David W Shenk

A global citizen. A commitment to sharing the peace of Jesus. A witness to the difference that Jesus makes. The story David Shenk either begins in Shirati Village in Tanganyika, East Africa, or we might decide it begins among the orchards of Lancaster County, Pa., where farmers with their horses line up a mile for water as they rearrange their loads for their trek home on market day. In either reading, this is a story of mission--a story of people chattering along a roadside spring on the way to and from market. At age six, Shenk asked his parents, "What difference does Jesus make?" The answer to that question is the reason he became a Christian. Day by day, as he travels in the way of Jesus--living, serving, and ministering around the world--Shenk continues to unpack what difference Jesus makes. ​ This is the story not just of Shenk and his remarkable work in Christian missions. It's the stories that David has heard within societies, cultures, and religions when he asks the question: What difference does Jesus make?

The United States and many western European nations have grown by immigration. What sort of reception have immigrants been given by Christians? Are Christians today aware of the need of people suffering from war or persecution to immigrate to safe places? In earlier times immigrants were generally ""like us."" Now many immigrants are often Muslims, who not only dress distinctively, but practice a different religious creed as well. Many fear that terrorists will enter our country under the guise of immigrants. Christians, however, belong to another kingdom, the kingdom of Jesus the Messiah. A Christian response to the needs of refugees and immigrants should reflect their commitment to Christ more than their fears or political allegiances. Through stories of immigrants in the past and present, this book aims to show that not only is it safe to accept them, but our commitment to Christ compels us to help those less fortunate than ourselves.

Can Christians and Muslims be friends? Real friends? Even in an era of intense religious conflict, David Shenk says yes. In Christian. Muslim. Friend., Shenk lays out twelve ways that Christians can form authentic relationships with Muslims characterized by respect, hospitality, and candid dialogue while still bearing witness to the Christ-centered commitments of their faith. Rooted in fifty years of friendship with Muslims in Somalia, Kenya, and the United States, this book will inspire readers with astounding stories of the author's animated conversations with Muslim clerics, visits to countless mosques around the globe, and the pastors and imams who are working for peace. These tried and true paths offer a compelling resource with practical application for mission personnel, Sunday school classes, and Christians who meet people of Islamic faith in their communities.

In 1991, Ahmed Ali Haile returned to the chaos of his native Somalia with a clear mission: to bring warring clans together to find new paths of peace--often over a cup of tea. A grenade thrown by a detractor cost Haile his leg and almost his life, but his stature as a peacemaker remained.Whether in Somali's capital, Mogadishu, or among Somalis in Kenya, Europe, and the United States, Haile has been a tireless ambassador for the peace of Christ. Into this moving memoir of conversion and calling, Haile weaves poignant reflections on the meaning of his journey in the world of Islam.Part of the Christians Meeting Muslims series

Islam and Christianity seem to be at opposite and unbridgeable poles, both committed to world mission. Given the political tension and violent acts that sometimes surround these two major world religions, it is essential for both sides to understand the other--its history, beliefs, traditions, and vision for the future.This invaluable resource from David W. Shenk, an expert in comparative religious studies, examines Islam and Christianity at their deepest spiritual, cultural, and communal levels. It explores the similarities, and yet unavoidable differences found in Isaac and Ishmael, Jesus and Muhammad, the Bible and the Qur'an, Jerusalem and Medina, the Eucharist and the Hajj, the Church and the Ummah. Reflecting years of conversations and dialogue with Muslim friends, this is narrative theology, full of anecdote and personal experience that bridges the poles and builds understanding.Part of the Christians Meeting Muslims series