Evangelical Pastor to Host Muslim on Radio Show

April 27, 2007

Author: JOE ORSO

Source: LaCrosse Tribune

http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2007/04/27/news/z03radio27.txt

The Rev. Dave Holt, an Evangelical Christian, will host his first non-Christian guest on his radio show Saturday: Wahhab Khandker, a Muslim.

"Too often there's misunderstanding because we don't talk face to face," said Holt, pastor at First Evangelical Free Church in Onalaska, Wis. "This is an opportunity to hear directly from a Muslim, for Muslims to hear directly from a Christian."

Holt's live call-in show, "Faith on Trial," has aired at 11 a.m. each Saturday on WIZM-AM 1410 for almost two years, with a break during the summer.

But this Saturday won't be the first meeting between the two.

After Sept. 11, 2001, an interfaith group formed in which both Holt and Khandker participated. A couple of years ago, Holt and his family attended an Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan, at Khandker's invitation.

Holt said Khandker's kindness and intelligence about religion compelled him to invite him to be on the show.