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(Shelby County, TN 9/8/2010) Pastor Steve Stone with Cordova's Heartsong Church admits, when he found out who was moving in next door he was nervous.
"When I first heard they were coming to the community, I got a little tightness in my stomach like everyone else does," Stone said. "But then, I realized that was fear and I realized that was ignorance."
Stone's initial fear was of the Memphis Islamic Center, his congregation's newest neighbors.
But quickly, Stone says he turned his apprehension to acceptance, erecting a sign to welcome them.
"They're our neighbors across the street and we follow Jesus, who teaches us to love our neighbors," Stone said.
But the Heartsong Church congregation didn't just open its arms; it opened its doors too.
"They called and asked if they might be able to use our building for their Ramadan prayers," Stone said.
And that's exactly what happened.
With the Memphis Islamic Center's building just a few weeks shy of completion, Heartsong Church welcomed the congregation into its sanctuary for nightly Ramadan prayers.
The move initially had both sides a bit apprehensive.
"We had some people questioning, 'How can you pray at a church? What if they come and do something?' But nothing happened," Yasir Quadahi, resident scholar with the Memphis Islamic Center, said.
Instead, Quadahi's congregation quickly learned the stereotypes and opposition faced by Muslims across the country, most notably in New York City and recently in Murfreesboro, TN, didn't seem to exist in Memphis.
"Once you meet a Muslim, once you know that they're just like you, they eat, they drink, they have the same worries, they have the same hopes and dreams. We're paying our taxes, we're worried about the schools, we worry about the economy and health care. We're all in the same boat together," Quadahi said.
While work finishes across the street, both congregations say they'll continue building their understanding, appreciation, and tolerance for each other's faith, one prayer at a time.
"There are places around the country where people are showing aversion to Islam, well thank God, nothing has happened in Memphis. And we hope it stays that way," Quadahi said.
- Memphis Islamic Center moves into Shelby County
- Christian church reaches out to help the congregation, despite their differences
- The Islamic Center will officially open within the next few days
Facebook - WREG On Your Side Investigators
Twitter - @nc3investigates
keli.rabon@wreg.com
(Shelby County, TN 9/8/2010) Pastor Steve Stone with Cordova's Heartsong Church admits, when he found out who was moving in next door he was nervous.
"When I first heard they were coming to the community, I got a little tightness in my stomach like everyone else does," Stone said. "But then, I realized that was fear and I realized that was ignorance."
Stone's initial fear was of the Memphis Islamic Center, his congregation's newest neighbors.
But quickly, Stone says he turned his apprehension to acceptance, erecting a sign to welcome them.
"They're our neighbors across the street and we follow Jesus, who teaches us to love our neighbors," Stone said.
But the Heartsong Church congregation didn't just open its arms; it opened its doors too.
"They called and asked if they might be able to use our building for their Ramadan prayers," Stone said.
And that's exactly what happened.
With the Memphis Islamic Center's building just a few weeks shy of completion, Heartsong Church welcomed the congregation into its sanctuary for nightly Ramadan prayers.
The move initially had both sides a bit apprehensive.
"We had some people questioning, 'How can you pray at a church? What if they come and do something?' But nothing happened," Yasir Quadahi, resident scholar with the Memphis Islamic Center, said.
Instead, Quadahi's congregation quickly learned the stereotypes and opposition faced by Muslims across the country, most notably in New York City and recently in Murfreesboro, TN, didn't seem to exist in Memphis.
"Once you meet a Muslim, once you know that they're just like you, they eat, they drink, they have the same worries, they have the same hopes and dreams. We're paying our taxes, we're worried about the schools, we worry about the economy and health care. We're all in the same boat together," Quadahi said.
While work finishes across the street, both congregations say they'll continue building their understanding, appreciation, and tolerance for each other's faith, one prayer at a time.
"There are places around the country where people are showing aversion to Islam, well thank God, nothing has happened in Memphis. And we hope it stays that way," Quadahi said.
