14 May 2025, 10:01Pr Weiers CoetserAberdeen, Aberdeen City, Scotland, United Kingdom
Aberdeen Adventists Explore Ways to Build Friendships and Celebrate Faith with Muslim Neighbours
A groundbreaking summit at the Aberdeen Seventh-day Adventist Church urged members to build bridges with the Muslim community, inspired by Pastor Petras Bahadur’s call to embrace shared faith roots and form genuine relationships.
On Sabbath, April 26, the Aberdeen Seventh-day Adventist Church hosted a groundbreaking summit on Adventist-Muslim relationships, featuring Pastor Petras Bahadur from the Global Centre for Adventist-Muslim Relations. The day was filled with insightful presentations, lively discussions, and a powerful challenge: to pursue meaningful connections with Muslims.
Common Ground, Shared Values
Pastor Bahadur highlighted the deep connections between Adventist and Islamic faith, both claiming to trace their identity through the Abrahamic faith and truth. He explained that since Muslims value devotion to God, and a call to clean and righteous living—this is why Adventists are seen by Muslims generally as faithful People of the Book which gives them the advantage to have a good spiritual relationship too.
A Challenge to Engage
One of the most striking moments came when Pastor Bahadur challenged church members that the Muslim scriptures present the Bible and Jesus in a positive light. He noted that even in heavily Muslim nations, many Christians remain unfamiliar with Islamic teachings—yet the Qur’an itself acknowledges the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament as revealed Scripture. His presentations were so engaging that members—including children—stayed for the entire day. One young participant asked thoughtful questions about interacting with Muslim friends at school, sparking a vibrant discussion on how to build bridges rather than barriers.
A Call to Action
With Islam being one of the fastest-growing religions in the world, Pastor Bahadur emphasised that friendships with Muslims are not just beneficial—they’re essential. By the end of the day, several Aberdeen members expressed a desire to meet regularly, deepen their understanding of Islam, and intentionally connect with the city’s Muslim community, which makes up about 3% of Aberdeen’s population.
This summit wasn’t just about learning—it was about transforming relationships. And for the Aberdeen Adventist Church, it’s only the beginning.
A groundbreaking summit at the Aberdeen Seventh-day Adventist Church urged members to build bridges with the Muslim community, inspired by Pastor Petras Bahadur’s call to embrace shared faith roots and form genuine relationships.
On Sabbath, April 26, the Aberdeen Seventh-day Adventist Church hosted a groundbreaking summit on Adventist-Muslim relationships, featuring Pastor Petras Bahadur from the Global Centre for Adventist-Muslim Relations. The day was filled with insightful presentations, lively discussions, and a powerful challenge: to pursue meaningful connections with Muslims.
Common Ground, Shared Values
Pastor Bahadur highlighted the deep connections between Adventist and Islamic faith, both claiming to trace their identity through the Abrahamic faith and truth. He explained that since Muslims value devotion to God, and a call to clean and righteous living—this is why Adventists are seen by Muslims generally as faithful People of the Book which gives them the advantage to have a good spiritual relationship too.
A Challenge to Engage
One of the most striking moments came when Pastor Bahadur challenged church members that the Muslim scriptures present the Bible and Jesus in a positive light. He noted that even in heavily Muslim nations, many Christians remain unfamiliar with Islamic teachings—yet the Qur’an itself acknowledges the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament as revealed Scripture. His presentations were so engaging that members—including children—stayed for the entire day. One young participant asked thoughtful questions about interacting with Muslim friends at school, sparking a vibrant discussion on how to build bridges rather than barriers.
A Call to Action
With Islam being one of the fastest-growing religions in the world, Pastor Bahadur emphasised that friendships with Muslims are not just beneficial—they’re essential. By the end of the day, several Aberdeen members expressed a desire to meet regularly, deepen their understanding of Islam, and intentionally connect with the city’s Muslim community, which makes up about 3% of Aberdeen’s population.
This summit wasn’t just about learning—it was about transforming relationships. And for the Aberdeen Adventist Church, it’s only the beginning.
