Detroit, MI
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This report comes from team leader Mark with our Eastern Market SPSE team in Detroit, MI:
Bill and I returned to Eastern Market last Saturday where we had a lengthy conversation with a Muslim man. Two men, one in his early twenties and one in his fifties, walked by our table from a distance. The older of the two saw our Rosaries and asked if they were “prayer beads.” I answered and said, “Yes, they are Rosaries. You can have one.”
He quickly became angry and yelled at me repeatedly, shouting many anti-Christian claims. I was worried that his outburst would become an anti-witness and do far more harm than good. Bill tried to respectfully interject a dozen times but the man continued his angry rant. Among many other things, he denied that the crucifixion of Jesus Christ ever happened, a common lie from Islam. I countered and told him there is more proof of the crucifixion than any other event in ancient history. We can really not only on the Gospels and epistles but also non-Christian sources such as Flavius Josephus, Pliny the Younger, Tacitus, and many more.
Another young man overheard the conversation and interjected halfway through. He is seeking, takes inspiration from both Christianity and Islam, and he said it’s clear that Christianity is the better choice. The young man didn’t stay for long but graciously accepted a Rosary, Common Objections pamphlet, and Good News holy card.
The older man eventually started to calm down, at which point I asked him, “Where is Jesus now?” He answered, “In Heaven.” Then I asked, “Where is Mohammed?” He answered, “in a grave in Saudi Arabia.” I asked, “Who is greater, who should you follow, the one in Heaven or the one in a grave?” I continued and asked “Is it true that only God can judge? Why, then, according to the Quran, will Jesus judge us at the end of the world, not Mohammed and not Allah?” I told the man that it is very clear that Jesus Christ is far greater than the false prophet Mohammed.
He continued to tell many more lies, including the myth that the Holy Bible was distorted and Christians misinterpreted the words of Jesus. It was clear that the Muslim man was not willing to listen and have an honest conversation. Moreover, he was definitely not willing to change his mind in any way. In the end, we agreed to part ways amiably. After he walked away, Bill and I prayed that Jesus Christ would reveal Himself in the fullness of Truth and bring about the man’s conversion.
Praised be Jesus Christ!