MAS/ICNA 8th Annual Convention, Chicago, IL
MAS/ICNA 8th Annual Convention
Mark and several friends were able to take part in the Muslim American Society’s 8th Annual Convention in Chicago this past weekend. Watch Mark’s talk on the panel at his YouTube channel!
A panel of friends and fellow peacemakers was the focus for Saturday’s afternoon session hosted by Dr. Abdel Azim Elsiddig, including words from Dean Koldenhoven, former Mayor of Palos Heights, IL; Pastor Bill Devlin of Manhattan Bible Church; Jeff Burns, Founder of Peace on Earth Initiatives; Dr. Rick Love, Consultant for Christian-Muslim Relations at Vineyard USA and Founder of Peace Catalyst Intl.; Carl Medearis, author of “Muslims, Christians and Jesus”; Hal Runkel, author of “ScreamFree Parenting,” Rick Jackson, Colorado Springs businessman, developer and peacemaker in Sudan; and Jay Moses, Presbyterian Church USA and Muslim-Christian Coordinator at Wheaton College.
The speakers each shared from their life and journey as peacemakers and encouraged listeners to rise to the challenge of building bridges across the faith divide. Featuring such diverse stories and experiences all at once allowed a picture of God working in each one by means of the various and unique paths that each individual has taken in their life.
Speakers were also invited to attend a dinner that evening where others shared from their work, including Islamic Relief, a worldwide leader in alleviating poverty. Mark was invited as the keynote speaker and offered encouragement and examples of the common ground that can be found between Muslims and Christians, but also issued a challenge that we must move beyond niceties and cultivate an openness and willingness to discuss and wrestle with areas of difference.
Many thanks for the generous hospitality of the Muslim American Society’s staff and organizers for hosting this delegation, especially to Dr. Elsiddig who has personally befriended each panel speaker, and to Convention Chairman, Mr. Hussein Ata.
Tags: Christian, conflict resolution, interfaith, Muslim, peace, peacemaker, reconciliation