There have been plenty of media reports lately detailing a growing ‘Islamophobia’ throughout the Western world, and in the United States in particular. Incidents have included vehement protests over the proposed build of a New York ‘mega mosque,’ arson at another mosque build in Tennessee, and most notoriously, the case of the pastor who wanted to stage a ‘Burn a Quran Day’. This is why it is refreshing to hear some positive news regarding Christian/Islamic relations in the form of an article that Sojourners president, Jim Wallis wrote for the Washington Times.
Wallis reported on some of the back story behind Pastor Terry Jones’ decision to cancel the Quran burning day, and then related a heartwarming story about a church in Cordova called Heartsong. Eighteen months ago, the pastor of Heartsong, Steven Stone, learnt that the Memphis Islamic Center had purchased land directly adjacent to his church. Instead of protesting these plans, Stone organized to put up a large sign reading: "Heartsong Church Welcomes Memphis Islamic Center to the Neighborhood."
Wallis reports how the Muslim leaders of this mosque build were totally overwhelmed by Stone’s response. They had originally hoped that at best they would just be ignored, and it had never occurred to them that they might be received with hospitality.
However, their warm welcome did not end there. Since the Islamic Center is still under construction, Heartsong Church allowed them to use their facilities for Ramadan prayer services this year. Furthermore, Heartsong’s community barbecues also serve halal meat to ensure their Muslim neighbours feel welcome enough to attend. The two congregations are also working on plans to jointly feed the homeless and tutor local children.
Wallis then wrote about a telephone conversation he had with Pastor Stone last week, where Stone related that he had been contacted by a group of Muslims from a small town in Kashmir, Pakistan. They had watched a CNN segment on Heartsong Church, and afterwards one of the community leaders said to those gathered: "God just spoke to us through this man." Another said: "How can we kill these people?" A third person decided to go directly to a local Christian church and clean it from top to bottom.
Wallis concludes by saying that Stone feels his actions are part and parcel of just trying to love his neighbors, as he says Jesus instructs him to do. And in response to his warm-hearted good neighbourliness, the citizens of that small town in Kashmir told him: "We are now trying to be good neighbors, too. Tell your congregation we do not hate them, we love them, and for the rest of our lives we are going to take care of that little church."
(My thanks to John van de Laar who originally alerted me to this story through his twitter source @rogersaner. Find John on www.sacredise.com).