Outreach Resources

But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect. 1 Peter 3:15 ESV

Being Ready – Personal experiences

You may have met the kind of people who always seem ready to give a Bible or New Testament to a total stranger they strike up a conversation with. I have always admired people like that. Or maybe you have met people who can entertain children they have never met with some kind of game or magic trick.

I was always fascinated by the rope trick where three different length ropes all end up looking like they’re the same length, to illustrate that no matter how good or bad we may think we are in ourselves, we are all equally in need of the Savior, Jesus. We will never forget a friend of ours who did these kinds of things while hosting our team on mission trips.

I have not always been so well-prepared. This has sometimes made me think more proactively before going on a trip or deciding what to keep in my car.

One summer I was traveling across the U.S. and stayed at a hotel in a small midwestern town. I decided to just walk around town after dinner, to see what the riverfront looked like, before going back to the hotel. As I headed back in the direction of the hotel, to my pleasant surprise I saw a Muslim family coming along the street in my direction. They were surprised by the Muslim greeting I gave them, which led into a longer conversation.

The next morning at the continental breakfast included with the hotel stay I gave them one DVD about the life of Christ and another about Mary Magdalene’s story. They were so thankful to be given these gifts by a total stranger. I was thankful that I had included things like that in my luggage.

One helpful place to get Bibles and other resources in many different languages is Multi Language Media. Other sources for Bibles are:

This page is a place you can visit often, or just whenever you need to, in order to find helpful resources for learning and training, and for reaching out to your Muslim friends and neighbors.

If you can’t find something you’re looking for, you can always get in touch with us.

Books about sharing with Muslim people and about God’s work among them

Some years ago a young mother shared with me her apprehensions about moving with her family to a Middle Eastern country. I had recently read Daughters of Islam, by Miriam Adeney, and so I recommended she read it. The encouraging and insightful stories about women from many walks of life and from different countries were just what this young mother needed to help her gain a positive understanding about what could happen through her and her family as they moved to another country.

On many occasions since then, I have been grateful for books like A Wind in the House of Islam: How God Is Drawing Muslims around the World to Faith in Jesus Christ. David Garrison’s monumental work in researching movements to Christ all over the Muslim world has been helpful to so many in the body of Christ. What a great resource to pass on to other people!

The humble, Christlike attitude of Fouad Elias Accad in writing Building Bridges: Christianity and Islam will also be a real blessing to all who read it. The back cover of the book promises that “If you want to reach out to Muslims around you, Building Bridges will equip you to build relationships of mutual respect and trust.”

We welcome your input about these recommended books and your suggestions about other books that should be added to this list:

Accad, Fouad Elias. Building Bridges: Christianity and Islam. Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 1997.

Adeney, Miriam. Daughters of Islam. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2002.

Anyabwile, Thabiti M. The Gospel for Muslims: An Encouragement to Share Christ with Confidence. Chicago: Moody, 2010.

Chapman, Colin. Cross and Crescent: Responding to the Challenge of Islam. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2003.

Chatrath, Nick. Reaching Muslims: A One-stop Guide for Christians. Oxford, UK: Monarch, 2011.

David, Pilgrim. Silk Road Pilgrimage. Wide Margin, 2012.

Garrison, V. David. A Wind in the House of Islam: How God Is Drawing Muslims around the World to Faith in Jesus Christ. Monument, CO: WIGTake Resources, 2014.

Gaudeul, Jean-Marie. Called from Islam to Christ: Why Muslims Become Christians. Crowborough, East Sussex: Monarch Books, 1999.

Greear, J. D. Breaking the Islam Code. Eugene, OR: Harvest House, 2010.

Haines, John F. Good News for Muslims: Tools for Proclaiming Jesus to Your Neighbor. Philadelphia, PA: Middle East Resources, 1998.

Harris, Timothy, and Miriam Harris. Loving Your Muslim Neighbor: Stories of God Using an Unlikely Couple to Love Muslim People … and How He Might Use You to Do the Same. Credo House Publishers, 2020.

