Local Muslims Upset Over La Mesa Church Event

SAN DIEGO -- Several Muslim families invited to a service at Skyline Church in La Mesa said they received the insult of their lives, 10News reported.Muslim churchgoer Omar said he expected the sounds of the season at the church, but that is not what he got.Outside an El Cajon market, Omar told 10News he was handed a flyer for an international Christmas party, complete with a magic show. He believed it would be a celebration of the holiday spirit shared by religions.

"There was singing; it was a nice show," Omar said.However, after more than an hour into the Saturday night service, he said the night of fun took a turn. A pastor from a traveling ministry was introduced as a guest speaker. She was an Egyptian who converted to Christianity.Omar said the woman ridiculed the tradition of Muslim women wearing coverings, and then took aim at various sections of the Koran, the Islamic bible.Omar said, "She said, 'This is nonsense.'"Minutes into the woman's speech, the 30 Muslims invited to the service started leaving. In the church's lobby, one Muslim asked if he could present a counterpoint, but was denied, leading to a shouting match with members of the ministry."It goes up loud, very loudly. They were very offended, very enraged," said Omar.Eventually, the group calmed down and left, and vowed to never return to the church."We came here very peaceful to celebrate. We didn't come here to be insulted," said Omar.In a statement, the pastor for the traveling ministry said, "There was no deception. A Christmas celebration at a church implies there will be Christian themes."Skyline Church said it simply provided a location for the ministry and did not know about the speaker.

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