Lake Travis United Methodist Church hosted an interfaith forum on January 15 after the nearby construction of the Lake Travis Islamic Center burned to the ground on the morning of January 7. 250-300 people attended the forum for a time of prayer and community building. Jewish, Islamic, Christian and secular groups were present.

Rev. Laura Walters of the Presbyterian Church of Lake Travis and Dr. Rehman Siddiqi of the Islamic Center reached out to Rev. Ray Kiser of LTUMC because of the size of their facilities, and asked if a forum could take place. Since then, the Lake Travis communities have been offering their support for the Lake Travis Islamic Center.

“The purpose of the forum was to share concerns for the Islamic Center and the Islamic Center to let the community know more about who they are,” said Rev. Kiser. “It was an opportunity for us to reach out to the larger community to share in fellowship and prayer, as well as make new acquaintances.”

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives have not reached any conclusion about the cause of the fire. Congregants from LTUMC have already started to contribute to the rebuilding of the Islamic Center.

“We continue to pray for peace and stand with each other in solidarity against acts of violence and evil and terror. We continue to offer our hospitality if they so choose to accept that hospitality.”

Click Here to read an article about the interfaith forum from the Austin American Statesman
Click here to watch a video from KXAN