GainesvilleMoms.com

Hi Gainesville Moms,

my name is Amy Ingram and I am a member of Dove World Outreach Center.
Our church posted a sign this last Sunday stating "Islam is of the Devil". It was on the news on TV20 and on the first page of the GainesvilleSun website.
Here is the link:
Link

TV20 called it a "Hate Sign". Since we had several people demonstrating against the sign today, I guess lots of people agree.
I totally disagree. Being a new mom and a born again Christian I want my son to grow up with true Christianity. Not just some watered down, humanistic version of the Bible, but the truth. Every true Christian who believes in the Bible should also believe in John 14:5-7 "Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father but through Him!"
Muslims who believe in Mohammed and Allah are not saved. That should shock us and make us reach out to them and preach the word of God. Islam is of the devil. Thousands of people, many of them Christians, are converting to Islam and are being led astray. We cannot be afraid to speak the truth, even if it offends people. Only the truth can set us free. Pretending Islam is great is simply not right as a true Christian.

Since the mainstream media mainly talks positive about Islam you have to search for the truth about Islam, but its out there.
One recommended website is: Link.

I challenge moms in Gainesville to be bold and speak the truth!
Our children wont want to be Christians when they grow up, if they see that we don't even really believe in the Word of God and act upon it.

I look forward to your response!

God Bless,
Amy

Wow, I'm not really sure how to respond to this. I am offended. I am outraged. I am very uncomfortable with the message that you're sending on this forum. This IS a message of hate, and I am saddened by this act in what I generally consider to be a very tolerant town. I know that you will not likely reconsider your opinions on this matter, but I hope that others will not accept the intolerance for others that you show here.

-Drew

amyingrammom, I quote you, " We cannot be afraid to speak the truth, even if it offends people."

Now - I will give you some truth - so hold on to yourself and try not to be offended. I'm taking up your challenge to be bold and speak the truth.

You have not been a member of our online community. You joined two days ago in order to spread your hate. I do not like that you joined our friendly and supportive forum to spew your hateful message. Go away. This forum is not the place for this. Take it somewhere else. Find the proper place for it. It is not here. Stop trying to hijack our forum.

To all members: Sorry if this is too harsh. I've never posted a negative message before. But I just am so offended that someone would sign up for our community just to pursue this agenda. This is not someone who came to the community for the same reasons we did. This is someone who wants to hijack and change the nature of our forum. I never thought I would be pushed and angered to such a level. I apologize to you all for flying off the handle.

To the newly found again Christian: Your church needs to take down the sign. You can preach of your faith to others. You preach your faith in a manner showing respect of others. Use some tact.

The Qur'an is the teaching of Islam. Have you ever study any of these teachings? Do you know what it says?

The Qur'an teaches them that all human life is sacred unless in time of war. Which the bible says the same, not in so many words, but the same still. God tells us to spread his word and show our brothers, no matter how different they may be, the love and warmth he brings with his word.

I agree with the previous responders...you have not been in this sight long enough to have a true meaning to any of us other than you joined to spread your hate for part of the world around you. I am a Christian Woman, God teaches me to love mankind for all of what it is. We are made in his image, not in his divinity. We all have to find our way and be judged in the end. When you stand before he and his son, Jesus and he asks you why chose to hate your brothers/sisters...how will you answer him? How will you stand before our savior and explain the message of hate you helped to spread.

Good luck to you on your path. May God shed his light upon you and your family. May God forgive you of your sin and the sin of your Church.

I agree with the other posters here. I disagree with any form of intolerance, in the name of religion or otherwise. This will not be a message I plan to teach my children. We are studying all religions and respect them all for what they are.

I am Sickened by this posting and the sign.
I agree with the other *members posts and Jensen thank you, in no way am I, as a member appauled at what you have said, I applaud it.

As a Christian, you are to be like Jesus, Jesus would never instill fear into a community like this. If your church really wanted to open communication with other religions why didn't your pastor just visit those other places and invite those others to your facility? Was it really necessary to voice out something so hateful? From my studies it doesn't sound like your preacher has any knowledge of Islam, he is only telling you what is made to be stereotypical and wrong.
Your church is wrong in what it did and what it is doing to our community.
May God Bless you Amy and I hope God reveals to you a kinder way to spread your message.
These actions are not true Christian and I hope that the other moms on this site who may be of another Faith are not threatened by this church's actions. I am positive the majority of this city is in disagreement with the sign.

I am upset that Amy's post here has really bummed me out. I am in agreement with Jensen, and I really don't like our site being used for propaganda and agendas.

Amy, I think the sign your "church" has put up is wrong and hateful. It is full of bigotry and racism. I'm saddened that such disrespectful attitudes exist in our town. I'd like to think we are more educated than that.

Still, I believe in free speech. You guys may have a right to put up your sign. But, the town has a right to protest in response. It is heartening to see that people have come together to protest, hold vigils and put up signs of their own. I'm just so saddened that our Muslim neighbors must feel so unwelcome here.

