Last Tuesday night I attended an event that the Fountain Hills Interfaith Alliance along with the Islamic Speakers Bureau of Arizona had planned months ago. It was free and very well attended.

There were many very caring people present, and due to the large size of the audience not all questions were able to be answered. The poise and demeanor of the speakers impressed me.

The speakers were baited by folks with an agenda and phobia. Their responses were honest, affirming of the questioners, and very well thought out.

As a Christian pastor, I work hard to confront stereotypes in as many ways possible, religious, and social. I am struck, usually, at these forums when good people forget what is written in their own Holy Book. It pains my Christian heart to experience other Christians doing, saying and propagating words of hate and terror.

Jesus commanded us to love our neighbor as we love ourselves, without qualification.

I am stunned and dumbfounded as to why more Christians will not, do not, and care not to stand with our Muslim sisters and brothers.

The beloved community will never be fully realized until we all learn to bear witness in love to each other. Last night was certainly one small step in a long journey of learning to love as we have been loved.

I am so glad that the planners of this forum did not allow the recent events change their planned event.