Hoskins, Edward J. A Muslim’s Heart: What Every Christian Needs to Know to Share Christ with Muslims. Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2005.

Hoskins, Edward J. A Muslim’s Mind: What Every Christian Needs to Know about the Islamic Traditions. Colorado Springs, CO: Dawson Media, 2011.

Jabbour, Nabeel. The Crescent through the Eyes of the Cross: Insights from an Arab Christian. Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2008.

Kateregga, Badru D., and David W. Shenk. Islam and Christianity: A Muslim and a Christian in Dialogue. Scottsdale, PA: Herald Press, 1997.

Mallouhi, Christine A. Miniskirts, Mothers & Muslims: a Christian Woman in a Muslim Land. Monarch Books, 2015.

Marsh, C.R. Share Your Faith with a Muslim. Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1975.

Masri, Fouad. Connecting with Muslims: A Guide to Communicating Effectively. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2014.

McDowell, Bruce A. & Zaka, Anees. Muslims and Christians at the Table: Promoting Biblical Understanding Among North American Muslims. Philippsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing Company, 1999.

Medearis, Carl. Muslims, Christians, and Jesus: Gaining Understanding and Building Relationships. Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House, 2008.

Miller, William. A Christian’s Response to Islam. Philadelphia: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Co., 1976.

Moucarry, Chawkat. Faith to Faith: Christianity and Islam in Dialogue. Leicester, England: InterVarsity Press, 2001. (Available from www.ivpbooks.com)

Müller, Roland. The Messenger, the Message & the Community: Three Critical Issues for the Cross-cultural Church Planter. Osler, Sask.: Can, 2010.

Musk, Bill A. Touching the Soul of Islam: Sharing the Gospel in Muslim Cultures. Crowborough: Marc, 1995.

Oksnevad, Roy, and Dotsey Welliver. The Gospel for Islam: Reaching Muslims in North America. Wheaton, IL: Evangelism and Missions Information Service, 2001.

Parshall, Phil. The Cross and the Crescent: Understanding the Muslim Heart and Mind. Waynesboro, GA: Gabriel Publishing, 2002.

Poston, Larry and Ellis, Carl Jr. The Changing Face of Islam in America: Understanding and Reaching Your Muslim Neighbor. Camp Hill, PA., Horizon Books, 2000.

Scott, Robert. Questions Muslims Ask: What Christians Actually Do (and Don’t) Believe. Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2011.

Smith, Marti. Through Her Eyes: Perspectives on Life from Christian Women Serving in the Muslim World. Authentic, 2004.

Books about Islam and Islamic History

Braswell, George W., Jr. Islam: Its Prophet, Peoples, Politics and Power. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1996.

Hazleton, Lesley. After the Prophet: The Epic Story of the Shia-Sunni Split in Islam. New York: Doubleday, 2009.

Lewis, Bernard. The Crisis of Islam: Holy War and Unholy Terror. New York: Modern Library, 2003.

Lewis, Bernard. The Middle East: A Brief History of the Last 2,000 Years. New York, NY: Scribner, 1995.

Jenkins, Philip. The Lost History of Christianity: The Thousand-year Golden Age of the Church in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia- and How It Died. New York: HarperOne, 2008.

Moucarry, Chawkat. The Prophet and the Messiah: an Arab Christian’s Perspective on Islam and Christianity. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2001.

Musk, Bill. The Unseen Face of Islam. East Sussex, Great Britain: Monarch Publications, 1989.

Parshall, Phil. Understanding Muslim Teachings and Traditions: A Guide for Christians. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1994.

Tsoukalas, Steven. The Nation of Islam: Understanding the ‘Black Muslims.’ Philippsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing Company, 2001.

