1. “The Reason for their anger is their beliefs, not political or social injustice”
- By Daniel and Mary Shayesteh

We hear from many quarters that the boys who were suicide bombers in England were angry about Great Britain’s (and others’) presence in Iraq and that they had no choice but to suicide and kill their rank and file fellow citizens, in order to push the British Government to withdraw from Iraq.

From my perspective and personal experience of radical Islam, they acted as suicide bombers because of their own spiritual imprisonment – a result of their beliefs that gave them no choice but to commit this act, regardless of world events happening around them. If they were free in spirit they would not do things like killing their fellow citizens, which is exactly the thing they blame others of doing.

Secondly, if we go back a few years, why did angry radical Muslims choose to live and not use suicide bombing to kill any of Saddam’s people, when Saddam killed thousands of Kurds and invaded Kuwait and Iran causing the death of hundreds of thousands of Muslims? How then can they argue that they had no choice except death because of the occupancy of Iraq and Afghanistan by Westerners?  What does this mean?  Are Muslims who die under cruel Islamic regimes different in the minds of these suicide bombers to those Muslims who die under non-Islamic regimes?  Are not all Muslim lives equally valuable? What makes these radical Muslims capriciously hostile to the West?

They justify their actions according to the beliefs of a country’s ruler. For them, authoritarian Muslim rulers, who are actively against Israel and the West, are simply better than the leaders of democratic non-Muslim nations.  This discrimination has its root in the centre of their beliefs and values. Unjust actions perpetrated by one Muslim nation against another are seen as ‘ethical’ in their value system, but any conflict between a Muslim nation and a non-Muslim nation is seen as abhorrent regardless of the issues involved.

While I was a radical Muslim, I remember that I never cared for the rights of people in Christian Cyprus, but cried for the Muslims in Islamic Cyprus; I praised the invasions of Muhammad and his followers that brought about the spread of Islam, but I hated the crusaders who aimed to release their own religious shrines from the occupancy of Muslims.  My faith was based on a capricious god who had a dualistic belief; the act of suicide killing is good when it is done against non-Muslim nations but at the same time it is bad when the conflict is between two Muslim nations.

When Jesus is in my life, my moral and ethical values do not change with the wind.  Instead, I have a solid, holy, just, free and peaceful foundation and my political, social, moral and ethical values are not relative and always changing.  As the Gospel of Christ says, “…if the root is holy so are the branches” (Rom.11:16c).

We praise Jesus who through His grace has planted a holy root in our lives that grows branches having the same nature.  Nothing could change the heart of a hostile Muslim except Jesus.  In the same way, if we introduce radical Muslims to Jesus, Jesus will transform them from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light and they will be able to share in this holiness together with us (Acts 26:18).  Their major problem is not political or social issues, as if through only political and social reforms we might help them to avoid upset and discrimination in this world. Their problem is fundamentally spiritual and they need a sound, true and holy belief to change their hearts.

Daniel and Mary Shayesteh

2. Report on Daniel’s visit to Hobart Tasmania (Friday 15th to Monday 18th July)

Daniel enjoyed a variety of opportunities to visit churches and regions during the past two months. Following is a report on his recent trip to Tasmania.

“On the Friday, my first day of ministry in Hobart, I had the pleasure of meeting with over 30 Pastors and Leaders from different churches across Hobart,” remarked Daniel as he shared news about his recent trip to Hobart. “During this time with them I shared my testimony to Jesus and answered their questions. It was a precious opportunity for my story to be sown into many different Christian communities.”

On the Saturday morning Daniel gave an apologetics lecture based around his book “A Journey from ‘gods’ to Christ”.  Those present received the message enthusiastically and they wished the whole of Hobart could have been there to hear the lecture!

Daniel shared his testimony at Grace Church in Hobart. “Pastor Ron Wilson and his wife were very moved as I shared my testimony with their church”, commented Daniel as he reflected on this event. “I was also so happy that I was able to play my Tar to the congregation. A couple of Muslim background people were present at the service and they loved my music and poetry about Jesus. Music and poetry is a powerful witness to the hearts of people who are of middle-eastern background.”

Daniel spoke again at Grace Church on the topic of ‘Influential Evangelism’ and on Sunday afternoon he spoke at a public meeting, sharing his testimony to Jesus and playing his Tar with around 100 people including some who were not Christians.

Daniel also spoke to another church on the Monday evening before flying back to Sydney on the Tuesday.

