International (MNN) — A transformed society starts with truly courageous men.
Never show weakness.
Untangling the cultural chains that bind the heart is no easy task — especially when Islam tightens those knots. David Carlson from Trans World Radio says that for a long time, Muslim men were overlooked in outreach efforts. Yet in a culture that forces them to hide any weakness, many are left struggling with deep emotional and mental burdens. David explains:
“So, I started to ask this question, what if we could reach the Muslim men? What would that change? And I talked to a lot of people, both media ministries working among Muslim ministries, but also on-ground ministries around the world. And I was so surprised to find that it was very, very limited.”
Another reason this focus is critical is that when women or children come to Christ, these men often respond with hostility, becoming a danger to their own families. But when men embrace biblical values, they protect their families and become agents of change.
Praying man. Photo is a representative stock image courtesy of Ashkan Forouzani via Unsplash.
Recognizing this reality, Carlson created “Men of Courage“, a program shaped by research among field workers around the world, addressing the real needs of Muslim men. He says: “The vision for this is bringing a fresh perspective on life and eternity. We really want to bring hope and help to the Muslim men. If they become Christians, praise God! We want to, you know, go that direction, but already, from the start, we want to help them do better in their own lives and grow society, of course, with biblical values underneath.”
In search of a program that works not only in theory but in practice, Carlson embarked on a journey for answers. He spoke with many active missionaries in different countries and compiled a list of 25 core topics. “I’ve checked with a lot of people, and they said these are pretty much general for Muslim men around the world,” he says.
However, the program is flexible for each culture where missionaries serve. Carlson says: “So it is very interesting to work with all these different people and see how they are shaping the concept differently, depending on their own cultures, which is amazing.”
The initiative includes short social media pieces, a drama series, and a talk show. It’s now available in Indonesian, French, Turkish, and Albanian, with more languages coming.
Pray that the outwardly tough focus group of Muslim men will open their hearts to the genuineness of their feelings and be open to the transformative healing of Christ. Also, pray for the workers preparing this program for their nations — that they would consider all necessary cultural sensitivities to be effective and strategic.
Click here to learn more about the work of TWR, and here to learn more about the “Men of Courage” program.
Header photo is a representative stock photo courtesy of Alexander Kirov, via Unsplash.