Books about the Qur’an and the Bible

Wow! That was revealing! Daniel Brubaker, a scholar whose focus is ancient Qur’anic manuscripts, had just given a presentation about discrepancies between the most ancient remaining manuscripts of the Qur’an and the version of the Qur’an read by Muslims today. He showed photo after photo of pages of the Qur’an that had been altered by various means during the early years of Islam. The text of the Qur’an has never been subjected to scrutiny anything like the Bible has endured, but with the research of scholars like Dr. Daniel Brubaker we are given the opportunity to see and decide for ourselves whether the Muslim claim that the Qur’an has never been changed is accurate or not.

Beyond these kinds of critical studies, though, it is also important to understand the content of the Qur’an and to compare it with the content of the Bible. This list of books is just the beginning.

Brubaker, Daniel Alan. Corrections in Early Qurʼān Manuscripts: Twenty Examples. Think and Tell Press, 2019.

Campbell, William. The Quran and the Bible: In the Light of History and Science. Upper Darby, PA: Middle East Resources, 1986.

Elass, Mateen. Understanding the Koran: a Quick Christian Guide to the Muslim Holy Book. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2004.

McDowell, Bruce A., and Anees Zaka. Muslim and Christian Beliefs: A Comparison. Fort Washington, PA: CLC Publications, 2000.

Richter, Rick. Comparing the Qur’an and the Bible: What They Really Say about Jesus, Jihad, and More. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2011.

Books about Apologetics

Geisler, Norman and Saleeb, Abdul. Answering Islam: The Crescent in the Light of the Cross. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Books, 1993.

George, Timothy. Is the Father of Jesus the God of Muhammad?: Understanding the Differences between Christianity and Islam. Grand Rapids, MI., Zondervan, 2002.

Murray, Abdu. Grand Central Question: Answering the Critical Concerns of the Major Worldviews. Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2014.

Rhodes, Ron. Reasoning from the Scriptures with Muslims. Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 1984.

Books about Discipleship

Jabbur, Nabil. Unshackled & Growing: Muslims and Christians on the Journey to Freedom. Colorado Springs, CO: Dawson Media, 2006.

Books about Muslim Testimonies

Bary, Rifqa. Hiding in the Light: Why i Risked Everything to Leave Islam and Follow Jesus. Waterbrook Pr, 2016.

Bradley, Mark. Too Many to Jail: the Story of Iran’s New Christians. Monarch Books, 2014.

Miller, William. Ten Muslims Meet Christ. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1969; repr. 1987.

Qureshi, Nabeel. Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus: A Devout Muslim Encounters Christianity. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2014.

Rostampour, Maryam, Marziyeh Amirizadeh, and John Perry. Captive in Iran: A Remarkable True Story of Hope and Triumph amid the Horror of Tehran’s Brutal Evin Prison. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale Momemtum, 2013.

Sheikh, Bilquis, and Dick Schneider. I Dared to Call Him Father: The Miraculous Story of a Muslim Woman’s Encounter with God. Grand Rapids, MI: Chosen, 2003.

Books about Country/Cultural Studies

Afghanistan

Lessing, Doris. The Wind Blows Away Our Words: And Other Documents Relating to the Afghan Resistance. New York: Vintage, 1987.

Weaver, John. Inside Afghanistan: The American Who Stayed behind after 9/11 and His Mission of Mercy to a War-tone People. Nashville, TN: W Pub., 2002.

Iraq

Fernea, Elizabeth Warnock. Guests of the Sheik: An Ethnography of an Iraqi Village. New York: Doubleday, 1989.

Pakistan

Bhutto, Benazir. Reconciliation: Islam, Democracy, and the West. New York: Harper Perennial, 2009. (Muslim author)

Duncan, Emma. Breaking the Curfew: A Political Journey through Pakistan. London: M. Joseph, 1989.

Reeves, Richard. Passage to Peshawar: Pakistan, between the Hindu Kush and the Arabian Sea. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1984.

Saudi Arabia

Sasson, Jean P. Princess: A True Story of Life behind the Veil in Saudi Arabia. Van Nuys, CA: Windsor-Brooke, 2001.

