Show Me The Shekels . . .

Israeli Shekels (NIS)

Israeli Shekels (NIS)

Unless you have a very generous uncle, visiting Israel requires money. And if you do have an uncle like that, maybe you can email us his name and number. Seriously though, even though our Break Forth Journeys trips are a great value, money is still required.

Would you like some help?

We’re here to explain . . .

Here’s How The Israeli Currency Works:

The New Israeli Shekel (NIS) is Israel’s currency. There are coins of 5, 10, 50 agorot (like our cents) and 1,5,10 shekels (see images here). There are also 20, 50, 100 & 200 shekel notes (like our dollar bills, see images here).

Currently, one Canadian dollar is equal to about 3 NIS. As the economy fluctuates, it’s wise to keep an eye on exchange rates as you approach your departure date.

Where Do You Get Money?

If you need to exchange money while you are in Israel,  you can do so in a bank (you will need to bring your passport to do so). Although they will charge you an exchange fee, they will give you a better rate overall.

Most places in Israel readily take US currency (not Canadian). We suggest exchanging your money into US currency while still at home and then supplementing your funds with shekels as needed.

We recommend that you withdraw money from ATM machines in Israel in order to get the best exchange rates. Bank machines are prevalent throughout the country, but you need to plan ahead. Don’t be afraid of saying to your tour leader or guide, “I’m running short on shekels, may we stop at a bank machine some time today?”

NOTE: Traveler’s Cheques are not recommended.

What About Tips?

Break Forth Guide: David Wexler

Break Forth Israel Tour Guide: David Wexler

Please note that a tip for the drivers and guides is appreciated at the end of the tour – cash is required for this and can be in US currency (an average tip is $3/day for the driver, $5/day for the guide).

Most tours do not include tips in their prices as this is a suggested amount, no different than tipping at a restaurant.

Other tours state they include tips and while this can simplify things, there are many stories of the tips never fully making it to the guide and driver. Please investigate this closely to ensure that pre-paid tips actually make it to the guide and driver who were such a great help to you and others.

We believe in the scriptural principle that states, “The worker deserves his wages.” – 1 Timothy 5:18b

Watch for more helpful tips on visiting Israel coming your way!

In the meantime, if you’d like to learn more about joining us during our next tour: Break Forth Israel & Jordan NEXT Level 2016, please drop us an email at journeys@breakforthministries.com.

You can also view the video below to get a brief overview of what we have in store . . .

Essential Weather & Timing Tips For Israel

Jerusalem Old City SkylineAre you planning a trip to Israel? Whether this is your first time or your tenth time, every visit is a powerful experience.

It can also be a little overwhelming.

Maybe we can help you with some practical details below:

Why don’t you take a couple minutes to check out this handy information and links below:

Information on Israel: Weather

Elsa Brennan Jared COld Israel Mt of Olives

Elsa Salte being warmed by her sons during a freak snowfall on the Mount of Olives during Break Forth Israel

Israel enjoys long, warm, dry summers (April-October) and generally mild winters (November-March), with drier, cooler weather in hilly regions, such as those that contain Jerusalem. Rainfall is fairly heavy in the north and center of the country, with far less in the northern Negev.

Regional conditions vary considerably, from humid summers and mild winters on the coast to dry summers and moderately cold winters in the hill regions. The Jordan Valley has hot, dry summers and pleasant winters. Semi-desert conditions reign in the Negev.

Weather extremes range from occasional winter snowfall in the mountain regions to oppressively hot, dry winds at times that send temperatures soaring in some parts of the country, particularly in spring and autumn.

All of the climate and temperature information that you could want can be found here.

When Should I Go?

Of course, availability will determine when most people will go. However, consider these factors:

  • Summers can be extremely hot in many of the Lands of the Bible. This heat is often amplified by walking on heat radiating stone. Heat is one thing if you’re at the beach but when you have an intensive schedule it can easily exhaust you. If you are not bothered by heat or this is the only time you are available then summer still may be the ideal time to travel. Check out the weather links above.
  • A second factor to consider is when holidays take place. Major holidays affect three things: price, overcrowding and availability. Prices skyrocket during major holidays, sometimes it’s difficult to even move through crowds due to congestion and certain sites may actually be closed. To find out when holidays fall in any country around the world visit here.

