What happens when you bring together a dozen teenagers who don’t know each other, come from two totally different religious backgrounds, and ask them to put their phones away for the day and actually TALK to each other?

“I hate Muslims.” As a simple conversational opener after church, Bob introduced himself, letting us know where he stood on the Muslim/Christian debate. Awkward conversation and strained parting smiles left us each to head home after the service. “How ‘bout that Bob? Think we'll avoid him in the future... wow." But then something happened that we never would have expected... 

At one point during the 3-hour protest, I was able to have some reasonable conversation with one angry man who was about 40 years old. His shirt said, “Jesus says you must be born again” and he wore a black beret to shield his face from the sun. As I looked into his calm blue eyes I thought, ”He looks so normal.”

With fortitude, the Muslims and all those outside of Masjid Omar Ibn al-Kuttab in Ohio practiced great restraint in the face of incredible offense. A leader of the mosque had informed friends of Peace Catalyst earlier in the morning that a hate group was planning to arrive during Friday Prayers.

One of the first questions people ask when it comes to local peacemaking is how to get started and how to go about beginning new relationships. So here are some starting tips.

American churches and organizations are loving their Muslim neighbors in practical, beautiful ways. Many more groups than I ever imagined are reaching out in love to their Muslim neighbors.  

People often ask us what steps to take to visit a local mosque and meet their Muslim neighbors – so here are a few tips.

“I want you to learn to listen so well that you keep on realizing that you didn’t quite understand and that you’ve got to revise your understanding.” 

Last week Peace Catalyst President Rick Love sat down with Imam Taha Hassan of the Islamic Center of San Diego. They discussed immigration, living as a Muslim in America, Sharia, and what Christians should know about interacting with Muslims.