Book of the Day
Cross and Crescent
Colin Chapman
view this book on the publisher's site From the Forward, by Jim Tebbe
I first met Colin Chapman, the author of Cross and Crescent, in 1978 at a consultation on ministry to Muslims in Karachi, Pakistan. At the time he was working with the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students in the Middle East. Since our first meeting our paths have crossed several times, and each time I have been keenly aware of his continuing interest and study in the area of Christians engaging with Islam.
Cross and Crescent reflects four outstanding qualities one wants to see in any serious writing. The first is that it is a work born out of extensive personal experience combined with study. Following his time with the IFES in the Middle East, Chapman was principal of Crowther Hall, the Church Mission Society training college in Birmingham, England, where for years he taught a course on Christian outreach to Muslims. Most recently he has moved back to the Middle East, where he teaches at the Near Eastern School of Theology in Beirut, Lebanon. Chapman knows Islam both academically and personally, but more than that, his book reflects a compassionate understanding not just for Muslims but also for Christians who want to share their faith with Muslims.
Second, Cross and Crescent is written by someone who has taught and knows how to communicate. The book is clearly laid out in short chapters and sections so that it is easy to find your way back to information you picked up in reading. Thus it is a useful reference tool.
Third, Chapman’s broad approach to virtually all facets of Islam makes the book valuable for both scholar and novice alike. The overview of subjects relating to a Christian approach to Islam whets the reader’s appetite for deeper study. For each section there is a list of other books that provide more in-depth coverage of the subject for those who wish to read further.
Finally, Cross and Crescent is more than just information sharing. It contains practical help for Christians who want to share the gospel with their Muslim friends. What types of misunderstandings are likely to arise? What are good ways of establishing friendships in which aspiring evangelists can talk openly about their faith? While understanding clearly the liabilities of Islam, Chapman’s compassionate approach builds bridges to Muslims rather than barriers, leaving no doubt that the gospel of Jesus Christ reaches their deepest spiritual needs.
Jim Tebbe
Urbana Missions Convention Director
Taken from Cross and Crescent by Colin Chapman, ©2003. Used by permission of InterVarsity Press, P.O. Box 1400, Downers Grove, IL 60515-1426. www.ivpress.com
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