We hope this is a help.

In our upcoming blogs we’ll cover more on travel to Israel:

  • Money
  • Food
  • Passports
  • Visas
  • Appropriate Clothing
  • Gratuities
  • Travel Insurance
  • Medications
  • And More.

We’re here to help!

arlen elsa BethPraying you have the Spiritual Journey of a Lifetime,

Arlen & Elsa Salte

PS – We’re taking a group to Israel and Jordan at a perfect time of year in early May, 2016. If you’d like to learn more, please email us at journeys@breakforthministries.com

Ten Reasons to Hire a Private Guide in Israel

David Wexler Guiding Smile

David Wexler Israel Tour Guide

As much as we love conducting our Break Forth Journeys trips to the Lands of the Bible, we know that a bus tour is not for everyone. If you are touring the Lands of the Bible we strongly encourage you to hire an excellent private guide if it’s in your budget. 

This article is written by David Wexler, one of the top guides we use in our Break Forth Israel tours. If you are looking for reasons to hire a private guide, you’ve come to the right place.

Please read on . . .

Ten Reasons to Hire a Private Guide in Israel

  1. Maximizing limited time – Considering its tiny size, there is a vast amount to see and experience in Israel. The time you have available for touring is always a limiting factor. By working with a tour guide, you’ll find that you can see so much more than when trying to figure it all out on your own. And the time you spend at each site will be of far higher quality with a professionally guided experience.
  2. david2Crafting the most sensible day for touring – A good tour guide will know how to structure each and every day of touring to make sure you’re in the right places at the right time of day. For instance, a typical Christian walking tour in and around Jerusalem’s Old City should start with a morning panoramic view from the Mount of Olives (when the sun is in the right location to optimize those fabulous photos you’ll want to capture). Your tour guide will know just when to get you to the Pools of Bethesda before the site closes for siesta and will know where it makes sense to stop for lunch along the Via Dolorosa.
  3. Planning an itinerary that integrates guided experiences with days of independent exploration – Not all visitors to Israel are interested in working with a guide for the entire duration of their visit. Sometimes budgetary constraints influence visitors to explore certain places on their own, while using a guide for other sites. A well-trained licensed tour guide can help you with itinerary planning for those days you’ll be on your own. He/she can make recommendations as to where you’ll receive the most benefit from a professionally guided experience versus which places you can effectively explore independently.
  4. rooftop-austrian-hostelBridging a cultural gap – Selecting a guide with a good command of the English language and with an accent you can understand is important. But is that good enough? Though your guide may have a good handle on English, does he/she understand the culture from which you come? There are many licensed guides in Israel who were born and raised in North America in environments similar to yours. They understand how you think and can put themselves into your shoes while you’re experiencing Israel. A bi-cultural guide can help you effectively understand the cultural differences between your world and the world you will encounter in Israel.
  5. Handing off the logistics headache – Many sites in Israel require you to make advance reservations. Churches often having split opening hours. Sometimes something as mundane as lunch can become a challenge to integrate into a day of touring. By working with a tour guide, you’ll leave the logistics headache to a professional and free yourself to enjoy and absorb all Israel has to offer you.
  6. Leaving the driving to a local – Driving in Israel, especially in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, is not for the faint of heart. Parking can be a considerable challenge in the major cities. Just the thought of driving in Nazareth leads many a Christian pilgrim right into the arms of a professional driving guide or guide with a dedicated driver.
  7. David Wexler CamelsEngaging children – Touring Israel as a family can be a particularly rewarding experience. But keeping the attention of young children or teens can be a challenge. A tour guide with experience in guiding families will know how to include kid-friendly activities in each and every day of your Israel program. Your children stand to gain the most from a guided experience they’ll never forget.
  1. Setting a reasonable pace for those with mobility challenges – Touring in Israel, especially in and around the Old City of Jerusalem, requires a considerable amount of walking. Those with mobility challenges may find it impossible to keep up with the pace of a group tour. By hiring your own private guide, you’ll tour at a pace that’s slow enough for all in your group to enjoy. And if the walking challenge is too difficult, your guide will suggest a way to make the most of your days while keeping the physical challenges to a minimum.
  2. Tailoring the tour to your own specific interests – A visit to Israel is not like touring in London, Paris or Berlin. The religious heritage and specific interests of visitors will always influence their Israel itinerary. A Jewish heritage program will look quite different from a Roman Catholic pilgrimage. And an evangelical Protestant itinerary will differ from either of the two. Share your background and interests with your private guide and he/she will come up with a program that’s geared specifically for you.
  3. David Wexler BibleEnhancing the experience by making history and the Bible “come to life” – There is nowhere on earth where the Scriptures ‘come to life’ like Israel. Add to that thousands of years of human history and a multitude of cultures and civilizations. Making sense of it all is one of the biggest advantages in working with a professional tour guide. A good guide will tie together sites such as Old Jaffa, Caesarea and Mount Zion in exploring the birth of the Gentile Christian Church. A mound of rocks in Capernaum will come to life when your guide shares with you the significance of the historical house of Peter. The site of the crucifixion, burial and resurrection of Jesus is often particularly challenging for Protestants to grasp. An expert guide will help you make sense of some pretty intense places.

