Message from the Executive Director

by Richard Haney

As we celebrate resurrection and new life this Easter season, we’re reminded of God’s grace for all. Believing that each person is created in God’s image and thus has intrinsic value, we give thanks that God’s love made a way, through Jesus, for all people to be reconciled to Him and each other (John 3:16, Ephesians 2:14–18). We rejoice in this Good News and remain committed to sharing it with the more than two billion people on earth who are still waiting to hear.

Lack of contact remains one of the primary obstacles that prevent people from gaining access to the Gospel. Scholars estimate that 87% of Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims don’t know a Christian personally. In a world with record numbers of migrating peoples and increasing diaspora populations, we pray this percentage decreases.

At the same time, we recognize that sin continues to wreak havoc on relationships within the human family. Mass shootings at two mosques in New Zealand in March and a Jewish synagogue in Pittsburgh last October targeted Muslims and Jews as they worshipped. Nationalism is on the rise worldwide, and some citizens protest, at times violently, the refugees, immigrants and members of other faith communities living among them.

How do we begin to cross the divides, engaging the earth’s least-reached people groups with the Gospel message that invites all nations, tribes, peoples and languages into one family of God? Our first and primary tool is prayer. James teaches us that “the earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results” (James 5:16b NLT).

Prayer allows us to travel long distances personally, culturally and geographically as we ask God to bless and provide for others. Prayer cultivates humility, inviting God to imbue us with His compassion for all peoples. Through prayer we are empowered to share the Good News in meaningful, dignifying ways with people of differing worldviews. Prayer invigorates and sustains us for the practical work of Gospel proclamation and draws us closer to God as we learn to trust in His grace.

Many of our partners around the world are sharing the message of God’s Kingdom with their Muslim neighbors. You’ll read about some of them in the following pages. As Muslims’ holy month of Ramadan (May 5–June 4) begins, join us in asking God to reveal Jesus (Isa) through dreams, visions, scripture and the faithful witness of His people––that all may hear and embrace the Good News of His grace.

Download our new guide to help you pray for the peoples and places still waiting for the Good News of Jesus: frontierfellowship.com/pray