The Dove World Outreach: "Islam is of the devil."

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20090708/ARTICLES/907081008?Title=Anti-Islam-church-sign-stirs-up-community-outrage


Anti-Islam church sign stirs up community outrage
The Dove World Outreach Center in northwest Gainesville posted a sign that says "Islam is of the devil."



By Lise Fisher & Karen Voyles
Staff Writers

Published: Wednesday, July 8, 2009 at 6:01 a.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, July 7, 2009 at 11:04 p.m.


Those behind a sign posted in front of their northwest Gainesville church, proclaiming in red letters "Islam is of the devil," say it's a way to express their religious beliefs and is a message of "a great act of love."

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The church behind the signs
Some living near the Dove World Outreach Center, however, are outraged and disappointed with the sign's message, which has sparked protests and acts of vandalism at the church since it was posted over the weekend.

"It's an act of saying there is only one way, and that is actually what Christianity is about. It is about pointing the people in the right direction, and that right direction is Jesus and only Jesus," said the church's senior pastor, Terry Jones. "We feel the sign is an act of giving the people a chance."

Jones acknowledged not everyone has welcomed the sign.

The church has received about 100 calls in the past 24 hours about the sign, Jones said. One was positive, he said Tuesday.

Since the sign went up, it reportedly has been protested by picketers, successfully torn down in another expression of protest late Sunday, quickly re-erected on Monday, and marred by spray paint before it was repainted and back in place Tuesday morning.

Jones said the acts of vandalism will be reported to police and that there are no plans to remove the sign or change what it says.

"We actually posted the sign because there is a tremendous growth in Islam at this time. It is a violent and oppressive religion and does not have anything to do with the truth of the Bible," Jones said. "We are definitely trying to send the message that Jesus Christ is the only way."

The church's first sign won't be its last, Jones said.

In the future, the message on the sign might change to express the church's beliefs against same-sex marriage or abortion, Jones said. The church also has posted messages on YouTube, he said.

Disapproval for the sign involves some living near the church, who said they were shocked the church would post something they consider to be so divisive.

"When we originally saw it, we were initially very offended. Someone took it down sometime on Sunday, but it was back up on Monday," Aubrey Davies said. "We're sad it is up. It is such a divisive message when it (the sign) could be used to put out a statement of unity."

Laura Roberson, who has lived in the neighborhood for about 11 years, said she has long been curious about the church. When Roberson saw the anti-Islam sign on Monday, she said she was shocked.

"At about 9 p.m., my husband went out for sodas and saw someone had spray-painted over it, but it was brand new and clean again this morning (Tuesday)," Roberson said.

The church was founded in Gainesville in 1986, according to its Web site - www.doveworld.org. Jones said he had been on its board for many years, and when its original founder died, he was asked to take over. Jones, 58, said he came to Gainesville from Cape Girardeau, Mo., at the end of 2001.

Dove World Outreach, which Jones said is a nondenominational, charismatic church, runs the Lisa Jones House, an outreach effort that provides necessities such as furniture, food and clothing.

Jones said, in spite of what the sign says, the church's outreach effort doesn't look at a person's faith when it comes to offering help.

Anyone in need can come and receive free food and clothing, he said.

"We are in no means in that way prejudiced or against them," Jones said.

While the church will continue to make its outreach program available to all people, its message emphasizing the Bible and a belief in Jesus Christ remains firm, he said.

"I think every pastor, every Christian pastor in this city, must be in agreement with the message. They might find the message a little bit too direct, but they must be in agreement with the message because the only way is the Bible and Jesus," Jones said.

The president of the Muslim Association of North Central Florida was calm in his response to the church's sign.

Saeed R. Khan is a University of Florida professor and director of the Center for the Study of Lithiasis and Pathological Calcification at the College of Medicine.

"There are a couple of things on this that come to mind, and first there is freedom of speech," Khan said. "People are free to say, but then society has to think about it. When it becomes inflamed, the reaction on both sides can be detrimental to the people that live there. You have to make some kind of balance."

Khan said he was surprised such a sign would have been erected in Gainesville, a place where he has lived for 30 years without feeling oppressed or discriminated against for his beliefs.

"People generally - if they have something to say - they can come and talk to you," Khan said. "People here are maybe more tolerant of people who are different from you."

"Sometimes when you don't know others, it's easy to demonize someone you don't know," Khan said. "I would rather sit down and see what the issues are."

Jones said he's open to talking to others about the sign and its message. People can come to the church's services, he said.

"We are definitely trying to open up dialogue, create interest, create awareness, get people to think," Jones said.[IMG]http://www.islamicity.com/global/images/photo/Islam/bilde__600x416.JPEG" />

Edited by semar - 26 August 2009 at 12:13am