I recently had the wonderful opportunity to join Nadia Wi on the For His Kingdom podcast in South Africa. What a rich, engaging conversation it was! I walked away deeply encouraged by Nadia's hunger for truth and eagerness to grow in her gospel-centered outreach to her audience.
By Dr. Tim Orr
I recently had the wonderful opportunity to join Nadia Wi on the For His Kingdom podcast in South Africa. What a rich, engaging conversation it was! I walked away deeply encouraged by Nadia's hunger for truth and eagerness to grow in her gospel-centered outreach to her audience.
From the very beginning of our conversation, Nadia and I explored the heart of interfaith dialogue—what it means to build bridges with those who believe differently, especially our Muslim neighbors. She immediately grasped the significance of not merely talking at others but entering into their world with humility, grace, and intentionality. Seeing her passion for equipping the Church to engage meaningfully across religious boundaries was refreshing.
During the interview, I shared my journey—from a young man battling alcoholism and suicidal thoughts to finding hope in Christ at age 21, being transformed by the gospel, and later being called into ministry. I spoke about my work with Crescent Project, my academic research in congregational polarization, and my experiences engaging Muslims in mosques and universities across the UK and beyond. One highlight was discussing my unique theological training under Shi’a scholars at Islamic College in London—a foundation that has given me tools to connect deeply and respectfully with Muslims in dialogue.
Nadia’s insightful questions opened the door for honest discussions about fear, pride, pessimism, and indifference—four major idols of the heart that can hinder us from effectively sharing our faith. I emphasized that gospel-centered engagement begins with our transformation. If we want to share Christ with others, we must first allow the gospel to change us—not just as a “ticket to heaven,” but as a way to be continually renewed.
We also touched on practical evangelism, such as asking thoughtful questions and using the “40% Rule”—letting the other person do most of the talking. Nadia shared a personal story of a conversation she once had with a young Muslim man and how it taught her that theological debates are often not the best starting point—relationship-building, mutual respect, and listening often open more doors than theological jousting.
One of the most encouraging moments was hearing Nadia reflect on the power of knowing both your own faith and having a basic understanding of others'. She rightly noted that many Christians only learn how to relate to God personally but aren’t equipped to explain their faith to others—especially in a pluralistic world filled with competing worldviews.
Throughout the podcast, I shared excerpts from my book, Gospel-Centered Christianity and Other Religions, which explores how the gospel transforms us and how we can then engage Buddhism, Islam, atheism, and other worldviews through the lens of Christ’s redemptive work. We also discussed how progressive Christianity in the West has often drifted from the gospel entirely, making it critical for believers to remain anchored in sound doctrine and spiritual depth.
Nadia and I agreed that this work is not optional—it’s part of discipleship. Engaging our Muslim neighbors or people of any worldview should not be an extracurricular activity for “super Christians”—it’s what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. Evangelism, apologetics, and even polemics (graciously done) are tools for everyday believers who take the Great Commission seriously.
I’m grateful to Nadia and the For His Kingdom podcast for such a meaningful conversation. If you haven’t listened yet, I encourage you to do so—and share it with your church or small group. You can also check out my courses and website at www.timorr.org, where I offer practical resources for equipping believers in gospel-centered outreach.
Let’s take that first step—start a conversation, build a relationship, and trust that the gospel is powerful enough to do the rest.
"Take the first step today," I said at the end of the interview, "and you’ll be amazed at how God will use you to reach your neighbors for Christ."
Dr. Tim Orr serves full-time with Crescent Project as the assistant director of the internship program and area coordinator, where he is also deeply involved in outreach across the UK. A scholar of Islam, Evangelical minister, conference speaker, and interfaith consultant, Tim brings over 30 years of experience in cross-cultural ministry. He holds six academic degrees, including a Doctor of Ministry from Liberty University and a Master’s in Islamic Studies from the Islamic College in London.
In addition to his ministry work, Tim is a research associate with the Congregations and Polarization Project at the Center for the Study of Religion and American Culture at Indiana University Indianapolis. His research interests include Islamic antisemitism, American Evangelicalism, and Islamic feminism. He has spoken at leading universities and mosques throughout the UK—including Oxford University, Imperial College London, and the University of Tehran—and has published widely in peer-reviewed Islamic academic journals. Tim is also the author of four books.