MapleCreek chaplain fosters interfaith understanding and friendship

Before she became the director of pastoral care for this senior living community in southeast Grand Rapids, Michigan, ordained Lutheran pastor Rev. Rebecca Ebb-Speese was not very familiar with the  diversity of faiths of people across Michigan. Things changed when she came to MapleCreek to be the chaplain to a resident population that is primarily Christian Reformed. Among her fellow staff members she discovered wonderful immigrants and refugees who profess the Islamic faith.

Over time, Pastor Becky saw the need to foster understanding and respect toward all people as God's creations. She has become intentional about promoting familiarity with one another's religious traditions and knitting together a warm and inviting interfaith community at MapleCreek. 

In May 2011, Pastor Becky was interviewed about this by David Moore, News Reporter and "NPR Morning Edition" Local Host on WGVU Radio, the local public radio station owned and operated by Grand Valley State University. The short interview pieces aired Thursday evening and Friday morning, May 26-27. 

You can listen to (and download) this interview with Pastor Becky in its entirety:  http://www.lssm.org/LSSM/Page.aspx?pid=746