Your First Say Hello Meeting: A Template to Help You

This template will help you start your Say Hello Care Group by providing instruction and content for a first meeting. It is in PowerPoint format to facilitate the delivery of a goal-oriented plan for learning and participation, early on.

This template will suggest some of the slide content that you will provide for each meeting, such as beginning prayer, worship, learning, and discussion points. Each slide will be categorized according to key meeting objectives: Inspire, Engage, Inform, Call to Action, and

Resource. Please note that the structure of the meeting can be as flexible as you need it to be, so you can move these slides around for your group’s session. However, you want to do your best to maintain the same key objectives (I.E.I.CA.R.) for every meeting.

For your times together, you will need the following:

Volunteers

A facilitator, at least at the beginning, who will help the group do the following: decide how participants want the meetings to flow organize individual and small group participation from week to week (Ex: You may

want to rotate responsibilities among group members for roster oversight, leading in prayer, worship, hospitality/fellowship, content delivery and discussions, calls to action, etc.)

initiate and maintain roster for group communications via phone, email, and/or social media

Meeting Space Needs/Set Up

Access to media and projection (if the group is small, a single computer or tablet might suffice)

A white board for the activity detailed on Slide 8, depending on your room arrangements.

Round-table or horseshoe shaped seating arrangements to facilitate group engagement, as comfortably as possible

Supplies

Note-taking supplies and/or individual journals, per group preference Sticky notes Pre-planned snacks/drinks Printed take-home material for attendees (woman-to-woman.pdf)

1

Slide 1 (Notes)

Say Hello: Serving Muslim Women Care Group Meeting mm/dd/year

Slide 1 (Presentation)

Say Hello: Serving Muslim Women Care Group Meeting mm/dd/year

Slide 2 Inspire (Notes)

Opening Prayer

Dear Lord, thank you for inviting us to share your good news with Muslim women. Give us hearts to love Muslim women like you do. As we purpose to learn, alert us to the seriousness of Islam’s deceptions, but remind us that you are always bigger. Open our eyes wide to how we might share you with Muslims. Anoint us by the power of your Spirit for every step we take in friendship with Muslims, so that the friends you give us will have compelling opportunity to choose to serve you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Worship

Cater your worship to your own group’s experiences and musical capacity, planning for about 5 minutes of worship at the beginning of the evening. Keep it easy, but thematic. As much as possible you want to make everything about each meeting serve a single, major purpose.

For this first session, we offer some suggestions: In an act of solidarity as you begin this care group journey, we suggest that you

read or sing the Apostle’s Creed together. Knowing and being able to share what we believe is vital to our witness. The text and song follow.

The Apostles’ CreedI believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth;And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord,Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary,Suffered under Pontius Pilate,was crucified, dead and buried.He descended into hell;The third day he rose again from the dead;He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;

From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

2

I believe in the Holy Ghost;I believe in the holy catholic church, the communion of saints;The forgiveness of sin;The resurrection of the body;And the life everlasting. Amen

“This I Believe: The Creed,” by Hillsong “Missions Flame,” by Matt Redman “You Make Me Brave,” by Amanda Cook

Slide 2 Inspire (Presentation)(image)

Slide 3 Inform (Notes)

A Brief Introduction to Islam

You don’t need to know much about Islam before you start a friendship with a Muslim; you will learn as you go. But learning will indeed be key to the spiritual dialogues which you have with Muslims, which could happen early on. We’ll share a brief introduction today to point you forward on your learning path.

Slide 3 Inform (Presentation)

A Brief Introduction to Islam

Slide 4 Inform, Brief Intro to Islam, cont. (Notes)

WHAT?Islam is a monotheistic (based on the belief that there is only one God) works-based religion. The meaning of Islam is absolute submission to Allah’s will (that leads to peace). Allah is the god Muslims serve.

WHO? Muslims are followers of Islam who believe that Islam’s message is for everyone. They submit to Allah in all aspects of life. He is their sole deity, and Muhammad is Allah’s prophet-messenger. Muslims do not worship the Prophet Muhammad, but they follow his example as precisely as possible.