Screen Shot 2015-05-28 at 7.20.22 AMWatch our next post on top tips to know how to hire the right guide to make your experience the best ever! Don’t miss this one whether you are hiring a private guide or whether you are conducting your own group tour!

NOTE: David Wexler will be guiding us for Break Forth Israel & Jordan NEXT Level 2016. Spaces are filling fast. You can learn more about this tour: Click Here!

David Wexler is a licensed Israel tour guide based in Tel Aviv. David was born and raised in the United States and immigrated to Israel in 1986. For more information about David, visit his website at www.davidsland.com and follow him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/davidsland.

Top 10 Tips To Choose The Right Holy Land Tour Group

Confused? We'd love to help . . .

Confused? We’d love to help . . .

The brochures come through email, the mail, in person and at the back of the church. Take this tour to the Holy Land. Take that tour to the Holy Land. Choose one led by a friend. Choose one led by a pastor you know. Choose one led by a Christian radio or TV personality.

Confusing? Absolutely.

Hopefully, we can help.

Do you want your group tour to be a deeply spiritual and well run experience? If so, we believe there are certain things you should be looking for.

What to look for:

  1. Tour group leaders who have led a minimum of two group tours.
  2. Tour group leaders with strong leadership, problem solving and organizational skills.
  3. Fit EnoughTour group leaders who are physically fit enough to handle the pace of leading, helping others, packing supplies and running ahead for quick changes if needed
  4. A spiritual teacher who is experienced, scholarly, spiritually sensitive and engaging.
  5. Hans Weichbrodt Teaching at Pergamum, Turkey

    Hans Weichbrodt Teaching At Break Forth Revelation

    A spiritual teacher who does not simply read out of a devotion book and move on.

  6. An exceptional guide who has been evaluated and hand picked by the Group Tour.
  7. Worship experiences that are deep and aligned with the site. (Examples: Revelation Song on Patmos, Holy, Holy, Holy from Mount of Olives, Here I Am To Worship at the Garden Tomb, Communion in the Israel desert at sunset where distractions are stripped away.)
  8. Prayer ministry times at special locations (Examples: Healing prayer time at Pools of Bethesda, quiet meditate prayer times.)
  9. Proper technology such as wireless headsets for each pilgrim and battery operated sound systems for on-site worship.
  10. Hotels, meals and transportation selected with guidance from the Tour Group Leader for best value and comfort.

We’re going to talk a little more about choosing a personal tour guide in the next post. It’s all about making sure your tour is the best experience possible. Keep an eye out for it.

