Erskine Seminary Mission Conference

Mohammed Nasim

Erskine Seminary Conference Speakers Say "God Is Doing Missions"

In a daylong missions conference that included four speakers and a panel discussion, Erskine Theological Seminary students and guests gleaned information about the religion and culture of Islam; heard testimonies from Christians of Pakistani and Indian backgrounds; and learned about how mission work among Muslims can energize the church.

"God is doing missions," said Tat Stewart, Director of Persian Ministries for World Witness, the Board of Foreign Missions of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. "He has His plan. But are we awake?"

Sponsored by Erskine Theological Seminary and World Witness, the 2002 Missions Conference held in Bowie Chapel on the Seminary campus featured Dr. Warren Larson, Academic Program Director and Associate Professor of Muslim Studies at Columbia International University who spent 23 years as a missionary to Pakistan; Mohammed Nasim, who came to the United States from Pakistan in 1958 on a tennis scholarship to Clemson University; the Rev. Ernest G. Sen, an Indian Christian who ministers among international students in the Greenville area; and Stewart, whose experience includes 12 years as pastor of the Iranian Church of Washington, D.C.

The son of missionary parents, Stewart grew up in Iran and now ministers as "missionary-at-large" to the Iranian people, and he says they are eager for the gospel. "I have the joy of preaching to people who want to know about Jesus," he said. "Ministry to Muslims will renew the church in America."

He said the Iranians have endured great suffering, and many have fled Iran as refugees. "When people are at the end of their rope, God is there," said Stewart. "Jesus is close to the brokenhearted and to the person without a country."

Nasim, who earned A's in Bible courses at Clemson while still a Muslim, had married a Christian and attended church with his wife for a number of years before he left Islam and embraced Christianity, losing a substantial inheritance from his father in Pakistan in the process. "I glory in the riches I've gained in Christ," he said.

Sen lamented the lack of mission work among Muslims, saying, "We are allowing a very ripe harvest to rot in the field." He said Muslims are more receptive when the Christian approach is through disaster relief work, hospitals, and orphanages, which show love, as well as through friendship.

Like Stewart, Sen views missions as initiated by God. "No matter how wicked we are, Christ comes to find us," he said.

Stewart said Muslims are coming to Christ "in astounding numbers" around the world. He noted that one of the most popular works of art in Iran today is a tapestry depicting the Last Supper. "Knowledge of Christianity has increased," he said.

Stewart said his missionary parents did not see much fruit from their work in Iran, but numbers of Christian converts are now increasing, growing during his time in Iran from about 2,000 to more than 100,000. Many of the Iranian converts remain unbaptized because baptism is illegal.

Larson, who gave a presentation on Islam, said that the terrorist attack on the United States in September 2001 was a wake-up call. "Churches are becoming concerned about Muslims. God is stirring up the Church. Christians are learning how to relate to Muslims culturally."

Nasim urged patience in presenting the gospel to Muslims, and John Mariner of World Witness, who introduced the speakers and moderated the panel discussion, agreed.
"It takes time, it takes relationship," said Mariner. "Muslims are going to see the love of Christ when we reach out to them when they are in pain."

Mariner closed the conference with a challenge for the seminarians and others who will encounter Muslim neighbors. "I pray that your heart will be filled with love and they will see Christ in your eyes."


		Mohammed Nasim Erskine Seminary Conference Speakers Say "God Is Doing Missions" In a daylong missions conference that included four speakers and a panel discussion, Erskine Theological Seminary students and guests gleaned information about the religion and culture of Islam; heard testimonies from Christians of Pakistani and Indian backgrounds; and learned about how mission work among Muslims can energize the church. "God is doing missions," said Tat Stewart, Director of Persian Ministries for World Witness, the Board of Foreign Missions of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. "He has His plan. But are we awake?" Sponsored by Erskine Theological Seminary and World Witness, the 2002 Missions Conference held in Bowie Chapel on the Seminary campus featured Dr. Warren Larson, Academic Program Director and Associate Professor of Muslim Studies at Columbia International University who spent 23 years as a missionary to Pakistan; Mohammed Nasim, who came to the United States from Pakistan in 1958 on a tennis scholarship to Clemson University; the Rev. Ernest G. Sen, an Indian Christian who ministers among international students in the Greenville area; and Stewart, whose experience includes 12 years as pastor of the Iranian Church of Washington, D.C. The son of missionary parents, Stewart grew up in Iran and now ministers as "missionary-at-large" to the Iranian people, and he says they are eager for the gospel. "I have the joy of preaching to people who want to know about Jesus," he said. "Ministry to Muslims will renew the church in America." He said the Iranians have endured great suffering, and many have fled Iran as refugees. "When people are at the end of their rope, God is there," said Stewart. "Jesus is close to the brokenhearted and to the person without a country." Nasim, who earned A's in Bible courses at Clemson while still a Muslim, had married a Christian and attended church with his wife for a number of years before he left Islam and embraced Christianity, losing a substantial inheritance from his father in Pakistan in the process. "I glory in the riches I've gained in Christ," he said. Sen lamented the lack of mission work among Muslims, saying, "We are allowing a very ripe harvest to rot in the field." He said Muslims are more receptive when the Christian approach is through disaster relief work, hospitals, and orphanages, which show love, as well as through friendship. Like Stewart, Sen views missions as initiated by God. "No matter how wicked we are, Christ comes to find us," he said. Stewart said Muslims are coming to Christ "in astounding numbers" around the world. He noted that one of the most popular works of art in Iran today is a tapestry depicting the Last Supper. "Knowledge of Christianity has increased," he said. Stewart said his missionary parents did not see much fruit from their work in Iran, but numbers of Christian converts are now increasing, growing during his time in Iran from about 2,000 to more than 100,000. Many of the Iranian converts remain unbaptized because baptism is illegal. Larson, who gave a presentation on Islam, said that the terrorist attack on the United States in September 2001 was a wake-up call. "Churches are becoming concerned about Muslims. God is stirring up the Church. Christians are learning how to relate to Muslims culturally." Nasim urged patience in presenting the gospel to Muslims, and John Mariner of World Witness, who introduced the speakers and moderated the panel discussion, agreed. "It takes time, it takes relationship," said Mariner. "Muslims are going to see the love of Christ when we reach out to them when they are in pain." Mariner closed the conference with a challenge for the seminarians and others who will encounter Muslim neighbors. "I pray that your heart will be filled with love and they will see Christ in your eyes."