Syria

Abouzeid, Rania. No Turning Back: Life, Loss, and Hope in Wartime Syria. W.W. Norton & Co., 2019.

Turkey

Wilson, Mark W. Biblical Turkey: A Guide to the Jewish and Christian Sites of Asia Minor. Istanbul, Turkey: Ege Yayınları, 2010.

Books by Muslim Authors

Ali, Wajahat, and Zahra T. Suratwala. All-American: 45 American Men on Being Muslim. Ashland, OR: White Cloud, 2012.

Ebrahimji, Maria M., and Zahra T. Suratwala. I Speak for Myself: American Women on Being Muslim. Ashland, OR: White Cloud, 2011.

Garrod, Andrew, Robert Kilkenny, and Zahra Ahmed. Growing up Muslim: Muslim College Students in America Tell Their Life Stories. Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Press, 2014.

Maudoodi, Syed Abul ʻAla. Towards Understanding Islam. New York: Message Publications, 1993.

Shah, Idries. The Sufis. New York: Anchor, 1990.

Ur-Rahim, Muhammad ʻAta. Jesus Prophet of Islam. Elmhurst, NY: Tahrike Tarsile Qur’an, 2003.

Booklets about Sharing with Muslim People

Coulter, Ian T. Meetings for Better Understanding: Reaching Muslims for Christ – A Church Without Walls Model. Philadelphia, PA: Church Without Walls, 2002. (Contact CWW: P.O. Box 27276, Philadelphia, PA 19118, 215-887-1195)

Kingsriter, Del. Questions Muslims Ask That Need To Be Answered. Springfield, MO: Center for Ministry to Muslims, 1991. (Contact CMM: 2032 East Kearney, Suite 205, Springfield, MO 65803-4662, 417-866-3733)

Kingsriter, Del. Sharing Your Faith With Muslims. Springfield, MO: Center for Ministry to Muslims, 1986. (Contact CMM: 2032 East Kearney, Suite 205, Springfield, MO 65803-4662, 417-866-3733)

“Uncle Bill.” Your Muslim Guest: A Practical Guide in Friendship and Witness for Christians Who Meet Muslims. Toronto, ON: Fellowship of Faith for the Muslims, 2002. (Contact FFM: P.O. Box 65214, Toronto, ON M4K3Z2, Canada, 416-778-6702, https://www.ffmna.org/)

Websites for Learning about Islam

Timeline of Islam http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/teach/muslims/timeline.html

Islam Explained (Muslim site) http://www.guidedones.com/metapage/introislam/explained.htm

Islam 101 (Muslim site) http://www.islam101.com/dawah/islam_explained.html

Divisions of Islam http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divisions_of_Islam

The Qur’an Online (Muslim site) http://www.jannah.org/quran/

Islam: The Way, The Truth and The Light? (Christian site) http://www.rim.org/muslim/islam.htm

The Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry http://www.carm.org/islam.htm

Websites for Learning about Outreach to Muslim People

10 Amazing Muslims Touched by God http://www.amazingmuslims.com/

Answering Islam (Christian site with thousands of apologetics articles) http://www.answering-islam.org/

Daniel Brubaker (Site by photographer and Qur’anic manuscripts scholar Dr. Daniel Brubaker) https://www.danielbrubaker.com/

Fellowship of Faith for the Muslims https://www.ffmna.org/

Isaalmasih.net (Christian site designed for Muslims who are seeking truth) http://www.isaalmasih.net/

Spotlight on Muslim Misconceptions (Articles, audio, etc., from lectures and dialogues in the United Kingdom) http://spotlights.org/

The Caleb Project (Christian site dedicated to equipping the Church to reach the world) http://www.calebproject.org/

The Muslim-Christian Debate Website (Christian site dedicated to equipping Christians for discussion with Muslims. Hyde Park Christian Fellowship has extensive experience in public debates with Muslims in London) http://www.debate.org.uk/

Truth, Love and Newness of Life (Muslim background believer testimonies) http://www.answering-islam.org/Testimonies/