Review of Hikmat Kashouh's "Following Jesus in Turbulent Times"

Book Review Following Jesus in Turbulent Times: Disciple-Making in the Arab World By Hikmat Kashouh Carlisle, UK: Langham Publishing, 2018 152 pages USD $17.99 Reviewed by Fred Farrokh, a Muslim-background Christian serving as an International Trainer with Global Initiative: Reaching Muslim Peoples. Few books combine missiology with a practitioner’s testimony as well as Following Jesus in Turbulent Times: Disciple-Making in the Arab World by Hikmat Kashouh. In this brief work, Pastor Kashouh chronicles what has transpired at Resurrection Church Beirut (RCB) in Lebanon which he pastors. The church has grown from an attendance of 70 to now over 1,300. Seventy percent of the church members are refugees, mostly from Syria and Iraq. Kashouh’s story shows how the “all things” God of Romans 8:28 is alive and well in the Middle East, moving in a way that we have never seen before. The first 16 years of Pastor Hikmat’s life coincided with the protracted Civil War in Lebanon, 1975–1991. This difficult experience prepared him and other Lebanese Christians to empathize with and embrace the Syrians fleeing ISIS. Kashouh and his ministerial team were willing to take risks by adapting their church structure, leadership, and decision-making processes to their changing context. Kashouh intentionally brought non-Lebanese into leadership roles. Women have also come into leadership roles in the church for the first time. Two hundred “life groups” provide a place for encouragement and discipleship. Kashouh is also a scholar, having completed a PhD in Theology at the University of Birmingham. The author explains, missiologically, how Resurrection Church Beirut carries out its ministry to refugees. Kashouh provides concrete examples, such as some church members complaining about the smell of the desolate refugee arrivals and the church leaders’ response. The cross-cultural stretching has impacted many of the church members for the good. Even the challenge of doing worship songs in multiple languages and multiple styles caused the optimistic Kashouh to state, “The clash of two cultures within one setting has created a third culture that we all can enjoy” (p. 32). Since the work is so new, many problems still need to be solved, especially those that relate to Muslim background believers (MBBs) now following Jesus. Kashouh emphasizes on several occasions that he treats other religions with respect. He struggled as one MBB testified that he would throw his five Qur’ans in the trash, feeling he had been led astray by them. Kashouh responds, “How can you have such hatred now that you have seen a community that loves even its enemies and has reached out to you when you were among those ‘enemies?’” (p. 114). Perhaps the new believer from a Muslim background is not expressing hatred to human enemies, but to what he considers a spiritual foe. Pastor Hikmat also endorses use of the term, “Muslim follower of Jesus” (p. 102), which is confusing to many Muslims when used by Christ-worshippers. It is likely that as more MBBs assume leadership roles at RCB, their voices will provide needed input on these controversial topics. Following Jesus in Turbulent Times will inspire and challenge those who are serving refugees. It is realistic and instructive. The testimonies sprinkled in will leave the reader wanting more.  For Further Reading: Houssney, Georges. Engaging Islam. Boulder, Colorado: Treeline Publishing, 2010. Leatherberry, David. Abdul and Mister Friday: Neither Wanted to Go to Heaven without the Other. Springfield, MO: Onward Books, 2016. Miller, Duane A. Living Among the Breakage: Contextual Theology Making among Ex-Muslim Christians. Eugene, OR: Pickwick, 2016. 38 E VA NGELIC A L MIS SIONS QUA R TER LY | VOL . 5 5 NO. 3