Understanding Islam: Abbey Road Christian Church holds program on the history and beliefs of Islam

T uesday nights at Abbey Road Christian Church in Cape Girardeau, chairs in the sanctuary hall will be filled, but not to hear a sermon. Instead, members of the church and the community will be learning about Islam and reaching for understanding along with local Muslims.

The church is holding a six-week educational program on the history and beliefs of Islam. The program will feature a different topic each session, presented by Southeast Missouri State University educators and attendees of the Islamic Center in Cape Girardeau.

Abbey Road's pastor, Rodger Kiepe, said his church is often a place of debate.

"We frequently disagree, but we disagree agreeably," he said. "We are a diverse group, and we hope to become more diverse."

Jay Hulehan, a congregation member and participant on the church's adult education committee, said he knew his church did a lot of things others wouldn't. That's why he said he proposed the idea.

Dr. Wayne Bowen gives a lecture on the abridged history of Islam Tuesday in week one of a six-week series on Islam at Abbey Road Christian Church in Cape Girardeau.

"We like to be a little different," said Hulehan as he welcomed the audience to the first session, held Tuesday.

Hulehan said he was interested in hearing President Obama recently say more understanding needs to exist between people. He also said he is concerned Americans are held in such low regard by many Muslims around the world.

"There are many people in the community who go to this church that are concerned with the same issues. We have university professors who attend and can educate people on these issues, and help them with better understanding," Hulehan said.

In the church's adult Sunday school classes, Scripture is studied, but the class often branches out to different areas. Recently a class studied the work of Gandhi.

Hulehan said his church met with the Cape Girardeau Ministerial Alliance when planning the Islamic education program and later came up with the notion of presenting the sessions both to the public and during Sunday school classes.

Dr. Wayne Bowen, chair of the history department at Southeast Missouri State University, presented the first session focused on the history of Islam on Tuesday night. Bowen teaches a course on Islamic civilization at Southeast and has researched the Middle East and Islam. He is also a civil affairs officer in the Army Reserve, and spent a year serving in Iraq.

Bowen gave a lecture that covered the origins of Islam to modern times and afterward answered questions from the audience.

Hulehan said he thought the 50 people who showed up were a good start for the program.

The program's next five sessions will feature a panel discussion over similarities and differences in Christianity and Islam; stories told by local Muslims about the personal meanings of their religion; problems and issues of Islam; and introduce ways for religions to live together peacefully.

First Baptist Church in Jackson has also opened its doors to understanding another faith. Karen Johnson of the church said a former pastor invited Usama Dakdok, a Muslim evangelical specialist with The Straight Way of Grace Ministry Inc., to speak to the congregation one Sunday morning two years ago. Johnson said Dakdok was so well received he was invited back that night. Dakdok has since visited again to hold a seminar called "Who is Greater, Mohammed or Christ?" and is scheduled to speak on Islam and the Quran June 19 at the church.

Hulehan said he hoped his church would continue to have ongoing dialogue with the Muslim community.

"We just need them to do their part knowing us and us knowing them," said Hulehan. "There can never be enough understanding between people."