How a Shared Meal Opened Doors for Honest Faith Conversations

HOW A SHARED MEAL OPENED DOORS FOR HONEST FAITH CONVERSATIONS

BY CAROLINE MOORE

I am a junior at the University of Mississippi studying Arabic and International Studies. Through my studies, I’ve had the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with Muslim students on our campus. This fall, I was able to use those connections to host an event between Cru and the Muslim Student Association.

The goal of this event was to bring together two groups—Muslims and Christians—who rarely have meaningful relationships, and invite them to sit around the table to share their hearts. Ultimately, Cru students desired that the Gospel would be proclaimed and that students from both groups would leave with a fuller picture of who Jesus is and the invitation he offers. From the first prayers to the final conversations, every moment was marked by the Lord’s kindness, provision, and abundant heart for the nations.

Our campus is full of students who know Jesus personally, but it is also home to many who identify as Christians nominally rather than in practice. For non-Christians, this can create a distorted understanding of who Christ truly is. At the same time, many Ole Miss students have little exposure to Muslim peers and instead rely on stereotypes shaped by mainstream media. I believed that my event would create space for students to learn from one another face-to-face.

When I met with the MSA leaders, I had concerns about how the heart of the event would be received, particularly regarding Cru’s involvement and funding. However, they were incredibly open and enthusiastic. They resonated deeply with the vision, having experienced firsthand the harm caused by ignorance and stereotypes. As for the heart of the event, they really appreciated the vision to make it a dinner table discussion, but they were eager to get their students involved, as opposed to just leaders. Though this seemed like a challenge logistically, I knew it would be a gift relationally.

Over sixty students—Muslim and Christian—filled the room. We had undergraduate and doctoral students, international students and Americans, shoulder to shoulder.

In preparing for the event, we were intentional with our questions, knowing they would shape the depth and tone of the evening. Alongside MSA leaders, we developed icebreakers we believed would do that well:

What’s the story of your name?
How do you define community?
What gifts do you bring to the table, and how do you use them in your faith?

We then moved into three main questions:

What’s something you wish more people knew/understood about your faith?
How does each of our traditions understand the role of Jesus, and what shared values do we see across both perspectives?
What is something you respect about the other religion?

These questions allowed Christian students to naturally share the heart of the Gospel—that Jesus is much more than a good man or a prophet, but he is the divine Son of God who came to redeem the world!

As the event began, we had only seen two Muslims arrive. Feeling anxious, I stepped away to pray, asking the Lord to bring even five more Muslim students into Bryant Hall. Within minutes, students began pouring in. We had the room set up for fifty students, but we had to add chairs to accommodate everyone. Eventually, over sixty students—Muslim and Christian—filled the room. We had undergraduate and doctoral students, international students and Americans, all sitting shoulder to shoulder. I couldn’t help but look around in awe at the Lord’s faithfulness. What a gift it is that the Lord of the harvest will always be faithful to answer our prayers!

In the weeks that followed, I was greeted warmly by new Muslim friends across campus. Now, dozens of students know one another—not just from a single event, but through daily life.

Everyone left with stories of the Lord’s guidance. Muslim students asked unexpected questions, and the Gospel was shared naturally and repeatedly across the room. In my own group, we spoke about the assurance and freedom found in Christ—something our Muslim friends were deeply curious about. Every circle felt like a safe, honest space marked by mutual respect.

Having spent time with Muslims abroad and in the U.S., it was especially meaningful to experience these conversations with people I pass every day on campus. Watching students exchange numbers and make plans to meet again was deeply encouraging, reminding me that the Lord is faithful with the little I have to offer. In one of the busiest seasons of my life, the Lord used my tired efforts and imperfect obedience to build a space where his glory was proclaimed—proof that his will always comes to fruition.

In the weeks that followed, I was greeted warmly by new Muslim friends across campus. Now, dozens of students know one another—not just from a single event, but through daily life. This means the glory of God can be displayed on a walk from history class to geology class. Boldness and connections grow through everyday faithfulness, not just in big group gatherings.

The day after the event, I received texts from students in both the Muslim Student Association and Cru. One MSA student said, “This was the most meaningful event I’ve been a part of, and I can’t wait to do it again!” Although we haven’t yet made official plans to meet again, I was so encouraged by their eagerness to continue building relationships. We are hoping to host similar events each semester, and conversations about attending one another’s events have already begun. Every spring, Cru hosts “Cru Crawfish,” where students are invited to eat crawfish and spend time together in community in a staff member’s backyard. Several MSA students asked, months in advance, if they could attend, which was more than we could have ever hoped for! As one Cru student was leaving the event, she told me, “I wish I could do this every day!”

The good news is, we can! On a diverse college campus, cross-cultural and cross-religious relationships don’t have to be one-time events—they can grow and flourish every day.

The day after the event, I received texts from students in both the Muslim Student Association and Cru. One MSA student said, “This was the most meaningful event I’ve been a part of, and I can’t wait to do it again!”

To students or Cru staff hoping to plan similar events, I would offer three simple encouragements:

Pray. Pray boldly—for students, for salvation, for provision, and even for pizza to arrive on time. Prayerful hearts leave little room for anxiety.
Ask. Ask for wisdom, advice, and understanding. Ask Muslim students about their beliefs. Curiosity creates space for the Lord to work!
Believe. Believe that God has a purpose for the event, whether in someone else’s salvation or your own growth in boldness.

As Christians, we know our God is the most loving, kind, and compassionate. We should eagerly seize opportunities to share meals and build relationships with those of other faiths. The more you learn about Islam, the more you will see their need for a father and a friend who loves them unconditionally. The same Lord who rescued us from our brokenness can not only redeem Muslims, but deeply desires to.

Caroline Moore is a student leader in Cru at Ole Miss.