Toronto missionary brings Christianity to Muslim event

by James Morgan

Volunteers staffed the Lutheran outreach display at a Pakistani Fair in Markham, Ontario

An ethnic event in the diverse Greater Toronto Area (GTA) is likely to involve a lot of products connected with the featured culture and the part of the world it represents.  This was the case at the Pakistani Fair, held June 12 at the fairgrounds in Markham, Ontario, a booming multicultural suburb north of Toronto.  But there was also a curious addition to this year’s fair. Rev. James Luke, Lutheran Church–Canada’s GTA Missionary set up a display on the Christian faith at an event that attracts thousands of Muslims.  Rev. Luke’s wife Rehana and four other volunteers helped out, distributing books, Bibles, DVD’s, and tracts, half of which were gone by the end of the event at 11 p.m. that night.  All materials were distributed free.

According to Rev. Luke, people from all sects of Islam became involved with discussions at the display.  Questions included; “Did Jesus really die on the cross?” “Why do you call Jesus the Son of God?,” and “Is this the original Bible or has it been changed?”  Rev. Luke notes that some visitors to the display were rude, but the volunteers kept calm. “They presented the Gospel with love and affection,” he adds.

The outreach efforts to the Muslims at the event did not stop with the display.  Some people who visited it were encouraged to contact Rev. Luke again so they could find out more about the gift of eternal life and redemption that only comes from Jesus Christ.  “Please pray for these people,” says Rev. Luke, calling the Pakistani Fair display in Markham an “excellent outreach endeavour.”

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