Christians Rock for Muslims

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

An interesting article about evangelicals going to Morocco and putting on a Christian Rock concert. Bet they don't know about the Fez Sacred Music Festival, where people of all faiths join together to sing and praise the Divine in their own way....

Link:http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/10/arts/music/10chri.html?th=&adxnnl=1&emc=th&pagewanted=1&adxnnlx=1115723045-zvt58qqPGkBFtqY7YmQAug

Excerpts:

Evangelical attendees were given written instructions by the organizers not to proselytize, which is illegal in Morocco. In interviews with more than a dozen of the evangelical Christians attending the concert, most stuck closely to that script, speaking instead about "bridging cultures" and "making friends." One, who would give only his first name, Samuel, said that some of his friends had been interrogated by the Moroccan authorities on suspicion of proselytizing. Many of the American Christians at the festival said they were thrilled at the chance to interact with local Muslims.

"To play worship music openly in a Muslim country, this is something that lots of people have been praying for for a long time," said Steve Iliff, a 44-year-old cook from Wisconsin who had traveled to the concert with four other members of his church.

Some Moroccans at the concert, like Mahmoud Zuine, a 21-year-old economics student, enjoyed the music but found the Christian component of the rock concert unsettling. "They know we love this music, so they use this music to pass their message," Mr. Zuine said. "It's like a magic way. It's not direct."

But he doubted that many of the Moroccans understood the lyrics. "I laugh because nobody knows what they are saying," he said.