He grew up in a small town but spent a large portion of his life overseas. He enjoys the outdoors, sports and his favorite T.V. shows: 24, Psych and House. He is very cultured and social.
Having worked and served the church in North Africa and Europe, professor of intercultural studies at Liberty University Edward Smither has devoted his life to working among Muslim people groups all over the world. After growing up in the United States and living among Muslims during his years in college at North Carolina State University, Smither spent 10 years overseas where France and two North African countries stole his heart.
While in one North African country, Smither worked with a humanitarian organization serving to improve schools. In another, Smither taught at the university — an environment to serve and show Christ’s love to Muslims. The University of Paris invited him to serve as a Protestant chaplain. Smither ministered daily to Muslims in these three countries.
“After reading Genesis 12:1-3, I became convinced that my life’s purpose was to spread the Gospel among the least-reached peoples of the world,” Smither said. “While this was a general conviction, I developed a specific heart for Muslim peoples, as I had many Muslim friends at N.C. State.”
Hospitality and relationship-building are two key concepts that are extremely important to Muslim people. Smither used these to connect with them.
“As I spent time with Muslims and got into their lives, including taking part in their festivals, my love and burden for them only increased,” Smither said. “So I prayed and sought opportunities to spend my life serving among Muslims.”
Smither’s decision to commit a majority of his life overseas led to a special trip to South Africa during his freshman year at N.C. State. The people he encountered in South Africa had hearts that were devoted to Christ, which impacted him greatly.
For the next four years, he was unable to travel overseas, but his experience in South Africa convicted his heart. He knew that reaching the world for Christ was God’s heart and it immediately became his life’s priority, he said.
“I remember being deeply affected by the poverty such that I told my family I didn’t want anything for Christmas that year,” Smither said.
His greatest love is for Jesus Christ and reaching people around the world for God’s eternal kingdom. In 1998, a second great love entered into his life while he was attending Liberty’s Theological Seminary.
While working in Lynchburg, Smither met his future wife, Shawn, at their local church. Shawn was in the process of applying with a mission’s organization and had an increasing desire to go overseas. Five months after they met, they were united by marriage and they began serving together.
Three darling children now fill the Smither household — Brennan, 7, and Emma, 5, were both born overseas in North Africa. Their youngest child Eve is now 3.
Smither is devoted to being a model for his family. Providing for, protecting and playing with his wife and kids are strong attributes to who he is as a husband and a father, whether in the states or overseas, according to Shawn.
“A great deal of the ministry efforts that we were involved in included our whole family,” Shawn said. “This allows us to be together, enjoy each other and be with others at the same time.”
After spending a decade overseas working among Muslim people groups, he and his family returned to the U.S. where he soon was offered a teaching position at Liberty.
In 2006, Dr. Don Fanning requested that Smither would teach an Introduction to Islam class as part of the undergraduate intercultural studies degree.
In its beginning, a small class of six devoted students sat before him each week eager to learn more about Muslim culture and the religion of Islam. By the second year of the class, it remained as an undergrad course while also adding a graduate/seminary section and on-line version of the class.
“We must see Muslims first as real people — people who want to get married, have a family, get a job and do a good job raising kids…” Smither said. “(We need to) see Muslims ultimately as people who do not know Christ. More than seeing them as Muslims…I see them as people without a Savior.”
Recently, a local mosque opened in Lynchburg. Once hearing the news, Smither immediately sent a personal letter welcoming them to the community and asked to get to know them. Nothing holds him back from reaching out to Muslims all over the world, whether seas away or those in his own back yard.
Visiting this new local mosque and previously making frequent trips to the mosque at Charlottesville, Smither gets to know the Muslim community, establishes relationships and ultimately shares Jesus Christ with them.
Teaching students and equipping them for their futures is something Smither greatly enjoys as a Liberty professor. Even though he cherishes his teaching position, he is open to wherever God would lead his family in the future. North Africa and the Middle East are areas of great sentiment in his heart, which he would love to return to and serve once again.
