Right amid the towering minarets of a prominent mosque is an unassuming two-story building which houses a Muslim orphanage for girls. Each week, a small team of volunteers who are part of the ministry known as WOMEN ARISE AFRICA spends an afternoon at this orphanage. It is their privilege to teach a Life Skills course to about ten young Muslim girls using the curriculum "Cross Roads" produced by Campus Crusade.

The mentors also have the chance to meet with each girl individually. Whatever is shared between the girls and these Christian women is completely confidential. After the counseling appointments, there are group sessions for teaching, discussion and handcraft activities. All the noise and laughter tell you that the girls feel loved and enjoy this special time. One highlight was the showing of the Jesus Film. The girls had a very positive response and have even asked to see it again!

This all started over 5 years ago because of a personal friendship between one Christian woman, Anne, and one Muslim woman, Fatima. When Anne was introduced to Fatima by mutual friends, the two women discovered many common interests and started spending time together.

One evening, Fatima invited Anne to her home for a meal. Several other Muslim ladies were present and one of them become very excited when she found out that Anne had made her outfit herself. This woman was a community worker. Soon she organized a class of Muslim women eager to learn. As time progressed, these women began to open up to Anne and she had opportunity to use her interpersonal and counseling skills. New doors began to open. "Can you help out at a Place of Refuge for Abused Muslim Women?" "Can you assist us at an orphanage for Muslim boys?"

The work in the girl's orphanage, and a similar programme in a boy's orphanage, has been going on for more than three years. We are receiving similar requests for help from other Muslim groups. Yet, there is a great danger that the work will come to a stop or be permanently shut down.

No Christian women willing to reach out to these Muslim orphans have come forward. The Muslim community has not opposed the involvement of Christians. But no helpers are available. This opportunity to take the Gospel into the very heart of the Muslim religion and culture is nothing short of miraculous. Where are the Christian women who will rise to this challenge?

"The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field."