“Matt, let’s walk over and share with those kids,” said Mark, a Christian missionary, to his teenage son.

Mark and Matt were in the Banglatown district, a part of Motor City offering a slice of home to immigrants from Bangladesh. Here, once-empty church buildings now serve as mosques and madrassas (Islamic schools).

After visiting a mosque, Mark and Matt noticed a group of 10 Bengali boys sitting on the stoop of a madrassa across the street. Their young teacher was leading a study of the Qur’an.

Mark said hello to the teacher and asked the boys what they were learning.

“We spend two hours every Saturday and Sunday learning Arabic and Islamic teaching,” answered one boy.

“Wow, what dedicated little scholars,” said Mark. “Has anyone ever taught you the meaning of the Incil (gospel)?”

They shook their heads and answered no. Many Muslim Americans have never heard Christ’s message.

“Do you know what Incil means? It means good news, good news for Judgment Day. Have you learned what that good news is?”

The teacher and the boys again shook their heads no.

“Well, can Mark share it with you?”

The teacher and the boys smiled and said yes.

Mark sat down on the stoop and talked to the boy scholars about Jesus. They and their teacher were amazed.

As Mark was talking with the boys, the mosque van pulled up to take them home.

As they boarded the van, some of the boys asked, “When can you return so that we can hear more?”

Pray for madrassa boys in Banglatown and other cities.

• Pray that local churches equip young people to be disciple makers who can share Jesus with others.
• Banglatown was once filled with thriving churches and parish schools. Pray that local churches catch a vision for engaging Banglatown with the gospel.
• Pray for many more laborers to enter Banglatown, share abundantly, and find Fourth Soil people (Mark 4:20).