Posts by: Staff Writer

In this short video Dr. Cynthia tells us about the importance of giving thanks. Science now agrees with what the Bible has told us for millennia: being thankful makes us happier and more content in difficult situations.
Sometimes we find trouble in every direction – from work, family, school, or ministry. We get discouraged. Dr. C shares with us the secret of what helps her on days like that,

“When the big things go wrong, give thanks for the little things;
When the little things go wrong, give thanks for the big things.”

Little things that encourage us could be looking intently at something beautiful in nature or our homes. Or perhaps savoring coffee or chocolate. And of course, those of us who know God can always be thankful for the very big things: that he loves us, walks with us, and through the grace of the cross will take us to be with him in heaven forever.

The Thanksgiving holiday is unique to America. Dr. C loves it because of its deep religious and historical meaning – and because some of her ancestors were Pilgrims at that first Thanksgiving celebration.

After a long time of suffering during which half of the settlers died, the Pilgrims had a good harvest in 1621 A.D. In the tradition of their faith, they decided to have a great feast to thank God and celebrate his goodness. The Pilgrims cooked many dishes and hunted fowl. They invited their new friends, the Native Americans, who in turn hunted and brought 5 deer to the feast. With all of this food and good will, feasting and games went on for 3 days.

Not everyone who settled in America was godly, or kind to Native Americans. The pilgrims of the first Thanksgiving however were both. They knew and practiced what the Bible taught, especially about loving and treating foreigners as themselves (Leviticus 19:34). In their law, natives were to be treated equally. In fact, they executed white men for killing a native. This bold move, and their loving influence, brought the Pilgrims respect with the natives. In addition, their presence brought new peace between native tribes themselves.

Besides their daily hardships the Pilgrims had a fear: that other settlers would come after them and mistreat the natives. They dreaded that the bad deeds of others would be blamed on them. Sadly, that is exactly what happened. Today false accusations and unhappy thoughts cast shadows over the Thanksgiving holiday. But friends, if you read “Of Plymouth Plantation,” by Governor Bradford, the colony’s leader, you might be surprised. Contrary to the accusations, racial and religious tolerance, which America treasures today, began in Plymouth colony.

Credits:
Digital Juice Back Traxx 2, New American Classics, “Looking Back,” used with permission by Force 4 Digital
“Ana Mosh Hashok” by Joseph Nassrallah, used with permission

In this short video, Teresa shares with us that she is naturally afraid to step out of her comfort zone. Yet, God called her to go to Nicaragua on a health and education mission there. Through prayer, Bible study and meditating on God’s presence, she had the courage to place her trust in him. Because Teresa did that, she not only brought God’s love to a needy land, but she also expanded her envelope, learned to trust God more, and had a more meaningful life. In fact, the video concludes with photos of her meaningful ministry there.

Is there some way that you too could step out in faith to serve God in a way that you never have before? Jesus said, “Whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.”

PALM Project is what we use to win Muslims to Christ. PALM stands for Pursuing And Loving Muslims. It also is a good symbol for loving Muslims because many live where palm trees grow – the Middle East, North Africa, and tropical regions like Indonesia. It is also an ancient symbol for Victory!

Dr Cynthia tells us in this video that some Christians think that they can be so good that Muslims will just come to them wanting to be Christians. Yes, Jesus said that we are to be lights. But he also said that he came to “seek and save the lost.” And his disciple John said that if we follow Jesus we walk as Jesus did.

Pursue means to go after. This doesn’t exactly mean that we chase them. But we do keep an attitude of awareness to them and try to connect.

PALM Project teaches that any time a Christian is with a Muslim – actually anyone – they should do one of these three things:

1. Build Bridges
2. Share Truth
3. Challenge Falsehood

Our videos teach you specifically how to BUILD BRIDGES that connect with Muslims and lead them to the gospel. There are many bridges. We hope you find some that seem natural to you.

SHARE TRUTH: The most important Truth we need to share is the gospel. For that we use “The Path of the Prophets,” because it uses Bible characters and events that they know, so that it finally makes sense to them why God became a man to suffer for their sins. On the Resources page of our website, you can download these booklets/tracts in multiple languages, with more coming. We also have an English video with the words of the tract, on our website and YouTube, and a full video lesson with study guide Lesson on the topic.

Part of Sharing Truth is to sprinkle Bible truth into everyday experiences that you share with Muslims, and of course everyone else you know. Our videos teach how to do that.

CHALLENGING ISLAM: We are not primarily about Challenging Islam. Plenty of other channels do that. Although Christians are used to being challenged in everything they believe, that is not the case for Muslims. They are not used to it and so are very sensitive to it. We take that into account.

But we understand that unless Muslims know that Islam is not true, they will not have the strength to walk away from it: very much is at stake for them. So, our videos and study guides include essential Apologetics and Polemics (meaning defending our faith and challenging others). We do this in some short videos, but also in our full lessons as they apply. Challenging needs to be done in the right way for the setting one is in.

