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A woman in a heavy black burqa and veil pauses to look in a shop window selling halal food, prepared according to Islamic laws. Two men pass by, chatting in Arabic as they hurry to a nearby mosque. A typical Cairo street scene? It could be, but this happens to be central London. If your image of Britain is all about fish and chips and stiff-upper-lips, it needs updating.

England’s capital city has become Europe’s capital of Islam. Along with 700 mosques and 1,200 Quaranic schools, nearly every university and polytechnic in London boasts an Islamic society, openly propagating Islam. More than a million of the city’s 11.8 million residents are Muslims. And ten thousand of these-some of the most radical-are British converts. Prince Charles himself has made no secret of his admiration for Islam. A few years ago he dedicated a South London mosque, outfitted in traditional Sunnah attire, and last year he inaugurated an Islamic Cultural Center.

“I am afraid for England,” said an Algerian Christian visiting London for the first time this year. “I have met British citizens here trying to convert other people to Islam. I am shocked. Now I understand why fundamentalist Muslims want to come here. London is a center for all of Europe. The church in England has a great work to do.”

An Egyptian visitor was also disturbed by his encounters with aggressive British Muslims. “They tried to stop us from selling books. I and the others who came with me wanted to go home,” he admitted, “but we decided to stay and pray and fast for England. Imagine what this place will be like in ten years.”

The young men above were two of 120 individuals who came from twenty-eight nations to take part in Operation Mobilization’s (OM) “Turning Point” summer outreach. OM Turning Point teams have been engaged in training and evangelism among European Muslims for over twenty years. Those who join the training program for a year or more often end up going into Muslim work long term in another country. Methods used by the international teams include door-to-door or street surveys, video evenings, outdoor book tables and other literature distribution, a coffeehouse ministry and programs for mothers and children.

Who cares?
The fact that only five British citizens joined the outreach reflects the prevailing attitude of tolerance at any cost. Although a few churches and other missions are making some effort to interface with the UK’s growing Asian and Muslim population, such as World Team UK, Asian Christian Fellowship, Interserve and city agencies like London City Mission, overall involvement is small.

After the September 11th attack, a backlash of feeling against UK Muslims forced Islamic leaders to adopt a more positive image to win friends and influence people. OM Turning Point director Randy Lawler noted some interesting behavior changes. “In the summer of 2001, the fundamentalists seemed to be particularly aggressive. They set up book tables right beside us (even on church property) and tried to discourage other Muslims from talking to us. One of the fanatics from Speakers Corner in Hyde Park (where the team regularly witnesses), even tried to break my nose with a head-butt. This summer they are suddenly trying to put on a new face. They even asked us if they were bothering us by being too close to our book table. When we said yes, they moved down the street.”

Haleh was a Muslim herself when she first moved from Iran to England years ago. “The average church has no vision for evangelism,” she observed sadly. “And who is reaching Muslims? No one. This country knew Jesus. Now they don’t want Jesus any more. Political correctness leads to compromise, and compromise won’t get you anywhere. I have hope for this country. God is gracious. But we have to wake up the church.”

One local churchgoer whose eyes have been opened is Christine South. Although OM held Turning Point conferences in her church for many years, she is the very first member ever to participate in one of its outreaches.

“We knew all the faces, all the ‘OMers.’ But you look from the outside in and never get involved. When Randy Lawler heard I was planning to go overseas on a mission, he challenged me. ‘You’re going all the way to Israel, why not go to people on your own doorstep?’-So here I am, and I’m so excited! I’m learning so much. I can’t wait to get back to my church and tell them. There’s so much we need to be doing. People come to London from every nation in the world. We’re on the cutting edge. The burning desire I had to go abroad is all gone. The work is right here.”

September 6, 2002