LOCAL MOSQUE VISITS


“Whatever you might think of Islam as a religion and culture should have little bearing on how you relate to a person who is Muslim.” Jim Peterson in the introduction to The Crescent through the Eyes of the Cross by Nabeel Jabbour

You may know something about Islam. But have you ever tried to take a glimpse of the daily life of a Muslim here in North America?

Many mosques in our neighborhood are gracious to host visits for us because they would like the chance to present a more balanced picture of Islam than what we learn from watching the news. Through such visits we can gain a better appreciation of how Muslims worship and see their place in society.

Why do mosque visits?

Most Christians know little about the faith of the Muslims. Likewise, most Muslims have many misunderstandings of what it means to be a follower of Christ. Opinions on both sides are often shaped by news reports that generate mutual anger, fear and suspicion.

During his time on earth Jesus broke through barriers and reached out to “the others” such as a Samaritan woman or a Roman centurion. Visiting a local mosque could be a small first step for us to break down walls of non-communication between Muslims and Christians so that Christ’s love may be shared.

What happens on a mosque visit?

GoLiveServe has organized mosque visits for churches and campus Christian groups in several cities, especially in California where our staff could conduct orientation and debriefing for participants.

A typical 3 to 4 hour visit includes the following:

  • A GLS staff offers a brief introduction to Islam and basic cultural orientation on the etiquette of being a guest in a mosque.
  • A tour of the mosque led by the host is followed by a time of observing the Muslim congregation in prayer as we sit in the back of the prayer hall.
  • Q & A with the host.
  • Debriefing led by a GLS staff for participants to share their observations and reflections.

Would you like to visit a local mosque?

If you would like us to help organize a mosque visit for your church or group, please contact us.