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Teatime in Mogadishu: My Journey as a Peace Ambassador in the World of Islam

Ahmed Ali Haile

3.93 · Rating details · 71 ratings · 11 reviews

In 1991, Ahmed Ali Haile returned to the chaos of his native Somalia with a clear mission: to bring warring clans together to find new paths of peace—often over a cup of tea. A grenade thrown by a detractor cost Haile his leg and almost his life, but his stature as a peacemaker remained.

Whether in Somali’s capital, Mogadishu, or among Somalis in Kenya, Europe, and the Unit ...more

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Paperback, 144 pages

Published July 1st 2011 by Herald Press (first published June 1st 2011)

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Apr 26, 2019 Andrea rated it it was ok

Shelves: missions, culture, autobiography-biography-memoir

I hate to rate someone's story with two stars because I always appreciate someone taking the time to share their life and work with others. If I follow the Goodreads guide, though, the two-star "it was ok" reaction was closest to my experience with the book.

This book was mentioned by someone who visited our church who is working with Somalis in our state. I believe the person knew a family member of the author. I was interested to read the story of how a Muslim converted to Christianity and con I hate to rate someone's story with two stars because I always appreciate someone taking the time to share their life and work with others. If I follow the Goodreads guide, though, the two-star "it was ok" reaction was closest to my experience with the book.

This book was mentioned by someone who visited our church who is working with Somalis in our state. I believe the person knew a family member of the author. I was interested to read the story of how a Muslim converted to Christianity and continued to work in their community.

I appreciate the emphasis the author places on the Church being his home when he came to Christ and that the gospel of Christ is what really sets Christianity apart from every other religion, tradition and philosophy.

I struggled, though, with the weak theology presented in the book and was wary of the the overwhelming emphasis on peacemaking. The author's main objective seemed to be making peace. He would employ Islamic and pre-Islamic teaching alongside biblical teaching and though he claimed that nothing but the biblical gospel had the power to change, he made mention several times of how other traditions overlap and make positive contributions to working with others in their cultural context and he embraced things offered by sociology and psychology. His involvement with multiple different denominations seems theologically wishy-washy and at the end of the book he mentions that someone told him that pent up anger can contribute to prostate cancer (which he had) and that he tried to make sure he wasn't harboring anger because he was hopeful that he would live long enough to accomplish more. This connection doesn't have any basis in scripture.

I thought perhaps I was misunderstanding what he meant by peace making (and that it was just his way of talking about evangelism) but he actually contrasts peace making with evangelism and speaks of some conflicts he had with other believers who thought that evangelism should have the highest priority. He also calls some things ministries that seem to have little to do with Bible teaching or evangelism. It seemed like his idea of the "gospel of reconciliation" was more focused on reconciliation between man and man, than between God and man. I got the impression that he mainly wanted to be a nice, Christian guy and try to help people get along and if that opened the door to share the gospel, that would be even better. Perhaps that's unfair. I don't mean to disparage him, but that's the idea I got from his story.

He also writes several times (and includes as one of the four main points of his story) that his Islamic heritage gave him tools for coming to Christ. He writes, "I want to make it clear that my Muslim heritage prepared me to hear and believe the gospel." He says that in college he learned about "redemptive analogies or paradigms" that are "signs of the gospel within a culture" and He draws on several similarities between Islam and Christianity (and the pre-Islamic traditions of Somalia). Emphasizing the similarities of religions that, I believe, are incompatible made me uncomfortable. That, coupled with an emphasis on peace making and conflict resolution, not evangelism, and the shaky theology makes this a story that is interesting, but one that I wouldn't recommend to others.

It's pretty short and easy to read and it's helpful to read about someone's conversion and they way they think form a perspective so different from mine. I'm glad I read it, but I think I would have a hard time investing in his ministry if he were alive today due to theological differences. ...more

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Oct 02, 2020 Grant Fawcett rated it liked it

It’s important to remember that this is primarily a narrative. It’s the life story of a dear Christian brother in his journey in Christ. Throughout his story, he elaborates philosophically frequently and theologically occasionally. It can be challenging to determine where his methodological values end and theology begins, but by the end it is clear that he holds to the centrality of Christ to the gospel.

Anthropologically this is an exceptionally helpful introduction to Somalian Muslim culture an ...more

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Jan 24, 2019 Stephanie C rated it really liked it

Recommends it for: everyone

Shelves: connected-to-the-larger-world, educational, enjoyable, inspiring, orderly, some-really-good-moments, what-faith-looks-like

I live in the Twin Cities where we have a large Somali population and I'm happy to know a bit more about Somali culture. I'm inspired to keep learning!

I enjoyed the stories Ahmed Ali Haile shared and also his perspective on how Islam prepared him to receive Christ. It was not a perspective I had heard before.

I also found it interesting to read about how many stages their ministry went through. It wasn't that they moved to Somalia and worked at one thing for many years. Rather, they did this fo ...more

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Jun 14, 2019 Dean Mundy rated it really liked it

This is a short biography on the author's life and work. Having been born in a Muslim home in Somalia, Ahmed finds Christ and begins a mission of reconciliation among peoples in east Africa. One may not agree with everything found here, but it's a fascinating story of the power of Christ for good. I received this book free at a Perspectives on the World Christian Movement class. ...more

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May 20, 2019 Jeremy rated it really liked it

Excellent insights into how Islam prepared him to receive the Gospel. Respectful of Islam, firm on the Gospel, with an emphasis on peacemaking. Also good insights on how missionaries have positive and negative effects on their contexts.

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May 30, 2017 Lynne rated it liked it

Great memoir. inspiring and thought provoking

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Dec 09, 2018 Rachel rated it really liked it

Very interesting read.

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Jun 08, 2013 Stephanie rated it really liked it

Memoir of a Somali Muslim who found Jesus and became a peacemaker, often at great cost.

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Aug 27, 2015 Joel Newby rated it it was amazing

Inspirational story of redemption and restoration.

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Mar 15, 2015 Lydia Nkutha rated it really liked it

An interesting memoir of a Muslim who converted to Christianity, & his journey in helping others to experience Christ-centered peace.

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Jul 27, 2011 J. Alfred rated it really liked it

Short, very cool autobiography of a Somali Mennonite convert from Islam. He talks about some of the ways to engage Muslims in spiritual conversation and practice peacemaking.

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