Building Bridges of Understanding and Friendship

Is a unique ministry that mobilizes and equips Adventists to follow on the footsteps of Jesus when engaging with Muslims: The Savior mingled with people as one who desired their good. He showed sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He invited them, “Follow Me.” (White, MH 145) Some Muslim will only be open to be blessed, some will want our friendship, some will wish to be ministered to, and a few are actually seeking how to follow Jesus.
Called to Bless the Children of the East

The Savior mingled with people as one who desired their good. God first called Abraham to be his agent of blessings (barakat) among the nations (ethnos), and so are we. Who do we bless? The “Children of the East” (Abraham’s spiritual and physical descendants from Hagar and Ketura), todays’ Muslim people.

Jesus as Mercy in Word and Deed

He showed sympathy for them. Jesus, the mercy of God according to the Qur’an, through acts of genuine kindness, kindled in the heart of those around him, pure faith. And so do we aspire. “We (God) sent Jesus, son of Mary, and granted him the Gospel, and instilled compassion and mercy into the hearts of his followers. (Qur’an, Hadid 27)

The Three-Fold Ministry of Jesus

Ministered to their needs. Jesus taught us to pray for the three most fundamental needs that we all humans share: need for “our” daily “bread” (sustenance), need of “forgiveness/ reconciliation” (healthy human relations), need to be delivered from “evil” (freedom from Satan). Jesus did it, so do we.

The Transformative Power of Jesus' Confidence

Won their confidence. Winning confidence requires time. People trusted Jesus because he saw men as they might become, transformed by His grace. Looking upon them with hope, he inspired hope. Meeting them with confidence, He inspired trust and awakened faith. In many a heart that seemed dead, new impulses were awakened. And so do we, trust and are trusted as we look up to Jesus.

Following the Way: Inviting Muslims to Know Jesus, Not Religion

Then He invited them, “Follow Me.” And as we follow Jesus, we invite Muslims to know Him (not a religion called Christianity) and follow him too . And as we point Muslims to Jesus, it is the work of the Holy Spirit to enable them to follow Jesus.

How Do we Minister?

If you can pray, you can disciple, If you can eat, you can disciple. If you can tell good biblical stories, you can disciple!

Meet Our Ministry Leader

Gabriela Phillips

Gabriela Phillips serves as the coordinator for Adventist Muslim Relations in the North American Division. In this capacity, she describes her ministry as a two-arm human bridge. One arm is for mobilizing and equipping Adventists to develop Kingdom relationships with Muslims in the NAD territory by offering a particular understanding of God’s mission in these last days. The other arm serves to embrace Muslims, that they may come to taste the blessings of the gospel that makes us whole and gives us hope.