Question
What Should a New Believer Do First?
The first things a new believer needs are: read the Bible (start with John or Mark), pray honestly, find a church community, and connect with other believers who can walk alongside them. Faith in Jesus is not a solo project. Community, Scripture, and prayer are the three foundations — in that order of doing, not of importance.
Author | Shafraz Jeal
Updated,
25 Apr 2026
Intro
You've crossed a line. You've said yes to Jesus — and now the questions shift from "Is this true?" to "What do I actually do?" This page is written for that moment. It is practical, not theoretical, and it does not assume you know how any of this works. If you've come from a Muslim background, some of it will feel familiar and some of it won't. That's fine. Start where you are.
The disciples of Jesus asked him how to pray, and he gave them a pattern: the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9–13). Notice what that pattern looks like. It begins with who God is — "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name." It asks for daily needs — "Give us this day our daily bread." It addresses sin honestly — "Forgive us our debts." And it acknowledges dependence — "Lead us not into temptation." Prayer for a Christian is not a ritual performance. It is a conversation with a Father who already knows you fully and loves you anyway.
Read the Bible. Start with the Gospel of John if you want to understand who Jesus is. Start with Mark if you want to move fast and feel the momentum of the story. The Bible is not meant to be read like a textbook — you do not need to understand everything to receive it. Read it slowly. Ask questions as you go. Many people find that reading a short passage daily and sitting with it is more valuable than trying to cover large amounts quickly.
Find a church. This is not optional in the New Testament model. Hebrews 10:25 (NKJV) says "not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together." The early church met constantly — not for performance, but because they genuinely needed each other. For someone from a Muslim background, this is also where the "new family" Jesus promised actually lives. A church that is warm, biblically grounded, and experienced with people from different backgrounds is worth looking for specifically.
Be baptised. In the New Testament, baptism follows belief quickly — it is the public act of saying "I am with Jesus" before others and before God. Acts 2:38 (NKJV): "Repent, and let every one of you be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." It is not salvation itself — the thief on the cross was never baptised — but it is an act of public commitment that matters. Talk to your church community about when and how.
Tell someone you trust. Faith held in secret for too long can suffocate. Find at least one other believer — ideally someone from a similar background who has already navigated the complexities of coming to faith from Islam — and begin walking together. The New Testament word for this kind of relationship is discipleship. You are not meant to figure this out alone.
Give yourself grace. Faith is not a performance. You will have questions, doubts, and moments of confusion. That is normal — and there are people who can help. Jesus did not call the disciples because they had everything sorted. He called them and then spent three years walking with them. The same patience that Jesus had with his first followers extends to his current ones.
Someone moving from Islam to Christianity faces a significant practical gap. Islam has a well-defined set of daily practices — five prayers, fasting, ablution, a specific posture for worship. Christianity does not have an equivalent rigid framework. The freedom can feel disorienting. New believers often want specific, practical guidance.
Why Muslims Ask This
The Christian life is structured around relationship — with God through Scripture and prayer, and with other believers in community. There is no ritual system that replaces those foundations. The practices of the Christian life (Bible reading, prayer, church, Communion, baptism) are not obligations that earn favour — they are means of knowing the God who has already given favour.
Christian View
Islamic practice is highly defined — five daily prayers (salah) at set times, in a specific posture, with ritual purity. Friday prayer has communal requirements. Fasting in Ramadan is communal and calendar-based. The structure of Islamic devotion is clear and prescribed. Christianity's relative freedom can feel like a lack of discipline to someone accustomed to Islam's framework.
Islamic View
"And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers." (Acts 2:42, NKJV). "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." (2 Timothy 3:16, NKJV)
Biblical Basis
"Christianity seems like it has no structure — Islam gave me five daily prayers and a clear routine. What does Christianity actually tell me to do every day?"
Common Objection
Christianity has practices — Scripture reading, prayer, gathering with the church, Communion — but they are not a ritual system. They are the means by which you stay connected to the God who saved you. The difference is whether you are performing to earn access to God, or using means that God has given to keep you close to him. The motivation matters as much as the activity.
Conclusion
The first months after coming to faith are critical. New believers who have community, Scripture, and prayer establish strong roots. Those who try to go it alone, or who stay entirely secret in their faith, often struggle. The first steps set the trajectory.
Why It Matters
This week: read John chapters 1–4. Find one Christian you can speak to honestly — whether at a church, through an online community, or through an organisation that works with Muslim background believers. Do not wait until everything is perfectly figured out.
Many new believers assume they need to completely understand Christian theology before they can pray, worship, or join a church. They don't. The disciples followed Jesus before they understood who he was. You join the journey and understanding comes on the road, not before it.
"Mathetes" (Greek, disciple) — literally a learner, a follower, an apprentice. The word is used 269 times in the New Testament. It describes someone who is walking with a teacher and learning by proximity, not someone who has already mastered the subject. A new believer is already a disciple — the learning never stops.
FAQs
Do I need to be baptised immediately after becoming a Christian?
How do I pray as a Christian if I only know how to pray in the Islamic way?
Do I need to stop fasting when I become a Christian?
What if there is no church near me that understands my background?
Will I lose my Muslim identity when I become a Christian?
Author
Shafraz Jeal
Shafraz Jeal is the founder of By Design Ministry, created to help people discover Jesus, understand the Bible, and grow in faith. After encountering Christ in 2016, his life was radically changed, and that journey continues to shape everything he shares.