Lebanon (MNN) — Cubs to Lions is a discipleship program designed for Muslim-background believers. Georges Houssney with Horizons International says it was born out of pain.
“For seeing a lot of Muslims receive Christ – some of them dramatic conversions – but they don’t last long,” he says. “Within a year, two years, even up to ten years, they withdraw, backslide, go into the world, or return to Islam.”
Three decades ago, when Houssney became aware of this, he sought the Lord in the spirit of John 15:8, “This is to my Father’s glory that you bear much fruit.”
Later in the chapter, Jesus emphasizes what kind of fruit:
“Fruit that will last.”
God answered Houssney’s prayers with the idea for a discipleship curriculum, one Houssney created 30 years ago and has been using with thousands of Muslims ever since. The thrust of the program is a weeklong training conference.
“In one week, what can you do?” he asks. “What I can do is basically explain to them what it means to be a Christian: lifestyle, disciplines, and worldview.”
Beyond the week, participants receive a two-year supply of study material and are encouraged to form groups of like-minded believers to grow in discipleship together. The curriculum is available in Arabic, English, and French, with more translations underway. Houssney has used it with Arabs, Turks, Albanians, and others from across the Muslim world. He is observing its impact.
“Rather than 80% recanting, now we have about 10 to 20%.”
But this begs the question: if Muslim believers grasp the Gospel at conversion, why do so many of them fall away?
Houssney thinks it has to do with Christians’ approach to evangelism. Often, we proclaim the Gospel with an emphasis on grace and freedom found in Christ. This paradigm shift is attractive to Muslims who come from an extremely moralistic background. While it is true that Christ offers freedom, oversimplification of a grace-based theology can be problematic for Muslims.
“It’s accurate theologically, but the impression they get is, ‘I’m free from all these restraints and requirements that God has put on me,’” Houssney says. “And so they don’t go to church, they don’t read the Bible, they don’t even pray. They don’t know how to pray.”
Those who do go to church or pray often maintain an Islamic lifestyle, Houssney says. James 2:14 comes into play here:
“What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?”
Please pray that ongoing Cubs to Lions trainings would be effective. Pray that Muslim-background believers would be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. Pray that their faith would transform every aspect of their lives and produce lasting, Godly fruit.
Houssney says his biggest prayer request is for disciple makers: people who are willing to bring new converts into their homes, lives, and fellowships.
“Give them the theology of suffering, the theology of the cost of discipleship, the theology of exchanging the pleasures of this world with leading a life that is Godly, holy, and sanctified,” Houssney asks.
For mature believers, here lies a starting point for discipleship ministry:
“Those things need to be taught but also modeled.”
Featured images courtesy of Horizons International
