Interfaith youth tour draws 300
First eight youths showed up, then another group came and yet another arrived after them until a small Hindu temple in Oklahoma City seemed to be bursting at the seams.
The Rev. Shannon Fleck, executive director of the Oklahoma Conference of Churches, repeatedly told the young people to scoot over or keep moving down as the Nithyanandeshwara Vedic Temple of Oklahoma was filled.
It was a good problem to have.
Fleck said she was thrilled to see about 300 youths and their adult advisers attend the conference of churches' 12th annual Interfaith Youth Tour.
On Sept. 15, the tour included three metro-area houses of worship: the Vedic Temple, Oklahoma City First Church of the Nazarene and the Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City's mosque. Fleck said the turnout was one of the largest she had seen in the last couple of years, and she was particularly impressed that there were 100 people participating in the tour for the first time.
“Especially in this climate ... we need to be the best neighbors that we can be,” she told the crowd that gathered for the tour at OKC First Church, 4400 Northwest Expressway.
The goal of the tour is to help young people gain a better understanding and appreciation for different faith communities. Youths from across the state listened to leaders at the three houses of worship as they explained different facets of their faith tradition.
The presenters at each location drew thoughtful questions and reflections from the crowd.
One girl who said she was Jewish told the Rev. Aaron Bolerjack, executive pastor at OKC First Church, that she was confused about why Christians have the cross as their symbol. At the Vedic Temple, presenter Bhanumati Patel was asked how the Hindu faith community marks the death of a Hindu practitioner. And at the Islamic Society's mosque, Haris Ali, the society's youth director, got numerous responses when he asked if anyone knew the five pillars of Islam.
Fleck seemed to sum up the tour experience when she went live on Facebook to show the large group of participants and explain the event's significance.
“These are the faces of people who are learning about religious diversity and respect,” she said, drawing cheers from the crowd.