Produced and presented by The Asia Pacific Discipleship Trust
Introduction
This course is designed to help disciples of Jesus Christ discover how The Lord Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah, moved the religious nation of Israel towards a personal relationship with His Heavenly Father and embracing the work of the Holy Spirit, without renouncing the millennia of revelation they had received through the prior Prophets. We apply these principles and practices to our current encounters with the slaves of the Prophet Muhammad p.b.u.h. and his ummah. The hope is that discovering a personal revelation of what the Prophet Isa Almasih taught and revealed, both in the Qur’an and the Holy Bible, it will be a catalyst for a dynamic new faith encounter with One God the Father of us all.
Online interactive teaching sessions
Each of the 10 sessions is presented on Google Meets. It’s a closed group. You must register prior to the course commencing to be part of the group. Each member is then invited to participate. After registration invitees will be sent a link to join the sessions each Monday night. Having a good high-speed internet provider is important. We need to start each session on time, at 7pm, (New Zealand time) so please log on to Google Meet at 6.50pm and patiently await for the starting time. We plan to finish each night by 9.15pm. On most occasions, there will be 2 x 40 minute sessions and a 30 minute question time with 5 minute breaks in between each session. Readings will be emailed 5 days in advance of each session. Participants will be expected to have read the readings prior to the session. Participants will need a computer or laptop that has adjustable sound levels, and a microphone so we can all hear each other in the discussion times. Google meets has a chat feature and you can type in your questions while another discussion is underway. Please test out your computer before you register to ensure it generates a good clear sound.
Objective/purpose of this course?
The CEO of The Asia Pacific Discipleship Trust has discerned a pressing need over the last 3 years to help Christ’s disciples to develop a good understanding or how to help enquiring Muslims they know discover the truth about Jesus Christ our Saviour and Messiah from both the Qur’an and the Bible. So many new enquirers from Islamic backgrounds are contacting our networks. He became aware of the need from the frequent cries for help he received from many people struggling to share their faith with Muslim friends who are seekers. On the other hand he met many Christians whose sons and daughters, grandchildren and spouses who have become Muslims. There has also been a significant surge in disillusioned Muslims put off by the activities of extremist groups. They have chosen to leave their faith behind, but they are suspicious of any other faith often choosing atheism as their intermediary state. This course wants to offer breakthroughs in helping Muslims discover sacrificial redemptive and salvific truth in Jesus Christ.
Our 2024 course mobilised new workers engaging meaningfully with “Our Neighbours” in their areas, visiting Mosques and talking with Malana and building relationships.
Sessions – Online
19th May 2025 (1)
God Model for Human relationships – Jesus and His incarnation – Jesus and the Kingdom imperative – Matt 6:33 ‘Seek ye first the Kingdom of God?’ – Jesus Christ the ‘Word of God’ in Johns’ Gospel and the Qur’an.
26th May 2025 (2)
Who are Muslims? What is Islam? Common Prophets and Holy Texts? Why should we care? Why build a bridge and not a wall?
2nd June 2025 (3)
Learning to love and respect Muslims? Connecting, festivals, prayer, Holy places of worship, cleansing, and other religious ceremonies that build bridges.
9th June 2025 (4)
Freedom from fear and paranoia? Spiritual foundations for Inter-faith ministry and outreach. How to prepare to read the Qur’an alongside the Bible and understand its message and hermeneutic. Helpful resources. Some scholars have already done the hard work of research.
16th June 2025 (5)
Finding, discerning and making friends with seekers. The call. Types of seekers. Preparing the foundations for building bridges with seekers. Engaging seekers. The stories of the journeys of seekers?
23rd June 2025 (6)
What are the main obstacles (objections) Muslims have about the Christian Way of practicing faith in God, doctrines and lifestyles that are hindrances to Muslims taking Christians seriously. Stories and examples from ex Muslims.
30th June 2025 (7)
Guiding Muslims to discover the Truth. Avoiding shame and disrespect. The Muslim mindset ability to hold seemingly contradictory views in balance, and the contrast to linear thinking. Honouring and applauding truth discoveries.
7th July 2025 (8)
Building a team ministry approach. Why it’s important: how to do it: and community engagement. Kinship, collectivism and collateral security. The divinity of Christ! How Jesus Christ reshaped the theology of His disciples?
14th July 2025 (9)
Interpreting the Signs of the Prophets. The Gospel of John the Baptist. The ethics of conversion! Building bridges to the hearts and minds of Muslims thru’ prayer, trust in God and transparency.
21st July 2025 (10)
Developing a strategic prayer movement? It’s goals and objectives? What the Holy Spirit has in mind? The incredible work of God in Islam in these days? What to look out for? How to cooperate with what God is doing? Where too from here?
Course co-ordinator
Bryan Johnson is the co-ordinator. Other expert presenters will appear in person or via video because of the international time difference.