For now, though, review any Holy Land brochures and email invitations to make sure they pass the top ten tips above. We don’t want you to make a mistake.

As always, if you want to see if any of our own Holy Land tours are right for you, we’d love to have you check us out.

You can learn more about our upcoming Israel & Jordan NEXT Level tour here.

Wishing you the best journeys ever,

Arlen and Elsa Salte

arlen elsa Beth

Arlen and Elsa Salte

Can A Holy Land Bus Tour Save Me Thousands?

hand putting money coins  with filter effect retro vintage style

You Can Save Thousands!

Can A Holy Land Bus Tour Really Save Me Thousands?

It’s an important question to ask.  After all, for many this may be the trip of a lifetime and you really don’t want to make a mistake.

It’s an important question. But the answer is not so simple.

Let me tell you why . . .

If you choose the right bus tour you will receive great value, possibly saving thousands.

In an upcoming blog post I’ll cover the question: “What should I look for in a Holy Land Bus Tour?”

For now, here are 10 reasons why a Bus Tour of Biblical Lands can be a great value compared to a private tour:

Dan Panorama Jerusalem - One of our Choice Hotels

Dan Panorama Jerusalem – One of our Choice Hotels

#10 – You Receive Better Hotel Value:

When major tour groups negotiate with hotels they may negotiate literally thousands of room night per year. This gives them great buying power. For example, the hotels we are booking for our next tour, Break Forth Israel & Jordan NEXT Level are quoting up to $400 per night (tax included) on Expedia. If you were doing this on your own with double occupancy, you would pay $2,000 per person just for 10 nights of hotels. If you were staying one per room this would come to $4,000, just for hotels.

#9 – You Save Money on Meals:

Most quality tours provide what is called a half-board coverage. This means that you receive a huge buffet breakfast and dinner. If you were on your own, you would be covering all your dinners and in some cases, breakfasts as well. If this comes to $60 per day, you are looking at $600.

David Wexler - One Of Our Favourite Israel Guides

David Wexler – One Of Our Favourite Israel Guides

#8 – You Receive Access To Better Guides:

Unless you are willing to dish out large sums of money, it is hard to get the best guides in the country on a private tour. A quality bus Holy Land pilgrimage will have taken the time to check out guides to ensure you receive top-flight guides. Of course, you can always book a lower budget guide but if you want decades of experience, unparalleled knowledge and an engaging presentation then you need to pay for the best. (We have known guides who invent information on the fly when they lack knowledge – and most people will never be aware that they’ve been taken for a ride.) We take the time to choose only the best of the best guides.

#7 – You Save Money On Guides:

A high quality tour guide will cost on average $300 – $400 per day plus meals and hotels. Tips will be extra. Without tips you are looking at an average of $600 per day with expenses or $6,000 for 10 days, plus tips. On a bus tour, your tour guide costs are split amongst the entire group.

#6 – You Save Money On Transportation:

You can rent a small van at around $100 – $200 per day plus fuel, insurance and GPS rental (gas prices are about $2.25/litre). But, many people would not be comfortable driving in Jerusalem. Few, if any Rental car companies will allow you to drive into any area under the control of the Palestinian Authority, which includes Bethlehem and Jericho. If you want to leave the driving to someone else you can hire a private driver and van at around $400 per day plus hotels, meals (total $600 per day plus tips). A Bus tour includes transportation and is a stress-free way to see the sites.

We Use The Best Tour Buses & Drivers

We Use The Best Tour Buses & Drivers

#5 – You Have A Dedicated Safe Driver:

It is possible to hire a private driver who is also a licensed guide at an average of $700 per day plus hotel and meals (total $900 per day plus tips). This may work for you but you risk the possibility that your combo driver/guide will either make driving mistakes because they’re focused on guiding or miss parts of their tour guiding because they are concentrating on navigating traffic. On a bus tour you have a dedicated guide who is only concentrating on guiding and a driver who is only concentrated on driving.