Slide 4 Inform, Brief Intro to Islam, cont. (Presentation)

WHAT?Islam is a monotheistic works-based religion. The meaning of Islam is absolute submission to Allah’s will. Allah is the god Muslims serve.

WHO?

3

Muslims are followers of Islam who believe that Islam’s message is for everyone.

Slide 5 Inform, Brief Intro into Islam, cont. (Notes)

WHEN? The Islamic world-view holds that Islam originated with creation, but Allah began the delivery of his final revelation (the Qur’an) to the prophet Muhammad through the angel Gabriel around 610 AD, when Muhammad was about 40 years old. He received the remainder of the revelation over a period of 23 years. Muslims believe the Qur’an is incorruptible and timeless.

WHERE? Muhammad was from Mecca, Saudi Arabia. He was a prophet to the Arabs during the 7th century AD. By the time of the prophet’s death, Islam had penetrated the entire Arabian Peninsula. Almost fifty nations are now majority Muslim, but today it’s the world’s second largest religion.

Slide 5 Inform, Brief Intro into Islam, cont. (Presentation)

WHEN? - 610 AD- Muslims believe the Qur’an is incorruptible and timeless

WHERE? - Muhammad was from Mecca, Saudi Arabia- Almost fifty nations are now majority Muslim

o Today it’s the world’s second largest religion

Slide 6 Inform, Brief Intro into Islam, cont. (Notes)

WHY? The heart and strength of Islam’s existence beats through ummah (pronounced “oo-mah”), or community. In your friendships with Muslims, you will experience wonderful aspects of community. Islam’s ummah also has a tight hold on Muslims, who derive their identity from it. The group’s identity relies on the honorable comportment of its members. A Muslim who behaves dishonorably shames the ummah. Muslims strive to honor the ummah, always.

There is a lot more to learn, but let’s turn our attention to the reason why we are gathered here: The Muslim woman and the privilege we have to reach her.

Slide 6 Inform, Brief Intro into Islam, cont. (Presentation)

WHY? - The heart and strength of Islam’s existence beats through ummah, or community.- In your friendships with Muslims, you will experience wonderful aspects of community.- Muslims strive to honor the ummah, always.

4

Slide 7 Inspire (Notes)

Why Say Hello? Introductory Video https://vimeo.com/36725226

Slide 7 Inspire (Presentation)

Why Say Hello? Introductory Video https://vimeo.com/36725226

Slide 8 Engage (Notes)

Discovery through Discourse (For this activity, ladies will need sticky notes and writing utensils.

(image) What first word or thought comes to mind when you see or think of this woman?

Have the ladies respond to this question quickly, by writing their responses on the sticky notes provided for them. Allow them to write more than one response, if they want, but each response should be written on a separate sticky note.

Have the ladies post their notes in a common area, such as the center of the table, where everyone can see them. As each lady adds her note(s) to the collection, have her read and very

briefly, perhaps, share a personal comment. Next, have the ladies at their tables or in the single group classify the sticky note

words into separate categories—one being Islam and the other Muslim women. (For your convenience, a sample categorized chart is provided.) Words that appear to fit Islam as the belief system should be placed in the column beneath the Islam header. Words that pertain to our perceptions about Muslims or more specifically, Muslim women, should be placed in the column beneath the Muslim woman header. You might feel that some words fit both categories, and that could be correct.

Islam Muslim woman

darkness

oppression

DaughterMother

Does she speakmy language?

5

Slide 8 Engage (Presentation)

Discovery through Discourse (Photo) What is the first word or thought that comes to mind when you see this woman?

Slide 9 Engage (Notes)

Think about and discuss the following questions—as one group or in smaller groups that report back. (Steer the conversation toward the following conclusion: Islam is the dilemma: a false religion that schemes to barricade Muslim women (and men, all created in the image of God) from access to the Truth about Jesus.)