“As a family, we take it year by year, and we are completely open to God’s leading,” Smither said.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Outside of Classroom Walls
He somberly removed his shoes, leaving his feet bare on the soft carpet, as he entered the doorway to the mosque. Joining his fellow Muslim believers he prepared to begin Friday prayers called Jumah.
New faces sat in metal chairs alongside the prayer room. Dressed in modest attire with shoeless feet, as a sign of respect, this group of Liberty students prepared to observe how Muslims perform their Jumah prayers.
Both Maqsud Ahmad, leader of the mosque and Dr. Edward Smither, professor of the Introduction to Islam course at Liberty University, said they look forward to the frequent visits each semester where both Christians and Muslims have a chance to interact with one another and ask questions.
“We are very encouraged to have built the mosque, especially for Friday prayers,” Ahmad said. “We can offer a place for all Muslims alike to come amidst their busy schedules to say their prayers together.”
Smither said he wanted a first-hand observation of how Islam is lived out for his students. Previously, the class would travel to Charlottesville, Va. to attend prayers at UVA. When the Greater Lynchburg Islamic Association (GLIA) opened one in Lynchburg, a more local opportunity did arise. Immediately welcoming the Muslim mosque to the community, Smither sought to build relationships with them and open a greater door of education for his students to walk through.
“Our approach has been, as a class, to be exposed to Muslims to observe how Friday prayers happen,” Smither said.
As Ahmad and the GLIA have an open-door approach with members of the community, they were eager to have the Liberty group participate in dialogue with the leaders of their mosque. After observing Friday prayers, Ahmad offered a lunch of pizza and soda for the students before their time of discussion.
Once stomachs were full and conversations had begun, the Muslim leaders prepared for a time of discussion with the Liberty students.
Usually about two to three hours elapse before the groups are ready to end their dialogue, Smither said.
“They are very open for discussion. In fact, one of the first times we went they portrayed that life was short and said, ‘let’s not just ask nice questions but be open and honest to ask the important questions,’” Smither said.
The students were able to gather education through their dialogue time. The first-hand experience enabled them to not only learn about Islam but to meet Muslim believers and begin building relationships with them.
“I learned how incredibly relatable the people were. They truly placed incredible value on people and relationships, regardless of religious differences,” senior Marilyn Britt said.
The GLIA enjoys this time with the students to discuss their religion of Islam as well as answering numerous questions.
As this is not a time of debate between religions, but merely discussing religions as a means of education, the GLIA welcomes the students into their mosque. The doors of their mosque are open to everyone, according to Ahmad.
“I learned through my experience at the mosque to ask questions as most of the Muslims here are very educated and intelligent,” junior Chris Biddix said. “God taught me (through this experience) to treat all people as people and to care about them. Sharing life with people is the best way to reach them, as opportunities to share the truth will no doubt arise.”
After a few years of visiting the Lynchburg mosque, Smither and his students have, extended hospitality to the Muslim community to build relationships.
Always looking for ministry opportunities that may arise, Smither and his students continue to visit the mosque multiple times through the semester as a means of education and ministry.
“I think there’s a need for mutual understanding on both sides of the spectrum as there are walls of ignorance, fear and misunderstanding,” Smither said. “A lot is solved over hospitality and through friendship. I think its just the human need for friendship and through that relationship we can freely share the gospel.”
New faces sat in metal chairs alongside the prayer room. Dressed in modest attire with shoeless feet, as a sign of respect, this group of Liberty students prepared to observe how Muslims perform their Jumah prayers.
Both Maqsud Ahmad, leader of the mosque and Dr. Edward Smither, professor of the Introduction to Islam course at Liberty University, said they look forward to the frequent visits each semester where both Christians and Muslims have a chance to interact with one another and ask questions.
“We are very encouraged to have built the mosque, especially for Friday prayers,” Ahmad said. “We can offer a place for all Muslims alike to come amidst their busy schedules to say their prayers together.”
Smither said he wanted a first-hand observation of how Islam is lived out for his students. Previously, the class would travel to Charlottesville, Va. to attend prayers at UVA. When the Greater Lynchburg Islamic Association (GLIA) opened one in Lynchburg, a more local opportunity did arise. Immediately welcoming the Muslim mosque to the community, Smither sought to build relationships with them and open a greater door of education for his students to walk through.
