RICHMOND — There’s a rickshaw parked at the Virginia Baptist Resource Center, typical of those in South Asia. Don’t look for it out front in one of the reserved parking spots. It’s on display inside in the museum of the Beckett Center for Christian Understanding of Islam.
The Beckett Center is an educational entity that strives to equip Christians to understand the spiritual challenge of Islam, the importance of knowing Muslims who live in their communities and the possibility of establishing productive relationships across cultural and religious identities.
Charles Beckett sits in the “dokan” (store) at the Beckett Center that was built in East Pakistan and shipped to the United States. He hands his wife, Jeanne, an item that would typically have been offered for sale as Julia Killian looks on. (Religious Herald photo)
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The center — which recently relocated to the VBRC in Richmond’s West End — has collections of cultural and religious objects in five display areas: Makkah and Beyond, South Asia, Indonesia, Africa and Qiblah. Each contains one of the Five Pillars of Islam and an explanation, plus a Christian theological or missiological message.
Its research library contains commentaries on the Qur’an. Although not a lending library, it provides a variety of sources from Muslims, Christians and non-Muslims of various backgrounds. Items on display have been collected over 50 years.
Charles A. Beckett made his first trip to the Middle East in 1955. “It was the beginning of my calling to missions with Muslims,” he said. His wife, Jeanne, said her calling to medical missions was confirmed when she was 14 years old.
“So when we were married in 1959, we had two missionary callings — medical and Muslims,” said Beckett. The couple approached the Southern Baptist Convention’s Foreign (now International) Mission Board in 1961 about an assignment that fit both callings and were appointed as missionaries to East Pakistan (which became Bangladesh in 1971).
The vision for the center began shortly thereafter, said Beckett, as he recognized a missional need for Christians with experience in Islamic studies and relationships with Muslims.
When the Becketts returned to the United States in 1993, Charles completed studies to receive a master of arts in Islamic studies and Christian-Muslim relations and the Foundation for Advanced Study and Training was founded. The name was changed to the Beckett Center by its board of directors in 2011.
The rickshaw on display at the Beckett Center is typical of those in South Asia and has a privacy flap celebrating the creation of Bangladesh in 1971. (Religious Herald photo)
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The center welcomes peoples of all denominational backgrounds as well as people of other faiths with the mission of developing a Christian understanding of Islam.
Beckett said he thinks claims that Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the U.S. are overstated but acknowledges that Muslim influence in the country is increasing. While the word “evangelism” is a Christian term, said Beckett, Muslims are committed to proselytizing and presenting Islam as an attractive alternative to Christianity.
Beckett said Virginia’s population has the second highest percentage of Muslims of any American state. He and his wife have toured every county in Virginia and collected demographic data on the Muslim presence, visiting mosques, schools and county courthouses.
“There are many new mosques and with religious freedom that is appropriate,” said Julia Killian, executive director of the Beckett Center. “But we need to be aware of their presence in our communities in order to meet and talk with them and form relationships where we can. Christians need to be in the world interacting with all of God’s people and not just in our churches offering our programs and activities.”
In 2012 the Beckett Center published the first of a series of four studies in “The Spiritual Challenge of Islam Series” to be used by churches to inform their congregants and organize ministries of Islam from a Christian perspective. The first unit in the series, entitled “Beliefs and Doctrines,” compares and contrasts Christianity and Islam.
The Beckett Center is committed to working with churches to equip and inspire Christians to share their faith with Muslims, said Beckett. Its directors and staff members are disciplined in churchmanship, Bible study and prayer, the study of Islam and intentional contacts with Muslims, he said.
“Sometimes people are afraid to get involved with someone from a different culture because it requires them to change. There is a vast cultural difference and they do not know how to respond,” said Beckett. “Some may be fearful because of violent acts that have occurred that are attributed to Muslims.”
“People could know everything about Islam, but if they don’t know the corresponding Christian faith, it doesn’t do them much good,” said Killian. “At the Beckett Center we enrich their Christian faith and help them understand what Muslims believe.”
The World Religions and Global Cultures Center at Campbell University Divinity School in Buies Creek, N.C., offers a partnership program with the Beckett Center to assist individuals and institutions in reaching their goals with regard to other faith traditions. Persons who successfully complete the program receive a teacher-trainer certificate in Islam from the World Religions and Global Cultures Center.
“My wife and I would not have gone to Pakistan if we thought Islam posed no problem to the world. We were compelled by the Holy Spirit to make a difference in educating Christians about the spiritual threat of Islam,” said Beckett.
To schedule a guided tour of the Beckett Center for Christian Understanding of Islam or inquire about classes, educational materials or other resources, contact the center at 804.545.1053 or [email protected].
Barbara Francis ([email protected]) is on the staff of the Religious Herald.