The excitement’s mounting at Flourish*, OM’s newest outreach in the UK, dedicated to serving isolated refugee ladies. Eyes shining, Wajiha* rolls the dice. Throwing a ‘six’, she almost grabs the ‘pass the parcel’ from me, liberating a chocolate bar from the layer of paper while the other women giggle with the OM team, each eagerly awaiting her ‘go’. Later Wajiha shines again as we tuck into the Middle Eastern delicacies she’s made: cinnamon-dusted buns, little biscuits coated in chocolate and sprinkled with chopped almonds, and a basbousa semolina cake.

OM’s project lead Abby* and her three female colleagues want to build the women’s confidence and self-esteem. The church hall OM rents provides a safe space for that; in this deprived ex-industrial borough, flowing robes and hijabs rarely attract the warmest welcomes. Up to 15 ladies, mostly Muslims, have been coming to these once-a-week sessions, which they know are Christian-led, filled with fun activities and chat. The project was launched in March 2025 after securing a year’s council funding; ladies are referred by an OM partner initiative for refugees, services like GPs’ ‘social prescribing’ or word-of-mouth.

The need for local support

From serving amongst Muslims for years, the team realises that trusting relationships must be built step-by-step for meaningful sharing of the gospel to occur. The group setting can inhibit spiritual enquiry — the ladies must trust not only the OMers, but each other. Deeper expressions of interest in Jesus are more likely during home visits, which are challenging time-wise for a small team with many commitments. “We pray to find mature female volunteers amongst local churches, with a real heart for Muslims and refugees,” says Abby. Partnering would facilitate regular visits to women like Wajiha, and root Flourish firmly in the local Christian community.

Long-term care and creativity

In another deprived urban area, with a majority-Muslim population of settled migrants from south Asia, the Welcome Place Hub* (WPH) sits in an old parade of shops. This established drop-in offers advice, advocacy and a whole week’s activities aiming to meet local community needs. Partnering with local churches and other organisations, OM has helped lead and staff WPH since 2013. 

Relationships have indeed taken years to deepen — only in 2024 did Louise*, current OM co-leader, pioneer a group Bible study. Interested ladies can stay on, unobtrusively, after their peers have left the previous community activity.

Zamda*, in her 40s, is a typical ’student’ — from a religiously conservative people group in Central Asia, almost unschooled, illiterate in her own language and with limited spoken English. Louise’s solution: play a small gospel segment in video form, dubbed into the ladies’ heart language by ‘Lumo Project Films’. “The ladies are surprisingly comfortable with actors portraying ‘the Prophets’ and love the authentic settings,” notes Louise. The same segment is played in Urdu or English in separate rooms, with other staff leading.

Facing doctrinal differences

Working through Luke’s Gospel, they’ve arrived at Easter, potentially provoking the Islamic assertion that Jesus did not die on the cross. However today’s session (where the female disciples discover Jesus’ empty tomb) passed off uneventfully despite the unexpected presence of Tasneem*, a former teacher of Islamic studies in Pakistan, whose baby screamed deafeningly exactly when Louise started the film. “And technical hitches usually happen, like the sound won’t come on, inexplicably. Little reminders we’re in a spiritual battle,” Louise comments. Later, while sewing-class helper Rachel* is being treated to a tasty lunch of samosas and sweet rice by her six needlework ‘students’, Louise and English teacher Kim* share their hearts for Muslim women.

Joining hearts, empowering lives

“It’s so unusual for Muslim ladies to experience somewhere set apart from their daily lives, with ‘white Westerners’ truly welcoming them and their kids.” says Louise. “They feel seen and heard, and we offer opportunities for a deep connection if they want it, like for Najma*, a very orthodox Muslim. She found WPH during post-natal depression and says this place changed her life and saved her. It’s about bringing people of different backgrounds together,” Louise continues, “breaking down barriers and building bridges. But it’s not a neutral space: I’ve come to regard WPH as a ‘Christ-filled sacred space’.”

Kim teaches basic literacy to women like Zamda. A small group faithfully attend, requiring much juggling of their numerous domestic responsibilities, which needs family cooperation and permission. “They’re free here, just being a bunch of girls having fun,” says Kim. “Islam can be so oppressive to women that they really embrace the WPH ‘difference’ — everything here is done to empower them.”

Kim’s parting words: “Meeting their needs on a practical level is great, but it’s about being relational and pointing them to Jesus — a holistic and eternal outcome.” Please pray for these projects and the ladies they serve — and could you or your church bless Muslim people, right where you are?

*names changed