“Who, if not us?”

AVCreport: What trends are you observing in Muslim society in Southeast Asia?
Markus (Mission Director): Muslim society in Southeast Asia is very diverse and differs greatly from Arab Islam. In Indonesia, we often encounter openness, while regions like Malaysia or Sumatra tend to be more conservative. Here, conversations about faith are more difficult. At the same time, we're seeing a remarkable trend: many Muslims are turning to Christ. This shows that there are many open doors for the Gospel.

Rahmat* (Staff Member): We live in a time when practically everyone has access to the internet via their cell phone. The younger generation, in particular, is becoming curious, asking questions, and openly seeking the truth.

Where does your passion to reach Muslims come from?
Rahmat: I grew up in a diverse neighborhood, but I hardly ever met any Malays at church. When I learned that it is illegal to share the Gospel with them, a passion grew within me for them to find Christ as well. When I met a persecuted Malaysian pastor at age 14, it became clear to me: Muslims, too, can follow Jesus.

Markus: My passion arose from engaging with Islam. As a teenager, I read books that criticized the Christian faith. In doing so, I realized how severely key teachings of the Gospel are distorted and how little Muslims understand the biblical message. If we don't bring them the message of Christ, who will?

Why did you join this mission?
Markus: My journey began in the 1990s with online interactions with Muslims through the “Answering Islam” platform. This evolved into a ministry that specifically makes the Gospel accessible via the Internet. The transition to our current mission was a natural progression.

Rahmat: I felt a calling early on, but I had to wait seven years. During that time, God prepared me: I lived closely with Malaysian classmates at a boarding school and learned to communicate naturally with them. Then doors opened, and I came to this mission work.

What do you find particularly challenging?
Rahmat: What pains me most is disunity among Christians—between individuals, churches, or organizations. Such tensions often hinder mission work.

Markus: Finding a successor is particularly challenging for me. On several occasions, promising staff members have backed out just before starting, often out of fear of consequences in their personal lives.

What moments do you cherish most?
Markus: I really appreciate seeing how people respond to our online content—especially when they hear the Gospel in their native language, such as Malay, Indonesian, Urdu, Hindi, or Tagalog.

Rahmat: What I love most are the encounters with Muslims—spending time with them, building friendships, and finding opportunities to share about Christ.

Do you experience threats or fear?
Markus: Threats are part of the job, especially through hostile reactions to our content. Still, the fear is less today than it used to be, back when Christians were arrested for proclaiming the Gospel. I trust that God protects us.

Rahmat: I've hardly ever experienced direct threats, but once we had to get a team member to safety from persecutors. My biggest challenge, however, is the inner question of whether I'm doing enough and truly walking in God's will.

What is close to Jesus' heart regarding Southeast Asia?
Rahmat: Jesus looks upon people with compassion—as sheep without a shepherd. Many perceive Muslims as a threat. I have learned to see them through Jesus' eyes: as people who are oppressed and lost. This compassionate heart shapes my prayer.

Markus: Muslims are the largest unreached people group in Southeast Asia. I believe Jesus' heart is with these unreached people, who have long been neglected by the church and whose need for salvation has often been overlooked.

How do you recognize God's heart in your work?
Markus: I see it in how God brings people together—partners, churches, and staff—and continually leads new supporters and colleagues to us.

Rahmat: For me, God's heart is revealed personally: In my life and in my family, I see His grace time and again—even when I was on the verge of going down the wrong path.

What message would you like to share with Christians in the West?
Markus: Our mission field is vast. It requires many local workers who are fully committed to it. Please pray for us and support us: spiritually, emotionally, and financially.

Rahmat: Through migration, many Muslims have found a new home in the West today. This presents a special opportunity: people who were once hard to reach are now right on your doorstep. Seize this opportunity, see them as people who need God's grace, and share the love of Christ with them.

* Name changed