#4 – Your Booking Is Taken Care Of (Relax and Enjoy):

On a bus tour, the tour company you work with will have handled all the hotel bookings, entrance fees, transportation and other logistics. You just show up and get ready to see the scriptures come to life! If you are on your own you will need to make all your arrangements and figure out what your time is worth. A quality bus tour of the Holy Lands will also send you advance materials, with everything from itineraries to scriptural readings to prayer guides to reading lists to special insights. You would need to handle this on your own on a private tour as few in-country guides would be able to do this at the spiritual level you expect.

Masada Entrance & Cable Car Included on Our Tour

Masada Entrance & Cable Car Included on Our Tour

#3 – You Save Money on Entrance Fees:

Most bus tours include entrance fees to most everything on your tour. If you are on your own you will be responsible for paying this on your own. This may average $25 per day for a total of $250 for a ten-day tour.

#2 – You Have More Than a Local Guide – You Have a Leader:

Quality bus tours will include a leader as well as your guide and driver. This is probably someone from your home country and will assist you with everything from health concerns to helping to make your trip more enjoyable. Your leader probably has been to the country before and can provide additional ‘insider information’ in addition to the local guide. You could certainly ask someone to come along on a private tour who has been to the country before but unless they’re ready to pay their own way, it would be very expensive.

#1 – You May Receive Teaching From a Well-Known Spiritual Teacher:

Hans Weichbrodt Teaching at Pergamum, Turkey

Hans Weichbrodt Teaching at Pergamum, Turkey

To book a well-known Leader with spiritual insights, scholarly wisdom, vast experience in the country or countries you are visiting, engaging teaching, and prayer ministry gifts and a ministry heart is almost impossible to find on a private tour. If you could even access someone of this caliber (and you probably couldn’t) it could cost you $1,000 per day plus hotel, meals and flights. This could easily run $12,000 for a ten-day tour if you could even find someone like that. Some (but not many) bus pilgrimages have access to teachers like this. For all our Break Forth Journeys trips and our Break Forth Israel & Jordan: NEXT Level 2016, we are blessed to have Hans Weichbrodt who fills all of these rare qualities. While few tours offer someone of Hans’ gifts and experience, it is the only way we conduct a tour.

In addition, if a worship experience by a seasoned musician or group is a blessing to you, this would add an additional $10,000 to $20,000 to the bill, factoring all travel, hotels, meals and honorarium for 10 days. We include a worship team on all of our trips. As this wouldn’t be feasible on a private tour, we don’t include this in our comparisons below.

 

Is a bus tour right for you?

It depends. If you are looking for what a quality bus tour offers and you have budget limitations, then it’s perfect.

If you have a large budget or are mostly looking for a historical/architectural experience without high level spiritual teaching then perhaps a private tour will work for you. One isn’t superior to the other; they’re just different.

Now, let’s compare costs:

Typical High Quality Spiritually-Focused 10-Day Bus Tour Land only:

Private Tour If You Tried To Duplicate a Quality Spiritually Focused Bus Tour / Pilgrimage (based on 4 people in group and double hotel occupancy, land only):

  • Hotels: $2,000
  • Meals: $600
  • Tour Guide: $1,500
  • Private Driver: $1,500
  • Entrance Fees: $250
  • Proper Compensation of Well Known Spiritual Leader: $3,000
  • TOTAL COST: $8,850
*NOTE: Prices based upon 2015 online quotes

In an upcoming post we will help you find the right bus tour for you if you’re looking for spiritual depth, high quality and at a reasonable cost.


If you’re interested in joining us for Break Forth Israel & Jordan: NEXT Level 2016, you can learn more here. We sold 50% of spaces within days so please move quickly if you’re interested. Our prices starts at just $2,995 and includes the dynamic teacher, Hans Weichbrodt at every site as well as a renowned worship team.

Break Forth Israel NEXT Level MAY 2016 (3)

Middle East Etiquette – Dos and Don’ts

Dressing and acting in a manner that shows respect for the host country’s social and cultural values should be the pilgrim’s aim (more on this in the section on respectfully sharing your faith with Muslims. Read that here.).

