Are you a Christian asked the Imam with disdain in his voice? I prefer being known as a follower of Isa since the word Christian means many different things to many people, just as the word Muslim also means a lot of different things to so many people.

You have answered well, said the Imam, come visit me in the mosque so we can discuss these things further. We are having a meeting tomorrow evening where I teach our religion to young men.

The tentmakers felt he was poorly equipped to enter into a discussion in front of an Imam and his followers but after prayer and lots of hesitation, decided he would trust the Lord to give him the words to speak.

The Imam introduced the western Christian to his students saying he had invited him to a debate on Islam versus Christianity. The Imam started by accusations against Christianity being a false religion, and those who called themselves Christians drank alcohol, had sex outside of marriage, believed in many gods and were at war against Islam.

The tentmaker thanked everyone for the opportunity to talk about his faith and immediately told them that there is a vast difference between those who call themselves Christians and those who are followers of Jesus and his teachings. I am a follower and disciple of Jesus and because of that, I am assured of paradise when I die. I also do not believe in many gods, and anyone who does will never see paradise.

He then asked the Imam a question. Do you know if you will go to paradise when you die? The Imam said no one can know this, only Allah knows, it is up to him to decide if I have been good enough.

The tentmaker said that through the salvation and grace that Jesus has promised us in the Injil (the Bible) I know that I will spend eternity in paradise.

He then asked another question, are children of Muslims also Muslims? The Imam said that of course they are! Did you know that a child born to Christians is not a Christian? The Imam was amazed at hearing this and asked for an explanation.

You see, each person must come to a decision in their lives and become a follower of Jesus on their own. Their parents’ faith will not save them.

The Imam had changed his demeanor during this meeting and invited John to come back to teach them more about what the Injil says. And so a Bible study in a mosque in a closed to the Gospel country was born.