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Lord, I'm willing to go there!"

says Brother Andrew

At the approach to the anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the United States, we catch up with Brother Andrew, asking him how he thinks 'September 11' has affected Christians living under strict Islamic regimes around the world. Affirming his commitment to reach out to the Muslim World with the Gospel of Jesus, Andrew brings us an uncomfortable challenge...

  How do you feel the world has changed since 11 September 2001?

  During the 'good old days' of communism, everybody knew who the 'enemy' was. It's no longer so.

  How have things changed for Christians living in the Muslim world?

  Definitely for the worse. Christians are paying the price for how Muslim fundamentalists perceive the 'Christian West.' The extremist groups see us as perpetrators. But they can't get at us easily in the West. They can, however, get at the local and national Christians.

  And there's no political solution?

  The worldwide coalition that's been put together to fight terrorism includes a lot of countries where there's much persecution. So this limits what we can do politically to fight persecution. I saw the same pattern under communism. The moment you sting communism, then the communists in power put the pressure back on the Church because globally the Church is still identified with Western missionaries in most of these countries. In the Middle East it's even more risky because they know that many churches, though not all, back Israel. Therefore the church becomes the enemy of Islam.

  Which countries have degenerated the most for Christians because of the September 11 events?

  In some ways it's general. But Pakistan, Indonesia and Nigeria have all had confirmed reports of attacks directly related to September 11 and the U.S. response.

   What can we do?

  One, we must step up our efforts to evangelise the Muslims. Currently, there is a general decrease in missions giving toward the Muslim World. Second, we must reach out to the Christians in these places, just as we've always done, to “strengthen what remains” (Revelation 3:2) - even in a place like Bethlehem. Christians are leaving because there is no future in the West Bank. But there is still something that remains; now we must go in and strengthen it. How else will either Jew or Arab or Muslim know who Jesus is? Proclamation of the Gospel is the only solution - not politics, not military power, not revolution.

  What is hampering this strenghtening and proclamation in the Muslim World?

  One reason is the constant pressure the Church faces. There's little hope for improvement in the near future and it's disheartening. Ultimately, though, the Church is going to play a decisive role. I really believe that.

  So strengthening the Church in the Muslim world is of utmost importance.

  Absolutely. Again, they compare unfavourably with the communist a number of Muslim countries never had a Church, so we have a lot of catching to do.

  What breaks your heart the most?

  That Muslims are so open to us and yet there are so few who use the opportunity. They want the message of love and reconciliation, forgiveness, hope, to know that God is love. There is so much hunger for the Word of God. Let's go there and not worry about the danger; otherwise it makes it more dangerous for the whole world.

  Like Jesus?

  Jesus looked for the lost. I pray we will have the same attitude and inspire the regional churches - inspire the Pakistani Christians to go into Afghanistan. What is our plan? Are we doing something haphazardly, hoping it will work out all right? We must be strategic, build bridges and have the courage to cross over the bridge, to fight the good fight. It's a Scriptural work. We need strategy, we need leaders, we need followers, we need donors, and we need people with dedication. The only battle that is lost is the battle where you give up. I will not give up. I still maintain that everyone who is reachable is winnable. And everyone is reachable, so why don't we win them? It can be done.

  But you always emphasised the spiritual aspect of this 'war.'

  Absolutely. But it is not just general prayer, “Lord, send missions to the Muslim World.” We need to develop a plan of action to first get through to the Church. That is what God told me 50 years ago and that has not changed. We must go to the Church and encourage them, supply them, ask what they need - not what we prescribe, but what they actually need.

  What are believers asking for in the Muslim World?

  They don't just ask for Bibles. They ask for fellowship, for understanding. The need for that is more urgent now than ever before.

  Does the church in the Muslim World feel forgotten by Christians in the West?

  Very much. We don't want to go where it costs so much. We're easygoing, fun-loving Christians, and we don't like the smell of gunpowder. We'd rather go to a nice convention and hear famous speakers and listen to popular singers and be entertained, but that is not the Christian life.

  How do you pray for persecuted Christians?

  First, by identifying myself with the Persecuted Church. I want to be part of that; I want to feel their pain and feel their joy. I identify with them so the Lord can search me to pray for specific needs that come to my desk every day. Sometimes I cry, sometimes I don't know how to pray. But I'm always saying, “Lord, I'm willing to go there.”