WINONA, Minnesota – A Minnesota church is hosting a fundraising event to help their Muslim neighbors re-open their mosque which was destroyed by fire in 2013.
“We are very thankful for everyone that extended their arms, not just their hands,” Ahmed El-Afandi, trustee of the Islamic center, told WKBT on Friday, August 26.
The Islamic center in Winona got burned down in 2013 to the shock of the peaceful Muslim population.
“It was really really sad to see a beautiful building, so nice, that was all ruined,” said Hamid Quraishi, a religious affairs director with the center.
The aftermath of the fire left members of the Islamic Center wondering how they would be able to move forward.
“I stood there and watched the building burn down, watched the building being torn down, and it was like losing a son or a daughter,” El-Afandi added.
At that time, the city’s First Congregational Church opened its doors to the Center for prayer services.
“The important thing is we come together as a community of faith, regardless of how you call your god,” said Steve Bachler, the church’s council member.
The church opened its doors and allowed a struggling group of people a place to practice their religion.
“We’re all just trying to help each other out, and this is a good opportunity for people to meet Muslims and realize they’re just like them, they have the same kinds of issues,” said Bachler.
Along with the Church’s help, the Islamic Center is also thankful for a Jewish American who offered the first donation to the mosque.
“A Jewish friend, who handed me the first check as a donation,” said El-Afandi.
Coming back to re-build the mosque, the city Muslims have held several fundraising events which were not enough to complete the necessary funding.
Stepping in to offer help, the church will host an event at its Winona location to raise money for renovations for a new building.
“I’m coming from Pakistan and we have never experienced two religions coming together, they helping us and we helping them, everyone has been really really cooperative,” said Waheed Khan, Muslim Students Association’s president.