Please take your hate mongering elsewhere.

Amy, this world is made up of extremely diverse people. I'm trying to raise my children to beleive strongly in the things that motivate them, but appreciate and respect what others beleive. Your "church" is preaching and teaching that there is only ONE way of living, beleiving and praising God. This is basically religious "fanaticism". Please do not post this crap on this awesome site again. We are all Moms (and Dads) just trying to share ideas with each other about raising our kids. Sell crazy somewhere else.

[COLOR:RED]I'm just so saddened that our Muslim neighbors must feel so unwelcome here.[/COLOR:RED]

I agree wholeheartedly.

What about the children???

Have you even considered how this display of hatred makes them feel? Have you considered how this hate being tolerated will affect the children?

Did you bother to think that this sign of hate will be a justification for the kids who live there to tease and bully our neighborhood children who happen to be muslim?

The sign must come down. Our neighborhood is a diverse neighborhood with many cultures. We all get along wonderfully and live in peace with one another. The children accept each other no matter their cultural or religious differences and that is a wonderful thing. They have friendships with each other and play together, go to each other's houses, and ride the school busses together ...

Please, take down the hate sign before the hatred spreads to our children and before an innocent child gets hurt.

Our neighborhood is a neighborhood of love and peace and acceptance ... not hate and intolerance.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Athena1FL,

Let's face it, that sign and your message is meant for shock value and is meant to scare people in to religion.

I would turn Muslim or Islam way before I'd ever consider swallowing the beliefs of your church. I cannot believe that a group of people takes it upon themselves to deem others unworthy of God or Heaven. I seem to remember a saying, pot calling a kettle black...

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Casmly,

I would like to post directly to the originator of this post.

You say you wish your children to grow in a completely Christian world. Please remember the following facts:

The bible was originally written in Ancient Aramaic, thus said I will give you a secular example of translation. we are all parents and therefore are familiar with Grimm's Fairy Tales, why do I bring this up, it is for Cinderella, do you research while the idea of a Glass Slipper is endearing, it was not originally written that way, based on the climate and region the story was based, she wore a beautiful Fur Slipper and while that doesn't have the appeal of a Glass one, note that when stories were told and then scribed into other languages that some things were changed or lost in translation. The bible read today is not the same text that was originally written and has suffered the same fate of translation.

I wish my children to grow knowing to respect all people regardless of race, RELIGION, or creed.

Finally as a child I was often told by my father his favorite line of scripture: "Let ye who hath not sinned be the first to cast the stone" In casting that stone you are indeed committing a sin and are no better than the person you've stoned. It is clearly written we are not to judge for it is not our job. We all must answer to our maker at our time of judgement regardless of what you believe. Christians are also taught all sins are equal save one, Blasphamy, it is the only non-forgivable sin and in such I know several so-called Christians who have damned themselves long ago.

I agree with several of the other posters, this is a forum for community, peace, nuture and common thought, not to spread hate and prejudice because you believe what others believe are wrong, it is not your right to judge and perhaps you should re-read your commandments and scripture or go to another Church and meet with their pastor/reverend/deacon and ask their interpretation before you stand behind such an act.

It was very disappointing to read about yesterday, and the fact it still stands is even more disconcerting

I wish my children to grow in a much more tollerant world

This is definitely a touchy subject. I personally do not believe in the practices of the Islam religion. However, my Savior Jesus Christ, the Jesus I know and believe in would not encourage hateful and hurtful things towards anyone. We are to love one another, as Christ Jesus loves us. That doesn't mean that we have to believe in everybody elses beliefs or be tolerant of them, but it does mean without a shadow of a doubt to show kindness and love towards everyone.
My husband and I are trying to get pregnant, so right now I do not have children. But we have thought about how we would like to raise our children and we will raise them in a Christian home with strong Biblical beliefs. But we will also raise them to be kind, slow to speak, and slow to wrath and to show everyone the love of Christ.

Jesus loved everyone, including sinners and non-believers. I'm not sure why Christians can't do the same and they spew malice in His name. I bet He's rolling over in his grave.

Also, don't forget "Judge not, lest ye be judged." Matthew 7:1 if anyone needs a refresher.

Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke [reason with] thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.
Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord.
-- Leviticus 19: 17-18 (KJV)

Its amazing how such a loving person is used to spread so much hate in the world

This message has been edited. Last edited by: EcoMom,

I am in total agreement with everyone else on this post. Religon is one of those things you dont talk about because there are so many options and everyone seems to think that know what is going on. I have my beliefs and faith that what I believe and how I am as a person is what I need to do for my God. I am not perfect and nor is anyone else. If there is a God and he has made us..then I believe is is the only perfect one. I want my child to grow up with values, and to not judge others. Never shun anothers belief, for all we know there's might be the "correct" religion. Live your own life as you see fit, but do not post your hate for others on here, this is not the place for it and you should keep it in your church.