“Oh, a bonfire is a much bigger fire for many people to gather around, and a campfire is a small fire for just a few people,” I explained to the guest asking about the difference between the two.
A local church had creatively found a neat way to reach out to a group of Muslims who lived nearby by hosting a bonfire and other outdoor activities at their local church. Many of the Muslims who came lived in apartments or in neighborhoods with small yards where large fires are not permitted. You could just imagine how fun this was for them! The church members also introduced roasting marshmallows over the fire, and making s’mores was a big hit for everyone. We had a nice picnic together and the adults visited, while the children ran around and played in the open spaces around the church.
It was a low-key event organized to generate goodwill and create opportunities for conversation between church members and the Muslims who attended. Some of those who attended the picnic were also attending the weekly English classes held at the church. Others heard by word of mouth that there was going to be a bonfire/picnic and just showed up.
Low-Key but High Value
Did you know that many Muslims are afraid to go into a Christian church? They are warned by their religious leaders to stay away from Christians and to never go into a church or something bad will happen to them. Sponsoring a low-key event like a bonfire with other outdoor activities is a great way to breakdown walls of opposition and build bridges into the local Muslim community.
Since many church members have busy schedules, it is good for us to intentionally set aside time for connecting with people who don’t know Jesus. Sometimes life gets so busy that before we know it, time just slips by, and the people we meant to meet with, well, we never meet. Being intentional allows us to be purposeful with our time—specifically for creating Christ-centered conversations. Besides bonfires, others have hosted Muslim friends for apple picking, picnicking at local parks, boat rides, splashpads for kids in summer, and attending local high school or college sports events, etc.
Have you or a church that you know come up with good, low-key ways to connect with local Muslims in your area? Please write and let me know what has worked for you. If you haven’t set aside specific times to connect with Muslims who don’t know Jesus, may I encourage you to do so? Many have come from isolated countries that are quite difficult for Western Christians to get to, and now they are here in our own backyards. God has brought them near for such a time as this!
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