“I searched and searched the Koran for one word, and I couldn’t find it.  The word was forgiveness.”  I was talking with a Somali man at Jesus Kitchen, a couple weeks ago, and he was telling me how he came to know Jesus.  He grew up Muslim but began reading the Bible and found in it what he had always known he needed—forgiveness.  He actually came by the Kitchen for a measure of safety, because he had just been beaten up by some Somali youth, in part because of his Christian faith.  He began to tell me about himself, and I listened with joy as he described his dream to see a thousand Somalis on the West Bank embrace Jesus.

Some of you may not realize that the West Bank of Minneapolis is full of East African immigrants, most of whom are Muslims.  In fact, I feel like the face of the West Bank has changed, even in the few years since I started doing ministry there.  There are still punks, homeless folks, hippies, and other people of the sort with which Steiger often interacts.  But more and more, the groups of people milling about the sidewalk outside Hard Times are East African men.  The largest number of Somalis outside of Somalia is located in Minneapolis, and many of those immigrants live in on the West Bank.  In fact, a large apartment complex there is often called “Little Mogadishu.”  A number of mosques are located within a few blocks of where we do the Jesus Kitchen, one of which is expanding so much that they are kicking a theater out of the building they own so that they can use the space. 

I have been praying about ministry among Muslims for a couple years now.  I feel that if I am called to the West Bank, I am called to the Muslim population there.  I have not known how to start, but I now believe that God has simply been waiting for the right timing.  Recently, he has brought a new member to the Jesus Kitchen who not only has a burning passion for Islam, but also has significant knowledge of that religion.  His name is Clayton, and God has been speaking to him regarding a first step toward working among Muslims, and I am thrilled to work alongside him in whatever is going to happen.

In addition to some specific directions God has given Clayton, he and I have been discussing beginning a Bible study on the West Bank that would not be exclusively for Muslims, but would be designed with them in mind.  We have begun to pray about places to hold this Bible study, some of which are quite radical, and we are extremely excited to see what God has in store.  I have been feeling for a while like there is another step that we need to take on the West Bank, but I have not known what it is; now, it is beginning to come clear, and new vision is beginning to form.  I am almost giddy.

The Minneapolis Discipleship School (now officially called SHIFT) is up and running.  There are six students, most of whom are from the Minneapolis area.  I am excited to get in the full swing of teaching.  The majority of my lessons will cover common theological debates within the Christian arena.  My goal is not only to relay information but also to stress that we can hold different ideas and still be unified as a Church.  Moreover, I want to help students understand how to approach theological topics in a way that benefits (rather than hinders) our interactions with non-believers.

As always, thank you all so much for the blessing you are to me.  God has been doing amazing things in my life, particularly reminding me (or teaching me for the first time) just how good he is.  I am so excited to see what comes next.  There are rather important prayer requests on the reverse if you would be so kind as to look them over.  I am totally relying on God for some major things these days, which is great, but I need your prayers! 

Take hold of the life that is truly life!

Molly S. Waggoner

Thank you!
MSW