Devotion to ancestor spirits is a key issue for apostolic outreach in some regions of the Muslim world. Churches of Muslim-background believers in Central Asia must decide whether to attend Muslim funerary meals where the food and Qur'an recital are dedicated to the spirits of the dead. A letter addressed to Central Asian churches concerning this matter is printed below, introduced by historical and cultural analysis, and followed by missiological reflections. The letter advocates a balanced approach in light of 1 Corinthians 10:25–11:1 (food sacrificed to idols) and 2 Kings 5:1–19 (Elisha and the Syrian temple cult).
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