“I've been here five years, and I'm just grateful to break down barriers, break down walls, and even within my own faith, look inward,” Spring Interfaith Vice Chair Diane Hunt said. “It has strengthened my faith as I've celebrated other faiths.”
Made up of local volunteers with diverse backgrounds, religions and cultures, Spring Interfaith members join with the common goal of being a part of an organization that fosters unity and education to prevent the prejudice of others.
“I can see that we're in time now when division often makes headlines, and we want to set a vivid example of unity,” Spring Interfaith Treasurer Paulette Moore-Hall said. “I love being here, and I'm praying that we will continue because we have a story to write, and we are writing it every day.”
Through the combination of religions running from Christian to Jewish and Muslim, Spring Interfaith members also collaborate with various local organizations to further strengthen their mission.
Organizations Spring Interfaith has partnered with include Red Nations Rising, Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston and Together We Dine.
Key programs Spring Interfaith is a part of include its annual Thanksgiving service, recurring dialogue dinners and International Peace Day.
During its annual Thanksgiving service, Spring Interfaith Chair Nancy Agafitei said the community is invited to unite in expressing their gratitude. Financial donations received at the service benefit a different organization every year, such as Moving Waters Houston, a nonprofit that provides mobile shower services to those in need.
Meanwhile during its dialogue dinners members of the organization are invited to open their homes for a dinner and open discussion on their religion.
Spring Interfaith also partakes in the International Day of Peace celebrated on Sept. 21 by joining the community to pray with meditative music bringing diverse faiths to worship together, Agafitei said.
Next October, Spring Interfaith will be partaking in the Festival of Faiths in Houston for the first time. During this event attendees can explore ways to cultivate communities and discover different religions through panels and programming performances, Agafitei said.
Looking ahead, Agafitei said Spring Interfaith hopes to encourage young adults who are interested in learning about other faiths to join and keep the organization alive.
“We don't want this to end with us. We want to see the young people take initiative and join us,” Hunt said.
