Corona, California | September 30, 2011
During a recent September 11 commemoration, 200 Jewish, Muslim, Catholic, Methodist, Protestant, Lutheran, Evangelical, and Latter-day Saint volunteers gathered together at a local mosque in Corona, California. They came to participate in the second annual “Swords into Plowshares” project sponsored by the Corona-Norco Interfaith Association (CNIA).
“The project had the feeling of a professional sports team working hard in a training camp to get ready for the upcoming season,” said Yousef Barber, member of the Islamic Society of Corona-Norco. “It was hard work, but it was rewarding to see people of a faith different than my own work even harder than I to beautify my local house of worship.”
The volunteers, nearly double that of last year’s event, removed dead sod and weeds from the grounds, dug holes for new trees and flattened an area for a future soccer field.
According to Christine Parker, the Corona stake director of public affairs (DPA), the significance of the project was not in the amount of volunteers in attendance or the landscaping accomplished, but in the interfaith relationships strengthened and formed.
“The main point is that we want people to feel the Spirit and learn that we can all work together to achieve common goals,” said Parker.
Parker, as a stake DPA, sits as a committee chair in the CNIA along with representatives from 10 other local faiths. Her involvement allows her to interface with other congregations and to discuss common goals and efforts to reach them.
“We wanted the association to become more service oriented towards others in a way that would involve people in the community,” said Parker. “My thinking was that I wanted LDS people and others to experience what I was experiencing, love and charity for those outside my faith.”
The success of this year’s project actually stemmed from last year’s inaugural efforts when Parker took the idea of an interfaith service project to her priesthood adviser, who knew of a need to help landscape a Jewish synagogue.
He was concerned about asking stake members to contribute additional service and instead suggested that Parker’s son, Tyler, make the interfaith activity his Eagle Scout project.
The first year’s project involved landscaping around a shared parking lot of a Jewish synagogue and a Methodist chapel. Volunteers gathered donations of food and supplies from local businesses. A local rental company donated a tiller and a trench digger. Members from all the faiths involved brought tools and equipment.
“You don’t know how many people are going to show up,” said Parker. “And then, suddenly, car after car arrived. The Muslims had all banded together and came in droves. They really understood the impact this could make.”
When it came time to plan this year’s project, priesthood leaders gave their full support, even asking members in their congregations to volunteer. Local businesses and congregations of other faiths were also more willing to support the projects as they saw its success, and the momentum keeps growing.
One Corona stake high councilor, Charles Chacon, who attended this past month, came away with a stronger testimony of the importance of interfaith efforts. He considered the highlight of the event the many people he met who were curious about the Church, including the local Imam.
“I think there are a lot of people who want to know about our faith and what we believe in. There are a lot of misconceptions,” said Chacon. “I think these events are important so we can tell people who we are.”
Parker recalls a young Muslim boy who was visiting family in Corona and attended the first year's event. “He was amazed,” she said. “He was serving next to Jewish kids with yarmulkes on. It was profound. The family he was visiting told him, ‘Go back to where you live and do this there.’ It definitely has a ripple effect.”
“The members of the NCIA have a close-knit understanding and acceptance of all faiths,” said Karen Spiegel, a member of the Jewish congregation Beth Shalom, Corona City Council member and former mayor of Corona. “I think fear comes from lack of understanding. If you don’t make an effort to reach out and understand, then you’re going to remain in your own world of fear and prejudice.”
Next year’s Swords into Plowshares project has already been chosen, more congregations have contacted the Corona-Norco Interfaith Association wanting to be part of its efforts, more local businesses have offered sponsorship of future projects, and even school youth groups have committed to help. Through this service to each other, the different faiths of Corona seem more united now than ever before.
These projects would not have happened without the Corona stake DPA magnifying her calling and acting on an opportunity to unite local faiths in a common good. She also understood the importance of working with priesthood leaders and showing them how interfaith efforts can support priesthood goals and objectives.
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