One simple gesture of kindness and solidarity made national headlines last month when Cordova, Tennessee-based Heartsong Church invited members of the Memphis Islamic Center to pray during the holy month of Ramadan for two nights while their facility underwent construction.

Muslims pray inside Heartsong Church in Cordova, Tennessee. In a show of solidarity, members of the church stood by them while they prayed to make them feel more comfortable during the Ramadan sessions. Photo Courtesy of Heartsong Church

The church’s pastor, Steve Stone, downplayed the notion that his decision should be regarded as something exceptional, however.

“I was just following the teaching of Jesus which is to love our neighbors,” Stone said. Although Ramadan has ended, Stone says Muslims are still welcome to use the church to pray in. “We paid for the building, but it belongs to God. This is God’s building. These people tell me they worship the one true God, how dare I judge them, only God makes a space holy. What makes a place holy is what people do when they’re in it,” Stone said.

Relations between Muslims and Christians in the community has progressed since Ramadan. They now host dinners together and are working on projects including philanthropic community initatives. Stone advises people who have a negative image of Muslims due to the mainstream media’s anti-Islam depiction to reach out to them.

“You first need to admit your fear and ignorance. Get to know the people you are judging first, because then you’ll learn they are no different than you. These folks across the street are our brothers and sisters now. That is what we call each other now,” Stone said.

About 75 to 200 Muslims gathered to pray at the church every night during Ramadan. Ninety-five percent of the feedback nationally and internationally was positive according to Stone. “People have said nasty things but no physical threats were made. Two percent were hateful and filled with fear, ugly fear,” he said.

Members of the church stood by Muslims while they prayed to make them comfortable. The church has received donations from groups around the country including atheists. Stone says the bigotry Muslim Americans face today is similar to the discrimination African Americans faced in the 60’s during the Civil Rights Movement.