“Our approach has been, as a class, to be exposed to Muslims to observe how Friday prayers happen,” Smither said.
As Ahmad and the GLIA have an open-door approach with members of the community, they were eager to have the Liberty group participate in dialogue with the leaders of their mosque. After observing Friday prayers, Ahmad offered a lunch of pizza and soda for the students before their time of discussion.
Once stomachs were full and conversations had begun, the Muslim leaders prepared for a time of discussion with the Liberty students.
Usually about two to three hours elapse before the groups are ready to end their dialogue, Smither said.
“They are very open for discussion. In fact, one of the first times we went they portrayed that life was short and said, ‘let’s not just ask nice questions but be open and honest to ask the important questions,’” Smither said.
The students were able to gather education through their dialogue time. The first-hand experience enabled them to not only learn about Islam but to meet Muslim believers and begin building relationships with them.
“I learned how incredibly relatable the people were. They truly placed incredible value on people and relationships, regardless of religious differences,” senior Marilyn Britt said.
The GLIA enjoys this time with the students to discuss their religion of Islam as well as answering numerous questions.
As this is not a time of debate between religions, but merely discussing religions as a means of education, the GLIA welcomes the students into their mosque. The doors of their mosque are open to everyone, according to Ahmad.
“I learned through my experience at the mosque to ask questions as most of the Muslims here are very educated and intelligent,” junior Chris Biddix said. “God taught me (through this experience) to treat all people as people and to care about them. Sharing life with people is the best way to reach them, as opportunities to share the truth will no doubt arise.”
After a few years of visiting the Lynchburg mosque, Smither and his students have, extended hospitality to the Muslim community to build relationships.
Always looking for ministry opportunities that may arise, Smither and his students continue to visit the mosque multiple times through the semester as a means of education and ministry.
“I think there’s a need for mutual understanding on both sides of the spectrum as there are walls of ignorance, fear and misunderstanding,” Smither said. “A lot is solved over hospitality and through friendship. I think its just the human need for friendship and through that relationship we can freely share the gospel.”
Forging a New Community Relationship
Two men call Lynchburg their home community — one a Christian and one a Muslim. In a city full of churches, a community of Muslims began a mosque. Going beyond the boundaries of two very different religions, both men formed a strong and accepting relationship.
Lynchburg’s first mosque, located off of Airport Road near Campbell County, opened in 2008 and is a home of worship to over 70 families. This worship center for Muslims is part of the Greater Lynchburg Islamic Association, which was founded in 2006.
Beginning with nearly a half dozen Muslim families, members of the GLIA realized they were in dire need to provide a place of prayer for these faithful followers. Now 25 to 30 families regularly attend Friday prayers.
“We have children that we need to teach our faith to,” President of the GLIA Maqsud Ahmad said. “We need to teach our children not only on Sundays, but we need to show them the reciting of the Qur’an and the whole of Islam.”
Lynchburg is a city swarming with such places of worship for all religions. Dr. Edward Smither, professor of intercultural studies at Liberty University, is a Christian whose belief system is rooted in biblical principles. The command in Matthew 28:18-20, which commands all Christians to tells others about Jesus Christ, is one to which Smither holds tightly. That passage is commonly referred to as the Great Commission.
Reaching out to the Muslim community in Lynchburg is a passion of Smither’s. When Smither learned of the mosque, he immediately sent a personalized letter to Ahmad and the GLIA, welcoming them. His extension of friendship paved the way for acceptance.
“When I first heard about the mosque in Lynchburg I was concerned about how they would be received,” Smither said. “Having lived in North Africa and loving Muslims, I wanted one of the first things they heard to be welcoming. So I wrote a note telling them I was thankful to God they were in the community.”
Receiving a positive response from the Lynchburg community as a whole, including other religious communities, was encouraging to Ahmad. Building relationships is important to the GLIA as they keep open doors to everyone, offering many opportunities to connect with local churches and synagogues for dialogue about their differing religions.