1. How does separating Islam from the Muslim woman help to alleviate our own fears and inhibitions about befriending Muslim neighbors?

2. Is anything on this chart detestable? Why?3. What part of this chart feels like it could be or is lovely? Why?4. How do you think the Muslim woman might be “more like me than I thought”?

Slide 9 Engage (Presentation)

- How does separating Islam from the Muslim woman help to alleviate our own fears and inhibitions about befriending Muslim neighbors?

- Is anything on this chart detestable? Why?- What part of this chart feels like it could be or is lovely? Why?- How do you think the Muslim woman might be “more like me than I thought”?

Slide 10 Inspire, Inform (Notes)

Islam can be daunting, especially if we think about all we don’t know in these early stages of our friendships. But the Muslim woman is not. She is a daughter—perhaps a sister, a mom and/or, a grandma or an auntie. Just like us, she wants what’s best for her family, and she has felt needs that drive her to find solutions. She values loveliness and seeks personal worth. How well she follows Islam’s tenets and fulfills expectations has much to do with how she perceives herself.

We generally recognize Muslim women by the veils that they wear. The practice of veiling is mandated in the Qur’an as an outward demonstration of Islam’s more definitive Islamic value, which is modesty.

“And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosom, and not display their beauty … Turn ye all together towards Allah, that ye may attain Bliss.” (Qur’an, 24:31)

6

Slide 10 Inspire, Inform (Presentation)

(Photo) “And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosom, and not display their beauty… Turn ye all together towards Allah, that ye may attain Bliss.” (Qur’an, 24:31)

Slide 11 Inform (Notes)

For numerous reasons not all Muslim girls veil, but most will certainly hold fast to the importance of personal modesty, which they deem virtuous and honorable, and which their community (ummah) expects them to uphold. In Islam, sexual propriety and purity is the basis for modesty’s rules and their enforcement. Modesty is at the core of Islam’s gender segregation practice, which, as a rule, keeps guys and girls (men and women) outside of family circles separate from one another, bound to modesty edicts that regulate their public behavior.

For example, in conservative Muslim settings, outside of family contexts, Muslim guys and girls will not look at each other in the eye when they speak. They will not shake hands or hug or touch one another. Both gals and guys are expected to dress modestly, but the greater expectations are placed upon the woman. The place where gender segregation is most pronounced is the mosque. In mosques women might worship from behind a screen or in a separate room, but as a rule, never shoulder to shoulder with the men.

A Muslim girl’s veiling is largely her community’s way to ensure its honor. In the way a Muslim girl becomes the keeper of her community’s honor (by veiling and her modest behavior), she is deemed a good “Muslimah (Muslim woman).”

Slide 11 Inform (Presentation)

- Not all Muslim girls veil, but most do. - Modesty is at the core of Islam’s gender segregation practice. - In the way a Muslim girl becomes the keeper of her community’s honor, she is deemed

a good “Muslimah”.

Slide 12 Inform (Notes)

There is much to be said about the practice of veiling in Islam. It would be as unfair for us to lump all Muslim girls into one “veil” category as it would be for Muslims to lump all American girls into one “mini skirt” category. But always remember: to the Muslim, modesty matters. Muslim expression of modesty will differ a bit from yours, so learning some basics will build trust between you and a Muslim friend.

You’ll become acquainted with some do’s and don’ts in this session, but your best resource will be your Muslim friend. Just ask her what you might need to know! She will have

7

countless questions for you, as well, and you’ll be quite impressed to know that her misconceptions about you will possibly and by far outweigh any misconception you might have about her. There is joy in letting each other in and learning as you go.

The covering a Muslim girl wears on her head is called a hijab (hee-jáb). Girls who practice this kind of veiling call themselves hijabis (hee-jáb-ees). We often think of veiling in terms of its ancient eastern origins, but eastern and western Muslim hijabis live among us. They are our neighbors.

In the following video, see if you can recognize how modesty figures in to this Muslim girl’s jovial attempt to answer some of the curiosities non-hijabis (that would be US!) have about a Muslim girl’s veiling.

