By Loretta Fulton

Meet Akram Idriss, an Interfaith America Fellow at Abilene Christian University, at a lunch meeting of the Abilene Interfaith Council on March 20.

The public is invited to hear Idriss speak on “Next Gen Interfaith” at 11:45 a.m. Friday, March 20, at First Central Presbyterian Church, 400 Orange St. Bring your own lunch to the free meeting. Idriss is a computer science major at ACU. Interfaith America describes its Fellowships as, “A cohort organized for a period of focused learning and/or action” and is awarded based on an extensive application process. The following invitation is from the Abilene Interfaith Council:

“Come hear about his work on deepening interfaith leadership skills and how the principles he’s learned in his fellowship can impact all of us. Bring a lunch and join us!”

Akram Idriss

The founder and president of Interfaith America, Eboo Patel, spoke to students at McMurry University in October 2017, bringing a message of, “God is not fear; God is love.”

The following bio is from the Interfaith America website, interfaithamerica.org:

“Eboo Patel is a civic leader, speaker, and author advancing the notion that diversity is a treasure and cooperation across our difference is the key for everybody to thrive. Recognized as “one of America’s best leaders” by U.S. News and World Report, he is the Founder and President of Interfaith America, the nation’s leading interfaith organization.

Under Eboo’s leadership, Interfaith America has grown into a $20 million-per-year organization that partners with governments, universities, businesses, and civic organizations to transform faith into a bridge of cooperation rather than a barrier of division.

Eboo Patel, founder and president of Interfaith America

Eboo’s impact extends to serving on President Obama’s Inaugural Faith Council, delivering hundreds of keynote addresses, and authoring five influential books, including We Need to Build: Field Notes for Diverse Democracy. A Rhodes Scholar and Ashoka Fellow, Eboo earned a doctorate in the sociology of religion from Oxford University.”

Loretta Fulton is creator and editor of Spirit of Abilene