Meeting the Challenges in Discipling Former Muslims
Walking Alongside New Believers in Discipleship
"...and the Word was God." John 1:1
Workshop Facilitator
Don Little
Lillias Trotter Center
A Canadian from British Columbia, Don has had a lifelong call to love Muslims, which began when he was 15. He served for 10 years in North Africa as a TESOL teacher and church planter, along with his wife, Jeanie, and their three children. He then served in Canada in mission leadership for 8 1⁄2 years.
Don has served as Missiologist-at-large with Pioneers since 2007, and he currently directs the equipping ministry of the Lilias Trotter Center. Don has a 2009 D.Min from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.
Don’s passion is discipling those who come to Christ out of Islam and planting churches among Muslims. In 2105, IVP published his book Effective Discipling in Muslim Communities, which was based on his D.Min thesis.
As a Pioneers’ missiologist, Don serves in an advisory capacity for Pioneers workers and leaders globally. He also teaches on Islam and ministry to Muslims online and travels the world teaching frontline workers in Africa and beyond with his colleagues at the Lilias Trotter Center.
Benjamin Hegeman
Lillias Trotter Center
Benjamin is a life-long, kingdom-focused missiological researcher, historian of Islam, curriculum-writer, teacher, and consultant with long-term experience in language learning, in cross-cultural missional ministry (Canada, Benin, Niger), and in pastoral care (Canada, Benin, Niger and the US).
He is a co-founder and the Academic Dean of the Lilias Trotter Center. Together with his wife Christine, they are career missionaries with over 35 years of overseas experience working with and loving Christians, traditional worshippers, and Muslims.
Benjamin's primary contributions in kingdom teams are in writing, teaching, curriculum development, disciple-making, and vision-casting. He is also fluent in Dutch, French and Baatonu.
Workshop Description
Key Principles to Understand as we Walk alongside Believers of Muslim Background (BMBs)
Facilitator: Don Little | Morning Session
This workshop will explore vital principles involved in helping BMBs stabilize and grow to maturity.
- We will review some of the biggest challenges that BMBs typically face in their new life as Christians.
- We will discuss the importance of spending lots of time, one-on-one and in small groups, with new believers.
- We will discuss the significance of helping BMBs develop intimacy with Jesus and the ability to read the Bible for themselves to be fed spiritually through the Scriptures.
- We will discuss the challenges involved in helping BMBs integrate well into local fellowships and overcome the many cultural and religious differences between Christianity as it is practiced in Canada, compared to the religious culture that they knew as Muslims.
- We will discuss the vital role that we play in helping BMBs grow into maturity and stability in their new faith, and the vital link that we are in seeing them integrated into a local church so as to flourish in their faith for life.
- We will reflect on the level of commitment required of the discipler as we walk alongside these dear brothers and sisters.
Renunciation of Islam and the Affirmation of Christ’s Lordship
Facilitator: Benjamin Hegeman | Afternoon Session
Islam is far more than your ‘next religion’; it is a hegemonic cultural power, a controlling political movement and a potent spiritual force. All believers coming out of Islam need to renounce the covenantal powers inherent in Islam.
This workshop will give the overview of the necessary renunciation of Islam and the affirmation of Christ’s lordship over their lives.