Responding to Mosque Controversy in Love

Teresa Neumann : Mar 4, 2013
Connie Davis Bushey – Baptist & Reflector

What would you do if a local Muslim community proposed to build a mosque next to your church?

(Murfreesboro, TN)—For the last two years, Murfreesboro has been in the national spotlight due to a controversy surrounding the proposal to build an Islamic Mosque next door to Grace Baptist Church.

As reported in Baptist Press News, Grace Baptist's interim pastor, Dan Watts, led his congregation through the maze of emotions and potential spiritual pitfalls with a wisdom and grace that has proven to be nothing less than divine. At times, it was in stark contrast to open hatred displayed by some residents. (Photo courtesy: sbc.net)

Watts admitted that he and his fellow Christians knew little about Muslims and their faith at first, but realized that God had clearly placed them in their community and that He "wanted us to move from not being afraid of Muslims to loving Muslims."

The article notes that last summer, as construction on the mosque was about to begin, someone spray painted "Not Welcome" at the site. The mosque quickly posted a "No Trespassing" sign, to which Grace Baptist responded by putting up their own sign that read, "Trespassers are Welcome."

Through prayer and the help of Watts' friend—Arabic-speaking Egyptian Christian, Raouf Ghattas—two Muslims agreed to an invitation to worship and be formally welcomed at Grace. The outcome was positive, said Watts, and trusting relationships and interest have grown from there.

Apparently, there is a fairly large Arab Christian community in the area. Ghattas doesn't believe it's coincidental. "We pray such little prayers," he said, noting that Christian and Muslim Arabs speak the same language and understand each other's cultures.

As a result, the Christian Arabic Church, in association with Grace, has reportedly begun its own outreach effort to its Muslim neighbors.