Bryan has served as a missionary in Asia – Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, China, India, Philippines, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia, Kazakhstan, South Africa and the former Yugoslavia. Although his primary focus has centered on helping Muslims discover who Isa (Jesus) is, he has also taught on Buddhism, Hinduism and Atheism. He commenced his missionary ministry in 1977 after being a youth leader at Papatoetoe Baptist, and Hamilton Central Baptist Churches. Bryan, a qualified accountant, studied Indonesian language and culture, Islam and an adult inductive learning at Waikato University. From 1993 to 2003 Bryan was the Principal of New Covenant International Bible College. He was ably assisted by his wife Cheryl as the registrar. From 2004 to 2010 Bryan served the Global International Friendship ministry at the Auckland Baptist Tabernacle. In 2010 he pioneered a ministry for seeking migrants from an Islamic background with Paul Chang. In more recent times he has been overseeing the pioneering of the Friends of Friends Fellowship ministry around Aotearoa in the main University cities. Bryan is fully committed to building bridges of love and peace with Imams and Muslim communities wherever he goes.
Venue
Your home via Google Meets – When you register you will get a meeting code, and the readings and powerpoint, notes, etc will be emailed to you a week before the course commences as PDFs. During the course you will receive regular readings and notes.
Cost
The cost of the course is $95 including the notes. A deposit of $35 is required by midnight Sunday 12th May 2025. Late fee applies – $35 if not registered by the 12th of May 2025. The balance can be paid during the course. Please register and make payment as detailed below.
The earlier you register, the easier you will receive the first session readings and be empowered to prepare well and participate meaningfully. Some graduates of this course become members of Friends of Friends – a fellowship for seekers.
Register here now – in 2 easy steps
STEP ONE – Fill in this form
STEP TWO – Deposit the course fee/Deposit of $35 before 12th May, 2025
Please do a bank transfer of the $95 course fee (or the $35 deposit) into the Newmarket Auckland account of The Asia Pacific Discipleship Trust:
Late Fee: $35.00 if you register after the 12th May 2025
The Asia Pacific Discipleship Trust
BNZ Newmarket, Auckland NZ
02 0240 0030890 097Please provide your first name and the initial of your last name with the letters CCBB. For example Yunus Assad would be YunusACCBB. Thank you.
For more information contact Bryan Johnson – Mobile +64 27 276 6900
THANK YOU FOR REGISTERING. We look forward to meeting you at 6.50 pm on the 19th of May 2025. It’s vital that you register with your email and mobile phone number to join us in the first section at 6:50 pm on Monday the 19th of May 2025. Thank you.
Memorial to Pastor Mike Tobias
It’s deep heartfelt sadness that we inform you that Pastor Mark Tobias the former Chairperson of The Asia Pacific Discipleship Trust passed away on Wednesday night the 14th of August, 2024.
Pastor Mark suddenly resigned as a trustee on the 23rd of February 2023 when he learned of his diagnosis of cancer of the intestine. He graciously continued to support the Trust and its publications and other activities in many practical ways until about two months before he entered a hospice in Wellington.
Nearly four years ago his beautiful wife Julie passed away with cancer, so it had been a lonely road for Pastor Mark in recent times.
The Trustees passed their sincere condolences, love and appreciation to his family and congregation at the Sunday service of the Christian Revival Centre church on 53 Vivian St, Te Aro, Wellington, 6011 this Sunday the 18th August 2024.
A memorial service was held at 2 pm on Saturday 14th September at Wellington CRC. The delay in conducting a Memorial Service is because it has been scheduled for a time after a CRC ministry team returns from the Solomon Islands, and the Tobias family members arrive from South Australia.
When Pastor Mark visited his home state of South Australia he would always come back with stories about how he was guiding his fellow denominational ministers and leaders in the privilege of ‘Loving Our Neighbours’.
Pastor Mark frequently recalled the happy memories he had of his childhood growing up in South Australia as the son of Hungarian immigrants. In his ministry experience, he studied Eastern Orthodox theology and obtained a master’s degree. He thought outside of the box, and was a much loved friend and mentor to a young Maori man who had been a Muslim and studied Islam in the Middle East. Pastor Mark highly valued his friendship with a Wellington-based Shia Sheikh formerly from Kerala in Cochin, Southern India.
Pastor Mark was instrumental in promoting and delivering and distributing hundreds of copies of the APDT booklet ‘Answers to New Christians Questions’ throughout the Solomon Islands.
Pastor Mark pioneered a ‘Friends of Friends Fellowship’ in Wellington after attending an ‘Our Neighbours’ Conference at the Avalon Assembly of God Church. He loved ‘Our Neighbours’ and was always ready to tell us about his latest exciting encounter with ‘Our Neighbours’.
As a legacy to Pastor Mark’s life and ministry, please pray that God will raise up many more Pastors who will catch the vision of ‘Loving Our Neighbours’ and support publishing contextual literature that will advance the Gospel among those who have not heard.
Pastor Mark is survived by his daughter and son who live in the Wellington region. Both are married and have children, who were Ps Mark’s most loved grandchildren.