Christians in Perth host local Muslims for Ramadan (2017) | ABC News

An Anglican church in Perth’s south hosts the local Muslim community for Ramadan as the two religions sit side-by-side, breaking bread and barriers.
Full story: www.abc.net.au/news/2017-06-1...
Imam Faizel Chothia will often sit in on his good friend Reverend Peter Humphries' Sunday service at St Paul's Anglican Church in Beaconsfield in Perth's south.
The church has been opening its doors to local Muslims as a place to conduct their Friday prayers for almost six years.
This year the church hosted Ramadan on every Friday of the holy month, in what is thought to be the first time in Australia Muslims and Christians spent the sacred time side by side.
The two religious leaders said despite history often painting the two faiths as warring tribes, they were finding commonalities, and also learning to understand their differences.
"I think the best way to make headway when there's lots of misunderstanding is just to break bread, share a meal," Imam Faizel said.
"Because the easiest way to a man's heart - or women's heart for that matter - is through their tummies."
"Somewhere within everybody there is something that we share in common, we're all part of one story," Reverend Humphries said.
"All the ancient writings - the revelation of Christ, the whole lot - points towards a oneness of humanity.
"It's a completely different story toward the us and them that has permeated the world up 'till now."
Members of both communities have embraced the move.
"I'm a very big fan of the work that Father Peter does and I love the fact that him and Faizel have such a beautiful friendship," said Aisha Novakovich, a lawyer and a Muslim.
"I think they demonstrate to the rest of us, and the rest of the world actually, what two people can achieve when they have leadership and vision."
"At the moment the world's trying to pull everybody apart rather than trying to bring them together - and this is a small little sign that it can work," St Paul's parishioner Kim Kemp said.
"We are human beings first, you know, doesn't matter what religion, cast or creed or wherever you come from and what we do," said Nelson Gardiner, who has been at the parish with his wife since 1969.
Toni Piko-Sallie grew up in a Christian family before converting to Islam 20 years ago, and was tentative at first about attending a Sunday service at St Paul's.
"I think we're just now opening up our true values," she said.
"There never needs to be conflict or division simply because you may differ on a few things.
"Our values overlap, I would say 95 per cent of the way, which means we have so much in common and so much to share.
"I've really felt really peaceful and really blessed to be here today."
Imam Faizel has plans to build a Mosque next door to the church, a space he sees more as a place for like-minded individuals to gather and learn, rather than simply a place where Muslims pray.
"A space dedicated to celebrating the richness and the life-giving diversity that is our community … using both Christianity and Islam as a platform," he said.
"This has been a relationship evolving not just between individuals but between communities."
Reverend Humphries will be leaving St Paul's soon, and while there is some trepidation as to who may take over, there is also some faith.
"There's a temptation to stay to see things carry on, but equally there's a trust that this is only a beginning and if it's got a rightness about it, it will unfold," Reverend Humphries said.