WAKE FOREST, N.C. (BP)–Those who abandon the Muslim faith of their fathers and their nation to follow Christ give up everything for a Gospel that may demand not only their life but their death.
Now their stories are told in a new book coauthored by Emir Caner, a noted Southern Baptist expert on Islam, and missiologist Edward Pruitt titled “The Costly Call: Modern-Day Stories of Muslims Who Found Jesus.”
Caner is associate professor of church history and Anabaptist studies and associate dean of Southeastern College of Wake Forest, while Pruitt is associate director of the Center for Great Commission Studies and adjunct professor of missions at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C.
The book, published by Kregel, contains 19 true stories of Muslims from 18 countries who made tremendous sacrifices for their faith in places where belief in Jesus Christ is forbidden and punishable by beating, imprisonment, exile or death. The final chapter of the book is an appeal to a woman the authors refer to as “Mashi,” a Muslim from Kyrgyzstan who is convinced of the truth of the Gospel but wavering as to whether she should become a follower of Christ as she considers the cost.
Although the book is in part to inspire American believers to witness boldly and pray fervently for Muslims, the coauthors had Mashi in mind as they wrote.
“This book is really for an audience of one,” Pruitt said, referring to Mashi, whom he intends to personally give a copy of The Costly Call. “I hope it touches the heart of the Western church and leads them to witness to Muslims. But, ultimately, there’s one person I want to read this. If she gets saved after reading this book, even if it sells no copies, it’s a success in my eyes.”
Caner added that Muslims throughout the world need to see examples of faith in former Muslims who have committed to follow Jesus Christ against all opposition. The message to those deciding whether they, too, might make Him their Lord and Savior is that it can be done, Caner said.
Caner also noted that he hopes the book would serve as a wakeup call to American Christians to support their brothers and sisters in Christ who are being persecuted in other parts of the world and to courageously be part of the missions effort to get the Gospel to those perishing under the shroud of Islam.
“In American evangelicalism, there is a neglect and ignorance over anything outside of evangelicalism — in particular, the incredible persecution that Christians face in other parts of the world,” Caner said. “For us not to pray with them, encourage them and stand with them is really the height of ethnocentrism. I pray that this book will open the eyes of those who haven’t considered the incredible sacrifice made around the world by those who come to faith in Christ and the extreme persecution they endure to stay true to God and His Word.”
Pruitt added, “This book is about hope and conviction. The hope is for Muslims who believe they can’t convert. The conviction is because when the Western church looks at what these men and women have endured for the cause of Christ, it should deepen our walk with the Lord. I have personally seen the scars that some of these men have on their backs, and I realize that these are folks who are committed. This will bring conviction to a Western church with a casual walk with the Lord.”
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