His Kingdom to touch EVERY human heart. We will not transform the world by criticizing it, but He will transform the world by redeeming it. He “heals our land” when WE repent of our critical, survivalist ways and extend His Kingdom as boldly as He did. Even submitting Himself to death on the cross. His actions were the opposite of self-preservation. Lord, help us to learn from the very personal struggles we are all enduring. Change us for your glory.
With you In Christ, Matthew Brennan

Our Chief Editor is an Arab follower of Jesus living in a Muslim country. There are no local churches in his town, thus he has no concept of church as a place. Once a month he drives to a friend’s apartment two hours away to pray in secret. Each Friday his Muslim neighbors answer the call to prayer and gather at the mosque to hear the Imam teach. He is curiously absent. They ask him, “We know that you do not go to the mosque, but you confess and display a great faith in God? How can this be?” He responds, “One man changed my life… Jesus Christ.” Puzzled, they stare in amazement. His two eldest children have confessed their faith in Christ. The boy, now 17, was baptized in a nearby river.

In his own words he describes our relational approach to declaring the truth of Christ to Muslims:

“We created our ministry as a bridge-building website that draws Muslims to specific information on subjects that interest them. From there, we lead them in a sincere, but discreet way, through the consideration of issues of truth, faith, and religion.”

“Our aim is to break the powerful Muslim strongholds that, through the centuries of hostility, have been powerfully erected against the message of Jesus Christ. Our way is the contextualization, dialogic, bridge-building way. This does not mean compromising the essential Christian truths, but rather an exploration of the similarities and common grounds between Muslims and Christians. We use these as a familiar background to establish an enduring relationship with Muslims for the purpose of facilitating the communication to them of Christ’s message.”

“Thus, as bridge-builders, we operate from within an Arab Muslim context, using an Arab Muslim discourse. We do not use manipulation, but as we ourselves are from an Arab Muslim background, we strive as such to lead our Muslim brothers in a mutual sincere dialogue to the truth.”