These beautiful tropical islands are 99.9% Muslim and for security reasons we refer to this area as the Indian Ocean Islands rather than naming individual islands. Islam is deeply rooted on these islands and to be an islander is to be a Muslim. There are a small number of believers on each island but many follow Jesus secretly for fear of rejection and persecution.
Political instability and a lack of natural resources has left these islands underdeveloped, and all our teams serve islanders in areas such as education and medical work. The work is slow, but God is building his church here, and we wait in faith for the day when we see small groups of believers springing up across the islands, worshipping God in their own language, strong and unified, boldly speaking of the hope that they have to all around them!
Could you use your professional accounting skills to help start and run a tourism business on the Islands? This business will ensure continued access in the country for workers to live and speak for Jesus among the unreached people living there.
As Miriam Butcher looks back, she’s able to acknowledge God’s faithfulness, goodness and grace as she has celebrated AIM’s 75, 100 and now 125 anniversaries.
Sophie* became a believer a few years ago, and one of our workers on the Islands has been privileged to witness and be part of her journey.
What has changed in 125 years? Missionaries from the early 1900s would not recognise much about the AIM of 2020. And today’s missionaries might not recognise the AIM of 2050. Or even 2030.
There are still almost 1,000 African unreached people groups, mostly in the Sahel, north and west Africa. May Jesus find us faithful, even for the next 125 years. Or until he returns.
One of our team leaders serving on the Indian Ocean Islands shares how her TIMO experience fortifies her current ministry.
