Southern Baptist Convention Speakers Challenge Christians to Share Gospel With Growing Muslim Populations

Pastors and church leaders attending the Southern Baptist Convention's Annual Meeting are being challenged to fulfill Jesus' Great Commission by sharing the Gospel with the growing Muslim populations in the United States and abroad.

John Brady, vice president of global strategies for the International Mission Board, and Nik Ripken, a 28-year mission veteran and author of the book, The Insanity of God: A True Story of Faith Resurrected, emphasized the urgent need for Christians to drop their complacency and misconceptions about Muslims and to start sharing the life-saving message of Jesus Christ, during a panel discussion on Tuesday, titled "An unexpected harvest: God's work among Muslims."

"One of the things that's got to be clear is that the Lord really doesn't give us a choice, because He's said we're to go to all people. He exempted none," Brady said. "One of the other things that must be understood when you speak about Muslims is that Muslims are a wide variety of people around the world, and some of the most hospitable. So when you paint the whole religion with the actions of a few, then you really miss the context in which the Great Commission has come to us."

He continued: "The Great Commission doesn't say, 'if you think about it, or if you're comfortable, or if it's a choice you want to make. No, the Lord has given us a pretty clear instruction: we must go. When we do that the world will change. What we have is more powerful than a cruise missile, it's the power of life. Read more