Slide 12 Inform (Presentation)

- Modesty matters- Ask questions! - The covering a Muslim girl wears on her head is called a hijab.- Girls who practice this kind of veiling call themselves hijabis.

Slide 13 Inform, Engage (Notes)

Dilemmas of a Hijabi Girl

Slide 13 Inform, Engage (Presentation)

Dilemmas of a Hijabi Girl

Slide 14 Engage (Notes)

What did you learn?1. When does she wear/remove her veil? She takes her veil off when she’s in private places

(shower, bed at night, at home with her family). She can be unveiled if there are no men present.

2. Does she value beauty? How do you know? Hijab doesn’t keep her from looking good for herself and the people who she can allow to see her without it on. (Mention that among Muslim women the hijab itself is generally a fashion statement. Hijab styles are varied and constantly changing! See Pinterest and Facebook, i.e. “hijab fashion” )

3. Who for sure can’t see her hair? “People do see my hair…just not men. It’s just a change, isn’t it?”

4. Can NO MEN see her hair? If some can, who are they? She’s allowed to show her hair to SOME males…dad, brothers, husband, grandad, sons…people she would never be able to marry.

8

5. What about the postman at the door? Can he see her hair? She needs to be covered.

6. Can people touch her hair? “It’s not such a strange thing. Yes, you can touch it, if you are a girl.”

Slide 14 Engage (Presentation)

What did you learn?1. When does she wear/remove her veil?

2. Does she value beauty? How do you know?

3. Who for sure can’t see her hair?

4. Can NO MEN see her hair? If some can, who are they?

5. What about the postman at the door? Can he see her hair?

6. Can people touch her hair?

Slide 15 Engage (Notes)

1. How does she help you feel better informed? Does she embarrass you, or make you want to know her better?

2. She deliberately wants us to know that her veil is not such a strange thing or that big of a deal, but when the guy tells her to remove her towel, does she mind? How does she show it? Yes, she minds, and she corrects him. Obviously though, she is kind about it, because they become friends.

3. How does she accommodate inquisitive girls who want to see her hair? Why? She chooses the privacy of a girl’s restroom to show them her hair…because it’s ok for girls to see each other’s hair, but boys who are not family should not see the girls’ hair.

4. What do you think is the whole point of her telling you about how she pricks her fingers when she pins her hijab as she wraps it? To satisfy people’s curiosities, and to show that she experiences pain and gets annoyed by hair stuff just like anyone else.

Slide 15 Engage (Presentation)

1. How does she help you feel better informed? Does she embarrass you, or make you want to know her better?

2. She deliberately wants us to know that her veil is not such a strange thing or that big of a deal, but when the guy tells her to remove her towel, does she mind? How does she show it?

9

3. How does she accommodate inquisitive girls who want to see her hair? Why?

4. What do you think is the whole point of her telling you about how she pins her fingers when she pins her hijab as she wraps it?

Slide 16 Engage (Notes)

1. What’s the major dilemma that every hijabi knows about? You can’t be showing your double chin!

2. At the end, when she addresses “fellow hijabi girls,” do you think she might really be addressing non-Muslims? What is she doing? She’s being a girl. None of us like double chins. We are more alike than we think.

3. Is there anything that surprised you in this video? How has the surprise impacted how you might see hijabi girls at the mall, on a stroll, or in a doctor’s office?

Slide 16 Engage (Presentation)

1. What’s the major dilemma that every hijabi knows about?

2. At the end, when she addresses “fellow hijabi girls,” do you think she might really be addressing non-Muslims? What is she doing?

3. Is there anything that surprised you in this video? How has the surprise impacted how you might see hijabi girls at the mall, on a stroll, or in a doctor’s office?

Slide 17 Engage (Notes)

Recap*For open reflection/discussion, as there are various good answers for each of the following questions.

Does the bit you have learned about Islam make you more or less compelled toward sharing Truth with a Muslim? Why? More compelled, because Islam is a scheme of the enemy, and women need to know the Truth about Jesus.

