This book surveys Baptist engagement with Islam beginning with Thomas Helwys (d. 1616), co-founder of the world's fifth largest Christian denomination, and ending with contemporary contributions. Baptists discussed include Jimmy Carter, Harvey Cox, Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, Rick Warren, and missionaries working in the Indian subcontinent. The book describes engagement by Baptists in the USA, the UK, the Indian subcontinent, Lebanon and Georgia and the involvement of the Baptist World Alliance. Some Baptists have fueled Islamophobia. Others stress common ground with Islam and call for mutual respect. Women Baptist missionaries pioneered a more personalized, less confrontational approach to engagement with Muslims. The survey highlights ecumenical partnership, Biblical foundations, defense of religious freedom, local initiatives, and contextualization of the gospel into the Muslim milieux. It is the first detailed, comprehensive study of this engagement.
