Salaam Project Addresses Concerns About Islam

Rev. Greg Sinclair was pleased to see more than 60 people, including presenters, attend a recent conference whose focus was on better understanding the Muslim faith. The conference took place at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich.

People at the seminar — and especially a large group of Calvin College students — were clearly eager to learn how to create a dialogue between and disciple their Muslim brothers and sisters, says Sinclair, training director of the Christian Reformed Church’s Salaam Project.

But then the next day, says Sinclair, he spoke to members of a Christian Reformed Church congregation and they weren’t as interested in the topic.

Both experiences reflect the growing success of, as well as the challenges facing, the Salaam Project, an effort by the CRC to educate its members about and create connections with a faith with which Christianity has significant similarities and vast differences. The project celebrates its first anniversary in March.

“While I’m finding interest in what we’re doing, it also seems to be off the radar screens for some people,” says Sinclair.

“But I feel things are coming along. The beginning is always the slowest.”

The Salaam Project emerged out of violent conflicts at home and abroad between Muslims and non-Muslims, including Christians.

“I can understand how 9/11 and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have created concerns and many questions in people’s minds,” says Sinclair.

The wars and terrorist attacks of 9/11 weren’t the motivating factors. Other issues have arisen as well, such the violent reactions of Muslims to how Islam’s prophet Muhammad has been portrayed in the media.

Once he was named training director, Sinclair began the training trainers who can go out to churches and other settings to educate people about various aspects of Islam.

Currently, there are about 10 trainers, and he is looking for more. He is also seeking churches willing to undergo the training.

While the Salaam Project’s trainers educate churches about Islam, the trainers also encourage the churches to launch their own ministries, such as English as second language programs, to reach out to Muslims.

“We want to help educate people and to help them change their attitudes and think more clearly about Islam,” says Sinclair.

“We especially want to help people to start to disciple their Muslim brothers and sisters.”

Going forward, he said, the project needs to keep addressing concerns and reservations some people have about what they see as the violent nature of Islam.

But he would like to see education replace the reservations — if for no other reason than Muslims are already and will increasingly be a part of life in North America.

“We live in an increasingly globalized world that is shrinking,” says Sinclair. “So it is imperative to learn from one another.”

Overall, he says, he wants the Salaam Project to be there when people want to know, for example, why it is so important to love their Muslim brothers and sisters.

When those times happen, as they already have, he has a clear answer.

“This is what Jesus told us to do — love our neighbors,” he says.