07/12/2025
On May 4, members of the Children of Abraham Coalition (COAC) visited the Bahá'í House of Worship in Wilmette at the invitation of the Local Spiritual Assembly of Arlington Heights, Illinois. The group consisted of Jews, Christians and Muslims, including children and youth. COAC was founded to build understanding, respect and relationships between Christians, Jews and Muslims of all ages.
The Assembly first connected with the interfaith group in September 2023 at a potluck dinner for peace held by the group. A member of the Assembly met the Catholic priest who is the founder of the group and explained that the Bahá’í Faith is also an Abrahamic religion, as Bahá’u’lláh is a direct descendant of Abraham through His third wife, Keturah. The priest welcomed the Bahá’ís and announced to all attendees that he just learned how the Bahá’í Faith is an Abrahamic religion.
The following month, the Arlington Heights Assembly began holding monthly interfaith prayers for peace at the local public library. The COAC informed its members of the devotional gathering and an ongoing relationship continued to grow. In September 2024, the COAC Board of Directors contacted the Assembly and announced that they were giving the Assembly their annual Children of Abraham Award for maintaining interfaith prayers open to all.
The coalition organizes annual visits to churches, synagogues and mosques so people can learn more about the faiths of others, and requested a tour of the Bahá'í House of Worship. Ron Precht, the Chairman of the Assembly and a regular guide, arranged for and conducted the tour. The COAC has now decided to make it part of their annual places of worship visits and will bring members to the House of Worship every spring.
