Anyone ministering among Muslim women will see that evangelism and discipleship will be approached differently with their friend from Muslim background than one from Judeo-Christian background. For example, Laura invited Julie to church. As she listened to the pastor’s message her heart was moved and at the end of the service went forward when a salvation invitation was given at which time she was led in repeating a special prayer. Afterwards she was encouraged to attend Alpha meetings held every Wednesday for new believers. She primarily watched videos to learn and could ask questions. Initial spiritual growth for Julie revolved around a formal organized program inside a church building and had a definite time frame to it.
Hawa, a Kurdish woman, grew up in a devout Muslim home. Before coming to the West, Hawa had never met a Christian, had not entered a church building, nor had access to a Bible. She felt secure in her Islamic beliefs and traditions. She had never questioned her religion. Ruth, a Christian woman, began befriending her and visiting her regularly in her home. Gradually Ruth began sharing stories from the Bible and would offer to pray for her. Hawa slowly began to comprehend that Islam is a religion of works and requirements while Christianity is about a relationship with God, made possible through Jesus Christ, our Savior, and is obtained by faith and not achieved by good works and following rules. She watched Ruth’s life closely. She probably did not realize it that she was actually viewing Ruth as a spiritual mother figure. Ruth could not tell you at what moment Hawa consciously made a decision to follow Jesus. Hawa's husband still has not allowed his wife to attend church but Ruth continues teaching her and praying for her and being a faithful friend – and spiritual mother. Her consistent long-term spiritual mothering influence in Hawa's life has produced a deep effect. Hawa's informal and unstructured growth has centered around a Christian who is like a spiritual mother which has not had any definitive beginning or ending. It has not been held in a church building. She has met a few sisters in Christ from various backgrounds.
Hawa studied the attributes of God from the Bible; some of which are quite different from Allah's description in the Qur'an, learned how to read the Bible, and learned a new way of praying which is different than the required ritualistic memorized prayers she had to say in Arabic which is not her heart language. It has given her immense joy to pray in her own language. She is being coached on how to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit speak to her. To learn how to walk by faith rather than works or dreams has been a huge shift to make. She has a tendency to fall back on living by rules and rituals to please God. Folk practices have had to be understood in order to walk freely in Christ. She has been afraid of the evil eye and jinn and magic and had many superstitions. She had a charm that needed to be relinquished. There seemed to be an overload of information, corrections, changes, new concepts and a new identity to figure out. Hawa could never have undertaken this long spiritual journey without a spiritual mother like Ruth caring for her like a precious lamb. She continues to need more fellowship with other sisters in Christ.
God bless you if you are spiritually mothering someone from Muslim background. Keep the Savior before her and investing your life. There is deep joy in being a physical mom but there is also tremendous joy in being a spiritual mother.
Dear heavenly Father, please help all the spiritual mothers in their ministry of caring for precious "lambs". In Jesus’ name, Amen. 