“We are very open to the community and with the other religions. All faiths should come together to make acquaintances and to learn and share problems together,” Ahmad said. “This is the main idea with all three major religions (Christianity, Judaism and Islam) — that we fellowship together, always in peace.”
The mosque serves as a place for any Muslim to fellowship and remain faithful to their prayers to Allah in the midst of their busy schedules.
GLIA decided to create this mosque to have a place to practice their beliefs collectively. This was most important for the Jumah prayers (Friday prayers) and the Isha (the last evening prayer of the day). Having five prayer times per day, the congregation strives to join others at the mosque specifically for these prayers, Ahmad said.
“A mosque is just like the church — families come together in fellowship for prayers,” Ahmad said.
Smither uses this time as an opportunity to meet other Muslims in the area and to observe how they practice their own religion. As a professor of Introduction to Islam, Smither also works with Ahmad to present an opportunity for his students to attend Friday prayers once in the semester. The purpose of this field trip is to observe and continue their education through first-hand experience.
“In seeking to make disciples of all nations, it is imperative that we understand the worldview and beliefs of those whom God has called us to reach,” Smither said. “This involves moving toward them, building friendship and trust, and learning first-hand what they believe.”
Lynchburg’s first mosque, located off of Airport Road near Campbell County, opened in 2008 and is a home of worship to over 70 families. This worship center for Muslims is part of the Greater Lynchburg Islamic Association, which was founded in 2006.
Beginning with nearly a half dozen Muslim families, members of the GLIA realized they were in dire need to provide a place of prayer for these faithful followers. Now 25 to 30 families regularly attend Friday prayers.
“We have children that we need to teach our faith to,” President of the GLIA Maqsud Ahmad said. “We need to teach our children not only on Sundays, but we need to show them the reciting of the Qur’an and the whole of Islam.”
Lynchburg is a city swarming with such places of worship for all religions. Dr. Edward Smither, professor of intercultural studies at Liberty University, is a Christian whose belief system is rooted in biblical principles. The command in Matthew 28:18-20, which commands all Christians to tells others about Jesus Christ, is one to which Smither holds tightly. That passage is commonly referred to as the Great Commission.
Reaching out to the Muslim community in Lynchburg is a passion of Smither’s. When Smither learned of the mosque, he immediately sent a personalized letter to Ahmad and the GLIA, welcoming them. His extension of friendship paved the way for acceptance.
“When I first heard about the mosque in Lynchburg I was concerned about how they would be received,” Smither said. “Having lived in North Africa and loving Muslims, I wanted one of the first things they heard to be welcoming. So I wrote a note telling them I was thankful to God they were in the community.”
Receiving a positive response from the Lynchburg community as a whole, including other religious communities, was encouraging to Ahmad. Building relationships is important to the GLIA as they keep open doors to everyone, offering many opportunities to connect with local churches and synagogues for dialogue about their differing religions.
“We are very open to the community and with the other religions. All faiths should come together to make acquaintances and to learn and share problems together,” Ahmad said. “This is the main idea with all three major religions (Christianity, Judaism and Islam) — that we fellowship together, always in peace.”
The mosque serves as a place for any Muslim to fellowship and remain faithful to their prayers to Allah in the midst of their busy schedules.
GLIA decided to create this mosque to have a place to practice their beliefs collectively. This was most important for the Jumah prayers (Friday prayers) and the Isha (the last evening prayer of the day). Having five prayer times per day, the congregation strives to join others at the mosque specifically for these prayers, Ahmad said.
“A mosque is just like the church — families come together in fellowship for prayers,” Ahmad said.
Smither uses this time as an opportunity to meet other Muslims in the area and to observe how they practice their own religion. As a professor of Introduction to Islam, Smither also works with Ahmad to present an opportunity for his students to attend Friday prayers once in the semester. The purpose of this field trip is to observe and continue their education through first-hand experience.
“In seeking to make disciples of all nations, it is imperative that we understand the worldview and beliefs of those whom God has called us to reach,” Smither said. “This involves moving toward them, building friendship and trust, and learning first-hand what they believe.”
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