Burnaby, Surrey, and New Westminster—three bustling cities on Canada’s western coast—are home to one of the fastest growing Muslim populations in North America, with most hailing from Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.

But some Afghans are Muslim only in name. Consider the case of Omar, a 25-year-old who arrived in Vancouver in 2019 and was soon meeting a Christian friend for meals and discussion.

Omar was frustrated with religion and with God, feeling it was cruel for God to demand that Muslims do enough good deeds to outweigh their bad deeds.

Resistant to the Gospel message, Omar opened up during their fourth meeting, sharing his struggles with depression and other personal issues.

His Christian friend shared how God had helped her through her struggles. She explained the difference between following religion and knowing God. As she spoke about Christ’s teaching on forgiving those who have caused hurt and pain, loving our enemies, and repaying evil with good—concepts that are foreign to Muslims—Omar was intrigued.

“I have only shared about my depression with my three closest friends, including you,” Omar admitted.

“It touches me to know that you’ve counted me among your closest friends,” the friend replied.

Christians don’t always need a detailed evangelistic game plan. Sometimes, being a good friend is more than enough.

Pray that refugees, many of them lonely and depressed, will encounter the love of Jesus and see that God is their loving Father (Isaiah 49:15).

• Pray that believers will welcome Muslims around them and show them Christ’s love (Matt. 25:35).
• Pray that believers will be vulnerable and open to talk with Muslims about how God encountered them in their weakness (2 Cor. 12:9).