Photo: Hispanic church leaders are treated to lunch at the Islamic Center of Greater Miami. Photo provided by Andres Prins.

Eastern Mennonite Missions Christian/Muslim Relations Team member Andres Prins helped to facilitate a meeting between Hispanic church leaders and members of a Miami-area mosque on Jan. 29, 2016.

David Monduy, pastor at Iglesia Rescate, a Hispanic Brethren in Christ church in Miami, contacted Prins to ask him to speak on Christian/Muslim relations at a conference hosted by the church on January 29–31. Prins proposed a visit by pastors of Hispanic churches to a local mosque and, with Monduy’s approval, contacted the Islamic Center of Greater Miami to arrange a meeting. He received a quick and positive response from the imam, Dr. Abdul Hamid Samra.

Forty church leaders from 16 congregations joined in the visit to the Islamic Center, receiving a gracious welcome from Samra and his community, said Prins.

Over the course of their visit, the Christian visitors listened to a brief explanation of Islamic faith, asked some questions, ate lunch alongside members of the mosque, observed the Muslim prayer rituals, and heard a sermon delivered by Samra. Prins estimated that 300–400 Muslim men attended the service. As Samra spoke, he twice acknowledged and extended a welcome to the church leaders, seated in the back of the room.

After the service, Samra spoke with the guests and was interviewed by some of the pastors. Prins, on behalf of the visiting Christian leaders and as a memento of their visit, gave Samra an English/Arabic translation of the Bible as well as Arabic, Spanish, and English copies of the book “A Muslim and a Christian in Dialogue,” co-written by David Shenk, the Christian/Muslim Relations Team leader.

Prins said that Iglesia Rescate has embarked on a process of learning how to reach out to their Muslim neighbors. The visit to the Islamic Center was seen as an important step in this process. According to Prins, many of the Christian visitors to the mosque had never engaged with people of Islamic faith and expressed surprised appreciation at how warmly they were received.

Monduy hopes Iglesia Rescate will continue building relationships with the Muslim community in Miami. As one step among many toward achieving that goal, small groups in the church will be meeting throughout the upcoming weeks to study and discuss “A Muslim and a Christian in Dialogue.”