Christian Presence and Witness Among Muslims

Articles presented in this book are papers read at the conference Presence and Witness Among Muslims, held at the International Baptist Theological Seminary (IBTS), Prague, in February 2-6, 2004 and organised by Dr Peter F Penner and Wesley H Brown of the Department of Mission and Evangelism at IBTS.

The aim of this conference was to foster a better understanding of what Islam is and how Muslim communities function in different regions of Europe. The nature of Christian presence and witness was examined in this context, including the relationships of Christians and Muslims who live in close proximity in our global village. The conference emphasised the importance of showing love for, and acceptance of, Muslims and of learning to listen with interest to the witness of their faith experience.

Speakers and attendees came from thirty-one nations and different regions, such as the Near East, Turkey, Central Asia and Central Europe where Christians live as minorities in Muslim communities, but also from Northern, Western, Southern and Eastern Europe where Muslim communities are minorities.

Two renowned authorities on Islam and on Christian-Muslim relations, Dr David W Shenk (Eastern Mennonite Missions), and Dr Kenneth Cragg (Honorary Assistant Bishop, Diocese of Oxford), and other experts were the main contributors at the conference, together with IBTS lecturers.