Some social rules to be aware of in the Middle East are:

Take the Opportunity to Visit With Wonderful Muslim People. This lady made us a wonderful lunch with fresh fruit and vegetables from her garden.

Take the Opportunity to Visit With Wonderful Muslim People. This lady made us a wonderful lunch with fresh fruit and vegetables from her garden.

  • Never eat, offer or accept anything with your left hand (which among Muslims is reserved for bodily hygiene and is considered unclean).
  • Communal eating is an indication of friendship. You don’t just eat to consume – you eat to commune. Take the time to enjoy the experience.
  • Western women are not expected to wear head coverings except in the strictest and most observant areas.  Wearing head coverings in mosques and other holy sites is expected. You will also find this to be true in some Catholic sites.
  • Avoid public displays of affection between people of the opposite sex. Also, women should avoid prolonged eye contact with men. This sends the wrong message, even if you are trying to be friendly.
  • Don’t display the sole of your foot or touch anyone with your shoe. You can read about the reasons for this here.
  • If you are offered a show of hospitality, whether it is coffee or tea or something more lavish, it is considered discourteous to decline.
  • Do not ask for pork or pork products. Muslim and Jewish tradition frowns on consuming pork.
  • Men shake hands. Women should wait to see if a man extends his hand before shaking it.
  • Standing up for new guests is considered a way of honouring another person, especially if they are an elder.
  • The concept of time can mean different things between the Middle East and the West, much like North America and Latin America.
  • You will often see men walking hand in hand in Muslim nations. However, generally men and women do not hold hands unless they are married or related.
  • Public displays of affection are generally frowned upon.
  • During Ramadan, the month when Muslims fast from dawn to sunset, eating or drinking in public in Muslim areas during the fasting hours should be avoided. When visiting holy sites, such as mosques, at any time during the year, maintain a worshipful, quiet spirit and cover up as the site’s hosts might insist. Mosques that allow entrance in Turkey, for instance, will provide plastic slippers for your bare feet and scarves for women to cover their heads.
  • While it is difficult to visit the Middle East without being aware of political differences, pilgrims are wise to refrain from expressing opinions about it in public. Feel free to ask questions of the people you meet, but be aware that the answers you get will differ considerably, depending on the person you are talking to.

Power – Wonder Working Power!

We’ll never forget the scene in that little cabin in Denmark.Hair Dryer

Sparks flew everywhere as Elsa’s North American hairdryer exploded in a cascade of sparks, attempting to compete with a Tivoli Fireworks display. Arcs of fire and smoke belched out of the hairdryer. Elsa’s hair never caught on fire but we soon were holding a funeral for one deceased and melted appliance.

What happened? We’d simply forgot to flip the switch on our power converter from 110 to 220 volts.

It can become pretty confusing navigating power draws and formats all over the world:  120 – 220 – 3 prongs – grounded – ungrounded!

We hope these travel power pointers can help:Converter

  • You may need a converter for your electronics/blow dryers/curling irons, etc., if they are rated 120-160 volts. Make sure you get one that is good for the Middle East. Some electronics are rated at 110-220 volts. In that case you only need adapters to Middle East style sockets.
  • It is a good idea to bring a power convertor or power adaptor that will make your North American three-pronged plugs into two-pronged plugs.Belkin USB Mini Power Bar
  • More information here on converters. More information here on adaptors. You may also visit our site to purchase your adaptors and converters – Click here.
  • We have travelled around the world with our little Belkin mini power bar with dual USB outlets and Hair Dryer Electrical Outletsurge protector. It has served us well for years. Make sure you use a power converter. You can purchase the power bar – Click here.
  • Most hotels provide hair dryers in each room. If not, you can usually request one at reception. It is rarely needed to pack a hair dryer.
  • You can often find a 110-120 volt outlet on in room hairdryers. Although these are intended for shavers they can also charge low powered electrical devices such as cell phones, tablets and cameras.USB Outlet on TV
  • One place to find a spare USB outlet for charging may be on the in-room television if it is a newer LCD or Plasma model.
  • Note that most laptops, cameras, camera battery chargers, tablets and smart phones have dual power capabilities built in. Check if yours does. It is usually printed on the back of the device or in the manual. If it does, all you need is an outlet adaptor, not a power converter. (Take a look at the two photos of laptop power adaptors at the bottom of this post to know where to look for dual power capability.)
  • If you bring a laptop, don’t forget that you often have multiple USB ports on your laptop that you can use to charge other items overnight.

