I'm in Dearborn this week to learn more about Muslims in the metropolitan area of Detroit. This is a unique place in the United States, officially claiming to have 30,000 Arab-Americans, the densest Arab population of any community outside the Middle East. Unofficially the number of Arab Muslims in the greater Detroit metropolitan area is much higher, perhaps closer to 200,000, making this the 2nd most Muslim populated area in the US.
Arabs first settled here to work in the automotive industry over 90 years ago, invited by Henry Ford to work in his plants. In January 2005, a new Arab American National Museum opened as a result of this large concentrated population. The city is also home to the Islamic Center of America, pictured above, the largest mosque in North America and the Dearborn Mosque, as well as a mosque in the South End that is one of the few places in the US where one can hear the call to prayer over a loudspeaker. Because of the Arab cultural influence on the east side of Dearborn, store signs and billboards written in Arabic are common. On Wednesday, I was treated to a wonderful Lebanese meal that left me wanting to return for more. The ethnic make-up is principally Lebanese, Yemenis and Iraqis.
This week I have been meeting with Christian groups, pastors, theologians and church leaders serving the needs of this community and will speak in a church in the metro area on Sunday about my work in this area. The interaction has been most fascinating and strategic as we continue to develop partnerships and discern ways to serve this community in different places around the world.
One of our keynote speakers has challenged us by story and example to commit ourselves to a "presence among Muslims of loving service and faithful witness that neither avoids differences nor exacerbates mistrust." I really like this statement. Our speaker further sees two opposed tendencies in most interactions today between Muslims and Christians. One approach seems to overlook or ignore differences between these faith communities in an effort to make peace while the other condemns the faith and practice of the other community as totally false, often demonizing the other. Neither of these is fully truthful or effective and adds fuel to the clash between us!
I hope to write more about what I am learning in this journey in these pages. Suffice it to say, as Christians, we follow the Prince of Peace, and are ambassadors of His Kingdom. We should follow his example in every way. "We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God [ 2 Corinthians 5:20].”
By the way, since this is Friday, enjoy the foto! Have a great weekend and continue to pray for God's work of reconciliation in our world and for us as we seek to raise this banner.