We pray to God our Father that the seeds that Daniel planted during this trip will bear fruit in the lives of many people in Hobart and across Tasmania.

3. Daniel's upcoming ministry events
 Daniel has many opportunities in the following months and 2006 to be 'salt and light' around Australia and overseas. Please remember him and the Shayesteh family in prayer as Daniel responds to these opportunities to testify to Jesus.

July 24 - 30: Daniel to lecture to students at YWAM in Perth
Aug 12 - 15: Visit to Wagga Wagga
Aug 17 - 29: CMA Mission Weeks in Western Australia
Sept 7 - 12: CMA Mission Week in Victoria
Sept 16 - 19: Visit to Tamworth in response to an invitation from Tamworth MissionsNet
Sept 25 - Oct 2: Visit to Central/Northern Queensland
Oct 17: St Paul's Anglican Church Castle Hill
Oct 21, 22: Cowra Baptist Men's Dinner and Wellington Men’s Dinner
Oct 26: Primetime meeting at Christ Church St. Ives in Sydney
Oct 28-30: Visit to Hunter Valley Churches
Nov 13: Daniel speaking in Newcastle
Feb to April 2006: Visit to North America and possibly Europe
August 2006: Participating as a speaker in 'Mosques and Miracles' Conferences to be held around South Africa

4. An invitation to participate financially in the ministry of Daniel and Mary Shayesteh

Our goal, dream and prayer is for Mary to be able to accompany Daniel on some of his upcoming ministry trips.

We were getting closer to that goal through some generous donations, ....... until Daniel lost his university job and the Shayesteh's were asked to repay a huge education debt much more quickly than they had anticipated. As a result, Mary is now working 11 hours a day to try and cover this debt as quickly as possible. This is a distressing step backwards for her. We lift this need up to the Lord and invite you to pray with us for a solution to this need. We also thank those who have generously made contributions already in order to reduce the pressure of the Shayesteh’s financial load.

We invite you to give generously to the ministry of Exodus from Darkness so that Daniel and Mary's transformational message about Christ can continue to bear fruit around Australia and overseas. Full details for contributing to their ministry are at the end of this email.

5. Other Exodus from Darkness Prayer Requests

We speak in Jesus' Name to many hearts across the world, that they will be challenged in this era of globalisation to search for the Truth with all their heart.

Praise God for Daniel's ministry opportunities during the last two months.  This has included speaking to a Christian Business Men’s breakfast in the CBD of Sydney, a visit to the city of Orange, NSW, a visit to Hornsby Community church, NSW, a visit to Hunter Valley Life Christian Church, NSW and a visit to Hobart, Tasmania.

Please pray for the provision of all Daniel and Mary's financial needs. They have sacrificed much to ensure Daniel could share his testimony across Australia and overseas. Please pray for a solution to the needs mentioned above (4.). A donation or an interest free/low interest loan to help them would be a blessing for them.

We are praying for a group of people who can come together to back Daniel and Mary's ministry spiritually and intellectually as we consider the most effective ways for their ministry to grow in the years ahead. Please pray that the Shayesteh's ministry will be guided along the path of greatest fruitfulness for the kingdom of God.

Please pray for wisdom for the EFD committee as we seek and consider the opportunities for Daniel to minister in the USA and overseas during February to April 2006.

Please pray for Daniel as he works with Christian refugees from the Middle East seeking to come to Australia. It is proving extremely difficult to bring Christian refugees to Australia even though we are a country with a Christian heritage. Please pray for Daniel as he talks about these difficulties with Australian politicians.

6. Daniel's books

Many people have been blessed through the special insights into Islam and other religions that are provided by Daniel's books. Always accompanying these insights is Daniel's testimony to the uniqueness of Christ our Lord in every dimension of life.

Please make use of Daniel's books listed below and share them with your churches, bible colleges and friends.

'The Difference is the Son' compares the Qur'an and the Bible against the backdrop of Islam's early history and Islam's contemporary message. Daniel concludes that the difference between these two books in all dimensions of life is the 'Son' - our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the only source of eternal confidence.

"A Journey from 'gods' to Christ" looks at the nature of 'god', sin and salvation in all the world's major religions, while at the same time challenging the conscience (God given!) of every human being to search for the Truth.

'The Difference is the Son' - suggested donation $20 + $5 for postage
"A Journey from 'gods' to Christ" - suggested donation $15 + $5 for postage. For contact details for ordering these books, please see the end of this email.

I close with the words of Jesus.

"The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." Matthew 9:37,38 (CEV)