In an era of misinformation prompting fear and wondering about Islam and Muslims, a Sunnyvale church is hosting a free community dinner and discussion on Thursday, Aug. 22, featuring a Silicon Valley “Woman of Influence” who is the founder of a national Islamic outreach group, and a local Christian author of a new book on Islam.
The goal of “Islam: Separating Fact From Fiction”, taking place at 6:30 p.m., inside Fellowship Hall at Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church, 728 W. Fremont Ave., is to help people better understand their estimated 300,000 Muslim neighbors and coworkers here in the San Francisco Bay Area. Speakers Maha ElGenaidi, founder of Islamic Networks Group (ING), and Ben Daniel, a local Presbyterian pastor and author of The Search for Truth About Islam; A Christian Pastor Separates Fact From Fiction, will speak and answer audience questions.
Advanced registration is encouraged. Register at https://islamfactfromfiction.eventbrite.com.
In addition to founding ING, ElGenaidi is the author of training handbooks on outreach for American Muslims as well as training seminars for public institutions on developing cultural competency with the American Muslim community. She was recently named by the San Jose Business Journal as one of Silicon Valley’s “Women of Influence”, and has been recognized with numerous civil rights awards.
Daniel, pastor of Foothill Presbyterian Church in San Jose, wrote The Search for Truth About Islam in an attempt to inform Christians about Islam through scholarship, interviews, travel writing and by calling out and debunking many of the false and misleading stereotypes that all too often dominate discussions about Islam in public discourse. Copies of his book will be available for purchase and signing after the discussion.
Daniel’s first book, Neighbor; Christian Encounters With “Illegal” Immigration, was named “Religion Book of the Year” in 2011, by ForeWord Reviews, a journal that highlights and reviews books from small and independent publishers.
Editor’s Note: I am a member of Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church, and one of the organizers of this event.
