Billboard highlights bond between Muslims and Jesus
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
A billboard went up near the O'Hare oasis on I-294 around Christmas reminding drivers that "Muslims ❤️ Jesus."
What's happening: Oakbrook Terrace-based Islamic education center GainPeace placed the signs in Chicago, Houston and Dallas to highlight the commonalities between Christians and Muslims.
What they're saying: "We've been getting a lot of calls and questions like, 'What do you mean you guys believe in Jesus?'" GainPeace volunteer Aamer Abdul-Jaleel tells Axios, noting that Islam considers Jesus a "messenger of God."
- "When we explain that and in order to be a Muslim, we have to believe in Jesus and the Virgin Mary, they're just blown away."
Zoom in: GainPeace serves as the outreach arm of the nonprofit Islamic Circle of North America.
- GainPeace executive director Sabeel Ahmed noted in a press release that previous campaigns have "generated numerous calls of support and building of alliances with interfaith groups, minority groups, and neighbors."
What's next: Abdul-Jaleel says this new effort prompted dozens of calls and invitations to "meet with other priests and pastors and have breakfast or lunch, where the boards of a church and the mosque can meet and break bread together."
Of note: The billboard is scheduled to be up through Jan. 24.