Hello Joppatowne,

By now, you have probably heard that a community of people who do not currently live here in Joppatowne desire to make our town their home.  This has elicited many reactions, questions, and much confusion from people both inside and outside our neighborhood.  A cacophony of information, true or not, has created a breeding ground for those who wish to sow turmoil, accusations, and discord.  Others have sat by, bewildered by the uproar, not sure how to respond or how to act.  We, Joppatowne Christian Church, think we need to have a conversation.

We recognize the complexity of this topic.  Environmental matters, land disputes, civil rights accusations, even geological concerns have simmered for so long; we continue to head towards a boiling point.  Our church cannot pass judgement on these issues.  At the root of this matter, however, remains a group of people not dissimilar to current residents of our town.  Joppatowne Christian Church wishes to leave legal entanglements to those who have standing in those concerns, and chooses to focus on the rights of the individuals of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community as people of faith in the United States of America, specifically in Joppatowne.  We do not endorse Islam, but we fix our eyes on Jesus Christ who identified “you shall love your neighbor as yourself” as one of the two greatest commandments.  We always strongly support Joppatowne, but cannot condone the attitude that some have shown the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, our potential neighbors.

So we extend an invitation to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and to you Joppatowne.  Let’s end the confusion and misinformation that has gripped us, and instead come together to listen to, to learn about, and to understand our upcoming neighbors.

We hope you’ll join us for this conversation.  If you have any questions leading up to it, please consider using our feedback form or e-mailing our preacher, Adam Shellenbarger at [email protected].  Note that Adam will not be preaching on November 12th.

Who: The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and the Joppatowne community, hosted by Joppatowne Christian Church

What: A conversation about faith and community

Where: 725 Trimble Road, Joppatowne

When: November 13, 2017, 7 PM