How are Muslim girls more like us than we think? How are we different? Our faith practice is very different, as are our cultures. Girls are girls wherever they are found, though! We value beauty—hate double chins.

What is it about Islam that makes it important for Christian women to befriend Muslim women as a general rule, rather than outreaching to Muslim men? Islam’s modesty values segregate genders. We must not make them vulnerable to criticism and/or shame by ignoring or protesting this value. We simply make sure that as women we initiate friendship

10

with women only, unless our Muslim girlfriend invites us to know her family, etc. Then we might get to learn to behave by their standards around Muslim men.

Slide 17 Engage (Presentation)

Recap

Does the bit you have learned about Islam make you more or less compelled toward sharing Truth with a Muslim? Why?

How are Muslim girls more like us than we think? How are we different?

What is it about Islam that makes it important for Christian women to befriend Muslim women as a general rule, rather than outreaching to Muslim men?

Slide 18 Engage (Notes)

Recap

When we fear making mistakes in our friendships with Muslims, who can we rely on to coach us through our insecurities? Our Muslim friends will be our best teachers.

What is the one major, most critical difference between Christian women and Muslim women? We know the Truth about Jesus. They do not.

How is God giving Muslim seekers access to Truth? (Acts 17: 24-26) He entrusts them to us by making us neighbors.

Slide 18 Engage (Presentation)

Recap

When we fear making mistakes in our friendships with Muslims, who can we rely on to coach us through our insecurities?

What is the one major, most critical difference between Christian women and Muslim women?

How is God giving Muslim seekers access to Truth?

Slide 19 Call to Action (Notes)

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS

Slide 19 Call to Action (Presentation)

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS

11

Slide 20 Call to Action (Notes)

Choose one of the following three homework assignments for the next time the group gathers. Before you leave, write the number of your action item on a sticky note, and keep it in a place where you’ll be reminded to be intentional. Expect God surprises!

1. Until the next time I gather with the care group, I will do my very best to whisper a silent prayer for every Muslim girl I see, whether she is part of a news story, a picture in a magazine, or a gal at the mall. I will journal about the women I have seen and how I think my prayers might impact her.

2. I will affectionately and prayerfully seek out a Muslim woman until I am able to walk up to her and say hello … and I’ll do my best to initiate friendship!

3. If you already have a Muslim friend, partner with a care group friend who doesn’t – to intercede for her as she starts to pray, seek, and find her own Muslim friend. You might even offer to introduce her to yours!

Slide 20 Call to Action (Presentation)

1. Until the next time I gather with the care group, I will do my very best to whisper a silent prayer for every Muslim girl I see, whether she is part of a news story, a picture in a magazine, or a gal at the mall. I will journal about the women I have seen and how I think my prayers might impact her.

2. I will affectionately and prayerfully seek out a Muslim woman until I am able to walk up to her and say hello … and I’ll do my best to initiate friendship!

3. If you already have a Muslim friend, partner with a care group friend who doesn’t – to intercede for her as she starts to pray, seek and find her own Muslim friend. You might even offer to introduce her to yours!

Slide 21 Resources (Notes)

(Woman-to-Woman.pdf is a printable version of this slide for use as a ‘take-home’ for attendees)Your heart has been stirred, and your eyes have been opened. You’re longing to say “hello,” but where do you go from there? Joy Loewen has served Muslim women for decades, and she graciously shares her practical experiences and spiritual insights in Woman to Woman: Sharing Jesus with a Muslim Friend.

In addition, Joy’s blogspot overflows with conversation starters, guides for sharing the holidays or special events, and testimonies that will draw you into the hearts of Muslim women.

12

Joy’s book and her blog will help you as you seek to bless Muslim women with Jesus’ Good News.

Slide 21 Resources (Presentation)

Woman to Woman: Sharing Jesus with a Muslim FriendJoy Loewenwww.joyloewen.blogspot.com

(photo of book cover)

13