Stories

In the past I have always had a fear and lack of understanding about Islam that was influenced by misconceptions and lack of knowledge. This caused me to keep my distance from those who practiced the faith of Islam. However, my perspective began changing when I came across Loving Muslims Together (LMT) through my home church.

Recently I showed a magnificent aurora picture to a cashier while paying for my groceries. This picture is displayed on the cover of a booklet titled, Is God Beautiful? When I showed it to the cashier she beamed a huge smile and commented how beautiful it was. The customer next in line also saw and admired it.

While attending a spring concert a week ago I got into a fascinating conversation with a couple from out of town. We reminisced about the solar eclipse. I was delighted as they shared what impacted them most – hearing spontaneous exclamations of “Aaah” from neighbors who admired the radiant corona ring of light encircling the dark image of the moon.

As we enter 2024 I want to encourage you to keep looking to Jesus because with him the impossible becomes possible. Mary discovered this when the angel appeared and told her she would give birth to a son even though she was a virgin. The angel Gabriel said, “For with God nothing will be impossible.”

A church friend asked me to deliver a small cash gift to her relative in jail at the London Detention Centre. It so happened there were two other people waiting at the front door for the same reason.

Muslims are noted for their hospitality. They are gracious and friendly. But one thing they will not tolerate are snails. I mean I don’t want to eat a snail, but this is anathema to Muslims. Now, if you are a Christian living in a Muslim country, they will treat you with hospitality. People will be friendly and try to help you if you have a difficulty. But you will be viewed as if you were a Snail Salesperson.

I was raised in a Muslim home, but my parents did not actively practice their faith. My dad basically stopped practicing when he saw what the government was doing in the name of Islam during the revolution. My mom prayed, but we were not forced to pray at home.

I was at a medical lab to have an x-ray that my doctor had ordered. When I walked into the lab, I could tell that at least half of the staff was from the Middle East. When I was called to the x-ray room, I met the technician, Mariam, who I immediately struck up a conversation with. I asked her where she was from (Iran), and was her family here with her, etc.

I met a woman in one of the gyms in the city and struck up a conversation. We quickly became friends. As our friendship grew, I started sharing my faith with her, but she wasn’t interested at all and showed discomfort.

We live in a small town in Ontario in the outskirts of the GTA. We are a community of 8 – 10,000. In 2016, when the Prime Minister called on all Canadians to help with welcoming 30,000 Syrian refugees, our community swung into action, led by the churches, to begin raising funds and get ready.