Former Muslim criticized for preaching about his Christian conversion

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The Rev. Donald Fareed used to be a Muslim. But the leader of the San Jose-based organization called Persian Ministries converted to Christianity nearly 14 years ago. Now Fareed travels to churches and other speaking engagements telling people why he became a Christian, and why he is no longer a Muslim.

So when the Church of the Nazarene in Sunnyvale, Calif., used its church sign to promote Fareed’s recent Sunday morning sermon, its message was simple: “Why I am not a Muslim.”

The message may have been simple, but the reaction from many in the community was anger. The Church of the Nazarene began receiving complaints from passers-by who called the sign “offensive.”

“I thought, ‘That is an offensive sign, per se,’” Jay Heller, who lives around the corner from the church, told the Associated Press. “I work with a lot of Muslims and don’t know why someone would put up a sign like that. They can’t possibly be oblivious to the fact that it might be offensive to some people.”

Fareed defended the church’s sign, and his sermon, saying it was his goal to simply inform.

“My goal is not to offend Muslims, but to communicate why I changed my religion,” he told AP. “It was spiritual reasons that led to my conversion.”

In fact, Fareed said he wants to help promote civility between Christians and Muslims, especially in light of rifts created by Sept. 11.

Fareed was born an Iranian Muslim and fled his home country after the Islamist revolution. He converted to Christianity 14 years ago when he began to disagree with Islam’s holy laws. Fareed said his conversion allows him to have true fellowship with God.

The pastor of the Church of the Nazarene also said his intention was not to offend the community. Terry Irish said the message on the electronic signboard was taken from Fareed’s brochure promoting his sermon.

“It is not intended to be either insensitive or inflammatory,” Irish told AP. “My intent is never to offend. My intent is always to inform.”

Fareed hosts a weekly television show in the San Francisco Bay area that is broadcast globally by satellite in Farsi. He estimates that he reaches about 30 million people each week.

EP News
Published by Keener Communications Group, January 2005

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