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An American and an Arab pastor have joined forces in a bid to stop religious hatred in a troubled world, reports Dan Wooding, Founder of ASSIST Ministries.

They are Garry Ansdell, senior pastor of Hosanna Christian Fellowship in Bellflower, California, and Ameal Haddad, who are the co-founders of Ambassadors for Peace.

Ansdell, whose church is a Calvary Chapel affiliate, said that he and Haddad set up the organization after 9/11 to help stop the “unbridled religious hatred” that is causing some much destruction around the world.

“We have drafted a ‘Religious Rights Resolution’ because we believe that Christians, Jews, Muslims and Hindus – in fact, everybody -- has the right to share their faith without fear of reprisal and that anybody, from any religion, should be able to openly share their faith and convert if they so choose,” said Ansdell during an interview.

“That’s radical thinking for many and this resolution says, ‘Let’s deal with the truth.’ For instance, Muslims believe that we, as Christians, are infidels and we believe, according to the Bible, that ‘Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life and no one comes to the father but by Him.’

“But this document, which is like the Bill of Rights, talks about freedom of religion so that people from all faiths can talk openly without fear of reprisal.”

I then asked Ameal Haddad if there had been a lot of anger from the various religious communities to the resolution.

He replied, “In April of 2005, Garry and I had the opportunity to visit Cairo, Egypt, and meet with the Grand Imam there. He is the highest authority among the Sunni’s in that country and he went ahead and signed and endorsed the resolution. But after that there was anger in the media simply because they misunderstood the essence of this document. One of the misunderstandings was when we say that everyone has the right to live in peace with his neighbors, they took it as if we were promoting that Israel has the right to exist with the other people also, to live in peace with others.”

When I asked Garry Ansdell how he first got involved with his Arab friend, he replied, “It was a divine meeting because Ameal is from Jordan; but he pastored a church in Canada, where I was born. Then he came down to Bellflower and we both met.

“As pastors, we both had the same heart. We felt that the answer for some of the problems especially 9/11 wasn't an ecumenical answer, but that of real, direct confrontation, with open freedom and dialog. So our friendship developed from there. When 9/11 happened, we met together and talked about the real difficulties of finding a peaceful answer that wasn't mechanical but was spiritual; that really dealt with the root of the issue; and that was a freedom of speech -- a real freedom of religion.”

When Ansdell was asked if it had been hard to get Christians churches behind the plan, he replied, “The first obstacle is for pastors to understand that this not ecumenical; this is about defining the differences between us, defining them in a civil manner where you can communicate with other religions and they can communicate with you their burdens and their passions.

“Then we can look at it from an individual place; not from some Imam or other leader is telling them what to do or telling us what to do. We can sit down together to see what the Bible says and also what the Quran says, and then have an open dialog. Once they understand that, then it works well.”

Ameal Haddad, added, “What we are saying is that everybody should be able to believe what he or she believes. The only thing we focus on is that people should have the right to dialog with each other; to discuss and debate. Everyone has the right, also, to proclaim his or her faith because sometimes we see it as a one sided issue. We often feel that one religion has the right to make converts, to preach, but the others don’t. So, that’s where we stand.”

Garry Ansdell then said, “There are a lot of Muslims that just want to raise their families and they believe that Jihad is a social reform not a militant reform. And even if they don’t, if they sign it, it opens the door for dialog. Even if it’s for a short time in history and before the Lord comes back, we'll take that time, if we can get it.

“We've had individuals from all over the world sign and we have had organizations like one Mosque in Garden Grove, California. Others that are very large organizations have invited us to come speak and share in their mosques. And they have personally signed it.”

Ameal Haddad then spoke about a recent visit the pair made to Syria to share about their peacemaking work with religious leaders of the Middle Eastern country.

“In May of 2009, we had the privilege of meeting with Dr. Imad Mustapha, Ambassador of the Syrian Arab Republic in Washington DC,” he said. “We asked him to help arrange for us to visit Syria to present the concept/resolution of Ambassadors for Peace, to the religious leaders in Syria.

“He was most cordial and facilitating. We were very grateful for his help, and it wasn’t long before we landed in Damascus, the oldest city in the world that has never ceased to exist.

“Our meeting with the Grand Mufti, Dr. Ahmad Bader Eddin Hassoun, was very positive. He showed a rare, deep understanding and acceptance to the concept/resolution of Ambassadors for Peace. He made a number of amazing comments that are reassuring and encouraging focusing on the brotherhood and sanctity of mankind.”

Haddad said that the Grand Mufti told them, “There is one God, one world, one human race and one human civilization. If a house of worship is destroyed in war, the next generation is able to build what is the best and perhaps the most beautiful building, but if a child is killed in war, we cannot bring him back to life.”

Dr. Hassoun, also informed them that his advisor, Mr. Basil Nasr Allah, was a Malecite Christian, who councils him on social issues.

Below is a short excerpts from a speech that Dr. Hassoun made in the European Parliament, on Tuesday, January 15, 2008, where he said:

“The truth is that there is no different civilizations, there is one civilization of man. Civilization does not permit what they call the ‘clash of civilizations’ because they is only one civilization. When it clashes it begets narrow vision, backwardness, ignorance and love for bloodshed.”

He added: “Russia and America have built one civilization in space, and our ancestors, the pharaohs built pyramids that are still bear witness to one human civilization. There is no so-called holy war, is there a religion to civilization? When civilization started on earth there was no Judaism, Christianity nor Islam.

“Let us teach our future generations a language other than the language of war. Let us strive to build instead of walls between Israel and the Palestinians; walls of love and brotherhood. We must establish a state based in the fundamentals of humane governance rather than the religious fanatic, and instead of imposing my religion on you, and I impose your religion on all of us, that brings death on all of us, without one of us is able to convince the other.”

During their meeting, Ansdell and Haddad presented the Mufti with a pocket watch to symbolize that “the time has come for religious freedom, which leads to peaceful coexistence between followers of different religions who live on common ground.”

Also, the Grand Mufti presented them with a plaque with the most beautiful names of Allah.

Haddad then told ANS that they also met with head of the Jewish community in Damascus and Aleppo, Albert Cameo, which he described as “very informative.”

He went onto say, “According to Mr. Albert, the Jewish community is very safe [in Syria], and enjoys the absolute freedom; they operate their own schools, and practice their worship and religious rituals without any pressure or obstacles. Mr. Cameo expressed appreciation to the level of religious freedom they have, and was very supportive of all as stated in the document of Ambassadors for Peace.”

On the Sunday, they met with the Rev. Edward Awabdeh, pastor of the Jesus Light of the World Church in Damascus.

“Rev. Awabdeh expressed his satisfaction and appreciation the freedom of worship and religious security that is practiced in Syria. Pastor Haddad was invited to preach that Sunday,” said Ameal Haddad.

Garry Ansdell and Ameal Haddad have also visited various other Islamic countries, including Morocco, and they are encouraging all people to visit their website (www.am4peace.com) and sign the “Religious Freedom Resolution.”