Seventh-day Adventists in Euro-Asia recently published a special edition of their official church magazine, Adventistsky Vestnik, devoted to promoting understanding and friendship between Adventists and Muslims.

Entitled “Islam: Points of Contact,” the magazine aims to introduce Adventists to the basic beliefs and customs of Islam while also providing material for church members to share with Muslim acquaintances.

“This is our attempt to start a meaningful dialogue between Muslims and Adventists,” says senior magazine editor Valery Ivanov. “We feel it is especially important for Christians to offer their friendship during the current atmosphere of prejudice against Muslims in many parts of the world. As Adventists, we want to affirm the right of all groups to worship God according to their consciences.”

Articles in the special issue discuss the Koran, the five pillars of Islam, and Muslim beliefs about family, health, and morality.

“Adventists and Muslims have more in common than we realize,” says Ivanov. “In this issue, we wanted to talk about what unites us, rather than what divides us.”

Aleksander Shvarts, regional president of the Adventist Church in central Asia, says he has lived most of his life among Muslims in Kazakhstan.

“Christians first of all need to be sensitive to the Muslim culture,” he says. “They’re very hospitable, especially at home. By accepting their food, you show your friendship. There are many small customs in how things are done, and these are important.”

“Most importantly, Christians need to remember that Muslims and terrorists are not the same thing. Just as Germans and fascists are not the same thing, and Russians and communists are not the same thing. Nobody likes to be misunderstood.”

Ivanov notes that Muslim-Christian relations in most former Soviet nations are currently more peaceful than in many parts of the world. Still, he says, religion plays a significant role in several ongoing wars, including the Armenia-Azerbaijan territorial disputes and the Russian-Chechnyan conflict.

Six of the 12 nations in Euro-Asia are largely Muslim: Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. The others are predominately Christian, although the Muslim population of Russia is said to be 15 to 20 million, or nearly 15 percent of the population. Ukraine and Georgia also have sizable Muslim communities.