Christian friends, thank you for listening to our vision to bring Muslims to Christ. We hope that you join PALM Project, learn about Muslims, and start reaching Muslims for Christ.

And Muslim friends, you are most welcome to watch our videos, because they are especially aimed at your way of understanding. We even disciple a former Muslim in real time, so that you can see and hear Muslim questions and responses which resemble yours.

Mostly, Christians think outreach needs a team or group. They may refer to Jesus sending out his disciples two by two. But that is only part of the story.

Dr. Cynthia now shares with us something you will rarely hear: Christians should consider doing outreach alone. Here you learn reasons for that.

First, remember that Jesus sent his disciples two by two at a certain time for specified reasons. This was before Jesus’ death and resurrection, before the Great Commission, and before the empowerment by the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. It was not given as an everlasting procedural command.

By way of contrast, the Old Testament prophets often served alone. In her several decades of experience doing outreach, Dr. C has found that insisting on a group dramatically slows down outreach activities. It inhibits rapid spread of the gospel to the immigrants flooding the West from regions which have never heard it. And it gives an excuse for staying home.

Dr. C does love to have an outreach partner. They pray together before and after outreach and share their experiences for mutual encouragement. But in our busy lives it is very difficult to arrange, even if we can find other interested Christians. So, should we forsake outreach, or limit it to once or twice a year?

Our master Jesus commands us to share. God sent people from remote and restricted regions to live near us in the West so that they could hear and experience the gospel (Acts 17). He gave us the Holy Spirit to empower us, and to convict us to share the gospel of love with them. Yet we find many reasons not to.

In this video, Dr. C presents three big benefits of doing outreach alone:

   * Flexibility – it takes a lot of time and effort to coordinate a schedule with a team, or a single other outreach partner. Even then, cancellations complicate the plans and can shut them down. Going alone avoids this frustrating waste.

   * Short Notice – if we bear in mind the idea of outreach as a part of our lives and are prepared to go alone spiritually and physically (with materials), when time unexpectedly opens up in our day we can easily fit in an hour or more of outreach.

   * Approachability – when we go up to someone alone and with a smile, we are less intimidating. It is easy for our smile to be seen as well-meaning, and easier for our materials to be received. The connection is more immediate. Conversations are congenial. Word and Esther Bridges are more easily formed. (More on these bridges in other videos)

The MORE the LONGER: The more Christians are open about their faith, and the more Christians that share it, the less we can be marginalized and silenced. We will have the right longer.

Jesus told us to go everywhere and share his teachings. Regions that do not allow the open exchange of ideas create a dilemma for Christians. In Muslim and communist countries, Christians are very restricted in where, when, what they can say about the Bible, the gospel, and their faith.

Traditionally America and parts of Europe have been bastions of the Freedom of Speech. Although constitutionally protected by the First Amendment in America, more and more topics are being forbidden as “hate speech.” As the West becomes increasingly post-Christian, restrictions come our way. Take for example, pastors. For expressing Biblical opinions, they face accusations: some are actually arrested, as in Finland.

Average Christians are being characterized as unkind, extreme, unloving and intolerant. Sadly, you can often guess the criminal in a show by looking for who wears a cross or goes to church. Some televangelists and street preachers do come across as judgmental. This taints all Christians.

In this video, Dr. Cynthia points out a way that we can fight against negative Christian stereotypes: if Christians bear the fruit of the Spirit and are openly share their faith, it will be more difficult to marginalize us. Let’s let the Holy Spirit fill us with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 6:22). And let’s take the “good news” wherever we go.

Do you have reluctance or anxiety about reaching out to Muslims – or anyone? If so, Dr. Cynthia tells you in this video, “Take it Easy!”

Let’s face it, no one wants to reach out. The mere thought is intimidating! It’s much easier to keep going on our way, fulfilling the duties of the day. If we do have some free time, we take what enjoyment we can.

Getting started in outreach can be really hard. But to truly follow Jesus we do need to share his words and gospel with others – even though we don’t feel like it. Are you surprised that Dr. C never feels like going on outreach? When the time arrives, she’s tired or ill, or just doesn’t want to do it. She expects it now. That expectation helps overcome it.

Maybe you are the same. We’re not saying to spread a contagious disease. What we are saying is that our own natures, and our invisible enemy, will try many things to discourage us from reaching out.

How can we confront this reluctance? Here’s Dr. C’s way:

• calm yourself with reassuring thoughts
• remember, it is God’s work, not yours
• make baby steps
• tell yourself “take it easy” – that you won’t push too hard, or stay longer than you can handle
• think, “I will simply show up. If God wants to bring me someone, or empower me distribute or speak, I will.”
• just step out in faith and let God do the rest

And do you know what? If you do step out in faith like this, you will gain strength, increase your faith, and experience minor miracles.

For example:

• feeling tired or ill immediately vanishes when you arrive
• people connect and want to talk to you
• you learn
• at times you make long-lasting connections that lead to salvation and discipleship
• you may hear back years later, as we have, of the impact that you made in one moment

As Psalm 126:6 says,

“Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.”