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August 1, 2004 marked the beginning of a great period for the religious community of York County South Carolina. It ushered in an era of understanding and love between neighbors and friends from diverse religious backgrounds and cultures.
At Bethel Woods recreational retreat, a beautiful 160 acre tract of lakes with canoes, baseball and basketball facilities, and scenic hiking trails, members of Greater Presbyterian Church diocese hosted Muslims, Baptists, Lutherans, Catholics and Episcopalians, pastors and parishioners, seniors and juniors, for a three hour Interfaith Conference and “get to know you” jamboree.
The gathering was the result of a tri-o-logue between Rev. Father David Valtierre of the Catholic Oratory in Rock Hill, Rev. Pastor Sam Mc Gregor of Allison Creek Presbyterian Church in Bethel and Khalifah Ali A. Rashid from the Muslims of the Americas, Holy Islamville York. Rev. Mc Gregor had visited the Holy Shrine at Islamville to find out more about Islam to be better able to relate true facts to his congregation. Khalifah Ali and Mayor Amir Abdul Mumim invited him to lunch and to sit and discuss ways to bring the religious community closer. The Imam of the Muslims of the Americas, El Sheikh Mubarik Ali Shah Gilani, had instructed the leaders in his Jamaat to make contact with their Christians neighbor and ferment ties of friendship and brotherhood with them, based on the 10 Commandments given to the Holy Messenger Moses (Allah’s Peace be on him). So three months later Father David Valtierre joined the effort and formed a committee to investigate ways to eliminate religious misunderstandings and bigotry. It was decided to have at least three interfaith gatherings hosted by all three traditions, Catholic, Protestant and Islamic, and invited other denominations and traditions. And the theme of the first gathering would be prayer and our Abrahamic Heritage and traditions.
The gathering was opened by Rev Mc Gregor reciting a beautiful prayer of our father Abraham from the Old Testament, beseeching Allah’s Mercy. All those attending joined in a silent prayer to seek peace in the world. This was followed by the Muslim community who made their zuhr afternoon prayer (men only, it was explained later the best salat, prayer for a lady is a private one). After the Salat brother Jamal A. Waahid explain the two parts of prayer, salat and dua. After this was a “meet and greet” session, where people sat in the recreation lean-to and ate ice cream and drank soft drinks, and just talked. There was supposed to be some sport activities for the younger people but those gathered wanted to continue the great conversations they were having and finding new friendships, both personal and business. Rev Sam then decided to stop for comments and impressions of the gathering and a question and answer periods. The Christian communities were very impressed with the Muslim youth ability to field some heavy questions and answer them with both knowledge and sincerity.
The afternoon was then capped with Father David leading a beautiful Psalm 67 of the Holy Messenger David (may Allah’s Peace be on him) and people join the chorus” God is our Light, our Guide and our Salvation and in Him do we trust.”
There were about 150 people attending from all over upper South Carolina. The original committee agreed to meet to form some kind of regular group from the many communities attending to further this great effort. All who were in attendance felt greatly elated and extremely fulfilled. |
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