If you have your own suggestions, would you leave them below? You could be a big help to many.

Dell Power Adaptor  Apple Power Adaptor

 

 

 

How To Share Your Faith with Muslims When You Travel

If you spend every day watching the news your view of Muslims would be very skewed. In this world of extremists it’s easy to forget that most Muslims are peace-loving people???????????.

However, they still need to hear the Good News of the Gospel as everyone does.

When you desire to share your Christian faith when travelling in the lands of the Bible, this calls for a delicate balance.  You will interact with Muslim bus drivers, shopkeepers, tour guides and various other people in countries that are almost entirely Islamic, such as Turkey and Jordan.

On one hand, we always want to show the love of Jesus to everyone, including those we differ with politically and spiritually. On the other hand, showing Christ’s love does not mean that we should willingly succumb to any schemes to sell us exorbitantly priced carpets or phony tours at elevated fares.

That said, the loving witness of Christ-followers in the Middle East could have a strong impact on the many Muslims with whom they interact. Read a bit about Islam before traveling to the Middle East, and remember these points about Muslims:

  • Very few choose to become Muslims. They were born into the faith and had no choice. Their families have been Muslim for 1400 years, in some cases. You should never feel negatively about their “lostness.” They were born lost and often do not know a single Christian person.
  • To leave Islam would mean to betray family, faith and possibly country (as in Turkey’s case). That’s why most Muslims who come to Jesus do so after years of patient conversations with Jesus. That doesn’t mean that you can’t plant a seed.
  • If it comes naturally to you, give praise to Jesus for a given blessing. Muslims praise Allah constantly for good circumstances; giving the praise to Jesus specifically will catch a Muslim’s ear.
  • Muslims assume that all tourists from North America are Christians. Of course, we know this isn’t true. Your Christ-like behaviour will show them what a true Christian is like.
  • Asking questions of Muslims can be a great way to learn more about Islam and plant a seed of the Gospel.
  • Ask how devout they are and what pillars of the faith they practice.
  • Ask them what they think of Christians and Christianity. You might get an answer that is loaded with political weight. That can be your chance to inform him/her about what true belief is, that not everyone in North America is a believer and that the government does not claim to be Christian, either. This is hard for a Muslim from an Islamic country to understand, for instance. His government is openly and adamantly Islamic.

Jama Masjid Mosque, old Delhi, India.In summary, you should not be shy about talking about your faith. Muslims are often very open to talking about their beliefs and do not mind a bit of interaction with Christians. Still, you don’t want to get bogged down in a huge debate that can quickly turn emotional. Choose gentleness and respect.

Be sure that you never imply an attack on Islam, Muhammad or the Koran.

Rather, emphasize the positives of your faith that a Muslim does not have, such as the assurance of salvation (a huge difference between these two faiths), and the heart change possible through the work of the Holy Spirit. The honest Muslim will admit that even the most fervent religious practice does not change his/her heart.

Sharing your testimony of God’s loving and transformative work in your life is always a powerful witness.

See your role as planting a seed in a Muslim’s heart that God can water through his/her interactions with other Christians, dreams (a common way that Muslims come to Jesus) and other contacts.Break Forth Revelation

For more information on the world of Islam and current political developments in it, click here.


We will be visiting Turkey and Greece during our new tour, Break Forth Revelation 2015. Turkey is predominantly a Muslim nation. You will have a wonderful opportunity to interact with and share your faith with many warm and open-hearted Muslims on this trip.

You can receive a free brochure on Break Forth Revelation by clicking here.

Watch Our Short Break Forth Revelation 2015 Intro Video Below:

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