What is “The Call” Really About?

I heard a commercial for The Call on my way home a few days ago.  I wasn’t paying attention but I caught the end of it and wasn’t really sure what was going on, only that it was some call to prayer.  Over the last few days, I have heard much more about this event and decided to look into it a bit further to figure out what is really going on.  So, here’s a little background.  It takes place in Detroit at Ford Field today, 11/11 and is a 24-hour event.  The oft-cited purpose for the event is a 24-hour prayer to lift Detroit out of its darkness and that people will “gather to this city that has become a microcosm of our national crisis — economic collapse, racial tension, the rising tide of the Islamic movement, and the shedding of innocent blood of our children in the streets and our unborn.”

Obviously, the “rising tide of Islamic movement” part has put many Muslims in Michigan on alert (since removed from their website). However, the leaders of the event claim that it is open to all religions and is not anti-Islamic. Instead, it is anti-extremist and anti-terrorist.  The Dearborn Patch did a great article about this and one of the comments included multiple links to places so that people can decide for themselves what the real intention of this event is.  I have read through these links and wanted to share with you what I have found.

First of all, regardless of what you may think their position is on Islam, the website boasts an “anti-abortion” (I say anti-choice) agenda and seems to claim some pride in George W. Bush being elected president after they held a similar prayer event surrounding the 2000 election. That should pretty much inform you on my reaction as I began reading more. In addition, the way they define Detroit has put me on a bit of the defensive.  They claim it is the “place where they say there is no hope” and that through this event God will ” forgive our national guilt.” It’s as if they are blaming Detroit and Michigan for the nation’s ills, and will ride in on their white horse of prayer to save the day.  I don’t really buy it.

However, I try to keep an open mind.  It’s entirely possible for people to have this as their agenda to put that aside and truly create a space where others can freely worship, in their own style, and discuss their opinions freely – even disagree. And, maybe some good will come out of people gathering to focus on how to help in Detroit.

This took me into further research on the person behind this organization and event, Lou Engle. This link shows video of Engle discussing The Call in Detroit as an opportunity to “convert Muslims.”  It also talks about a similar event held in San Diego in 2008 where Engle claims they “transformed” hundreds of thousands of gay and lesbian men and women.  In fact, in 2010, he even traveled to Uganda to promote an anti-gay bill and encouraged people to become “God’s Avengers of Blood” to stop the “homosexual agenda” in that country.  We know of the horror and human rights atrocities that have been committed in Uganda toward gay people.  If you don’t, this is just the tip of the iceberg.  This article contains other links and information which alleges that Engle may have attempted to mask his true intention for this event in order to convince local churches and organizations to participate. In addition, here, local pastors have condemned Lou Engle and his event, but not the local leaders because they have been “tricked into believing this was a nice, goody-goody event and we’re going to sing kumbaya, and that’s really not what the situation is.”

In addition, Jerry Boykin, another lead planner for the event, is reported as saying that Islam should not be protected under the 1st Amendment and it should be illegal to build mosques in the US.  He is another strategic planner for the event in Detroit, today.

Knowing who is behind this event and the ideology of hate that drives him and the other leaders, makes it clear to me that The Call in Detroit is not at all what it seems. I am sure many people who attend will do so because they believe in the power of prayer and innocently want to join their voice and work toward a better future.  I hope they do their research, read a few of the articles, and choose to pray somewhere else.  I am concerned this event will either overtly or implicitly inculcate attendees with hate messages and encourage them to discriminate against neighbors, preaching intolerance over brotherhood.  Hopefully, the people of Southeast Michigan will see through this message and we can get on to the positive and productive efforts we have already begun, together.

What are your thoughts? Have you gone to the event? Were you thinking of going but changed your mind? Have you heard any other information that can inform the decision better?