Demonstrations Grow in Dearborn
Dearborn remains one of the most unique mission fields in America. On Sunday, June 28, thousands of Shia Muslims gathered in Dearborn for the city’s 12th annual Ashura procession, also known as the “March for Justice.” The procession traveled through the community as participants mourned the death of Hussein, the grandson of Muhammad, who was killed at the Battle of Karbala. Some reports estimated that approximately 40,000 people participated.
To see such a large religious procession moving through the streets of an American city is a striking reminder of why God has placed us in Dearborn. Tens of thousands of people gathered to remember a religious martyr, yet many have never clearly heard the good news that Jesus Christ died for their sins, rose from the dead, and offers eternal life to all who believe.
This is why the ministry in Dearborn matters. The mission field is not distant. The nations are walking down our streets, living in our neighborhoods, and gathering by the thousands only minutes from our church.
Please pray that God would open hearts, create opportunities for meaningful conversations, and give us wisdom and boldness as we proclaim Christ in this strategic community.
The Christ Is Conference
The visible religious devotion surrounding events such as the Ashura procession also demonstrates the importance of clearly explaining who Jesus is and what the gospel means. One of our largest current outreach projects is the 2026 Christ Is Conference, centered on the theme: Christ Is the Gospel
This year’s conference examines the testimony of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter, and Paul concerning the identity of the Gospel. These sessions are especially designed to communicate clearly with Muslims, skeptics, and others who may be familiar with religious terminology but do not yet understand the gospel.
Please pray that these messages will be watched and shared throughout Dearborn and beyond, and that Muslims will seriously consider the claims of Christ presented in the Scriptures.
The Christ Is the Gospel Conference is already underway online, with a new session premiering each Friday evening at 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Each message examines the testimony of one of the New Testament writers and demonstrates that the gospel is inseparably connected to the person and work of Jesus Christ.
The livestream format allows these messages to reach far beyond the walls of our church. We are especially praying that Christians will share the sessions with Muslim friends, family members, coworkers, and neighbors who may be willing to watch a video even if they are not yet ready to attend a Christian service. The sessions will remain available after their original broadcasts, making them useful resources for churches, missionaries, and personal gospel conversations.
You can watch, follow, and share the conference through the following pages:
YouTube: youtube.com/@christisconference
Facebook: facebook.com/christisconference
Conference Information: christis.co
The online series will lead into three special nights of in-person meetings in the Dearborn area on August 26–28 at 6:30 p.m. We are praying that the livestreams will create interest, answer questions, and encourage people to attend the concluding meetings personally.
New Resource for Reaching Muslims!
We are also preparing for the upcoming release of an important new book by Michael Germi. Michael was born in Iran and raised in a devout Shia Muslim family. He practiced the teachings and traditions of Islam before eventually placing his faith in Jesus Christ. Today, he uses his background and knowledge of Islam to proclaim the gospel and help Christians better understand the beliefs of their Muslim neighbors.
In Investigating Islam, Michael examines the historical, theological, textual, and scientific claims of Islam and compares them with the testimony of the Bible. The book addresses difficult questions carefully and directly while continually pointing readers toward the truth of Jesus Christ.
This is an evangelistic and apologetic resource designed to help believers speak with greater knowledge, confidence, and compassion. The book will be especially useful for:
Christians with Muslim friends, neighbors, or coworkers.
Pastors and churches ministering in increasingly diverse communities.
Missionaries and evangelists working among Muslims.
Bible students seeking a clear introduction to Islamic teaching.
Muslims who are willing to honestly investigate the claims of their faith and the testimony of Scripture.
We have been working with Michael to prepare the manuscript, illustrations, interior design, and supporting resources for publication. We are excited to see this project nearing completion and believe it can become a valuable tool for gospel ministry in Dearborn and around the world. You can pre-order on Kindle now.
Six Weeks of Outreach in Dearborn
Beginning this week, we will launch six weeks of concentrated outreach throughout Dearborn to promote the Christ Is Conference and introduce Michael Germi’s new book, Investigating Islam. Our team will go door to door distributing invitations and gospel literature, speaking personally with residents, and encouraging people to watch the conference livestreams and attend the concluding in-person meetings.
During these six weeks, we will also have opportunities to promote the conference at two of Dearborn’s largest community gatherings. The Dearborn Homecoming Festival, held August 7–9 at Ford Field Park, brings tens of thousands of people together. We plan to use this occasion to meet residents, distribute conference information, and invite people to watch online.
We also plan to conduct outreach surrounding the annual Arbaeen procession, scheduled for August 9. This gathering commemorates the martyrdom of Hussein and draws a large number of Shia Muslims from Dearborn and the surrounding region.
Please pray specifically for:
Pray for our six weeks of outreach throughout Dearborn, including door-to-door visitation, gospel conversations, literature distribution, and invitations to the Christ Is Conference.
Pray for our outreach at the Dearborn Homecoming Festival and around the Arbaeen procession, that God would give us wisdom, safety, compassion, and open opportunities to speak about Christ.
Pray for the Christ Is the Gospel Conference livestreams and in-person meetings, that many Muslims, skeptics, and unbelievers would watch, attend, and clearly understand who Jesus is and what the gospel means.
Pray for the upcoming release of Michael Germi’s book, Investigating Islam, that the final production and promotion would go smoothly and that the book would reach Christians and Muslims who need its message.
Pray for lasting spiritual fruit in Dearborn, including receptive hearts, continuing relationships, strengthened believers, and souls saved through every invitation, conversation, video, meeting, and book.
“Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ.”
—Colossians 4:3