My Path to World Faith & Love at Home

~ by Frankie Fredericks, Executive Director of World Faith

It was three years ago that I embarked on a journey that would begin to define my life.  I was a Music Business student at New York University, but felt I needed to spend a year abroad to pursue the larger, unanswered questions in my life, like how to live as a Christian who truly wanted to be "in the world but not of the world."

After studies in Greece and Italy, I went to Egypt to explore Christian-Muslim relations through independent research.  Witnessing how mere coexistance and tolerance will never create greater community and understanding, rather than finding answers, I began discovering new questions.  If we only tolerate each other, how can we create a space where religious identity is no longer a source of divisiveness?  

It was in Cyprus, where I worked as a cook (while an illegal immigrant), that resolution came without answer.  While I was there, the Hizbollah/Israeli broke out and I volunteered with the State Department in the Lebanese evacuation.  I discovered: we don't need to have the answers, but if we determine our shared humanity, religious violence can be countered.

Upon returning to New York, the center of my universe, I switched from contemplation to action.  As a small group of students at NYU, we formed World Faith, a student initiative that mobilizes diverse religious students for a community service team.  

Three years later, we have become a non-profit working in five countries.  My passion for the work is renewed with every project and experience that reaffirms the mission to push past "tolerating" the other, growing to understand and love the other.

My journey of interfaith understanding hasn't ended there.  A year and a half ago, I met Medina, an Afghan-Mexican American, who grew up in an interfaith home.  In high school she decided to embrace her mother's faith of Shiia Islam.  We have been together since we met and moved in together earlier this year in the multicultural neighborhood of Astoria, Queens.  Reconciling our faith communities, families, and even ourselves has been trying at times, blurring the lines of religion, culture, and love.  Having found some balance, we are pursuing the possibility of a life together.

Recently as we sat down for dinner as we usually do, I bowed my head to begin praying quietly to myself.  This time, Medina stopped me, and said, "Let's pray together. I've heard them say 'families that pray together stay together.'"  I think we'll find our way. 

Frank Fredericks, a native of Portland, Oregon, is the Executive Director of World Faith, a youth-led interfaith community service organization.  He is President of Conar Records, and works as an Online Marketing Consultant.