How Campus Ministries Can Build Friendships with Muslim Students—Starting with Dinner
BY NF STUDIO
You don’t have to go overseas to meet Muslims—they’re right here on American college campuses. For a decade, Neighborly Faith has helped Christian campus ministries like Cru and InterVarsity discover that sharing a meal can be one of the most practical (and frankly, Biblical) ways to build connections with people of other beliefs.
When Christians and Muslim students meet for dinner, they tend to realize that faith conversations and friendships come easy. As two groups who bring unique beliefs to increasingly secular college campuses, we often hear that these dinners are refreshing even in the face of deep differences. If your campus ministry is looking for a low-lift, low-pressure way to do outreach on campus – especially if it’s been a while – dinner with Muslim students is a great option. Here, we will lay out some of the basic steps to making it happen.
Reach Out
Most universities have a Muslim Student Association (MSA)—a space where Muslim students find community and belonging, much like Christian ministries do. Google “Muslim Student Association at [your campus]” and send them a message on Instagram, where they are most likely to respond. You can also show up at the beginning of one of their gatherings to introduce yourself – they will greet you warmly. If you aren’t having any luck finding an MSA on campus, see if any of your members know a Muslim student, and ask that student to inquire about where Muslim students are gathering.
After you have established a connection with the MSA (or comparable group) on your campus, ask one of their student leaders if they would be interested in planning a dinner together. Keep it casual and genuine. “We want to build relationships with Muslim students on campus, and we’d love to plan a dinner so that we can meet one another and have casual conversation.” Offer to purchase the food (pizza is fine!) and reserve a neutral space on campus. That’s it. It is totally okay to start small – having a simple dinner under your belt can lead to bigger and more creative ideas in the future.
In the unlikely event that an MSA member expresses concern about Christians sharing their faith aggressively, don’t panic or downplay your faith. Reframe the invitation by saying that your group loves talking about what you believe in a respectful way—and that you’d love to learn more about their beliefs too. Muslims are usually eager to listen when they feel listened to in return.
When Christians and Muslim students meet for dinner, they tend to realize that faith conversations and friendships come easy.
Keep It Real
The key to a meaningful dinner is authenticity. Don’t overcomplicate the event or try to script every moment. We wouldn’t recommend introducing ground rules for dialogue (these tend to create nervousness about saying the “wrong” thing) or using the dinner to launch an evangelism strategy. To build trust, you need to show up as you are.
Of course you won’t share the Gospel perfectly. You won’t know the answer to every question a Muslim conversation partner has. You will likely get questions you’ve never heard before – this is a good thing! It can spark opportunities to learn more about our own faith. Fears about not showing up perfectly assume that you’ll never get another chance to talk to that Muslim conversation partner again. Hopefully, that isn’t true. We’ve consistently found that once Christians and Muslims get together on campus, they tend to do so again and again.
Expect that conversations will ebb and flow between agreement and disagreement. Some Christians are more comfortable with agreement, while others are more comfortable with disagreement. This is totally normal. The key is that both agreement and disagreement make real relationships worthwhile. Consider Paul’s words to the Athenians in Acts 17. He notices that they are “religious in every way” and curious about spiritual matters, even those they don’t yet know much about. At the same time, he identifies where there are differences between their beliefs and a Christian worldview. He speaks about both – we should do the same.
What matters is sincerity and respect. Be yourself. If it’s your first time talking with a Muslim student, say so! If you feel nervous, say that as well. Transparency builds trust faster than polish ever could.
And if someone asks whether Christians can talk about the Gospel at an event like this, the answer is yes—but do it wisely and with gentleness (Colossians 4:6). Wait for curiosity. When a Muslim student asks questions about your faith, that’s the moment to share. Give them the same opportunity to share what they believe. Mutual openness makes these conversations fruitful.
Expect that conversations will ebb and flow between agreement and disagreement. The key is that both agreement and disagreement make real relationships worthwhile.
Prepare Your Team
Before hosting a dinner, prepare your team spiritually and mentally. Pray together and talk about why this matters. Many Christians have only seen Muslims through sensational news headlines or have been taught to either avoid Muslims or forcefully try to convert them. The most important question to consider is this: How can we expect to reach people we don’t know or have never met?
Remind your team that the dinner isn’t about sparking debate or forcing apologetics—it’s about mutuality and curiosity. Our task isn’t to manufacture conversions, but to build trust and let the light of Christ shine naturally. However, being “nice” isn’t the whole story either. Be real. Muslims respect Christians who are honest about their faith and unafraid to engage in sincere conversation, even if that means making bold truth claims.
Keep the Momentum Going
Dinner is just the beginning. The conversations shouldn’t end once the plates are cleared. Use the momentum from your first gathering as a springboard to something more—a shared meal in the cafeteria, attending each other’s weekly meetings, visiting a local mosque or church, or teaming up for an intramural sport.
If your dinner goes well, consider writing about your experience for Neighborly Faith’s website. We love sharing stories of students who are taking steps like this on their campuses, and we provide an honorarium for those who do.
Here to Help
At Neighborly Faith, we’ve helped hundreds of students and campus ministry staff take these steps—and we’re here to help you too. You don’t need a big budget or a complex plan—just faith, food, and friendship.
If you’re ready to try hosting a dinner with Muslim students on your campus, reach out to Kevin Singer, Director of Neighborly Faith, at kevin@neighborlyfaith.org. We’d love to help you get started.