Ramadan-fasting Pastor

CAIRO — Everyday before sunrise, American pastor Ben Ries wakes up to eat before starting his Ramadan fast.

"It raises your awareness about hunger in the world," Ries, 30, told The Bellingham Herald on Monday, August 31.

Ries, the pastor of the Sterling Drive Church of Christ in Bellingham, has decided to join Muslims in fasting the holy month of Ramadan to get a better knowledge of Islam.

He says fasting can help him become a better Christian, pastor, husband, father, and member of a diverse world often fractured along religious lines.

"Part of my reflection is, 'Who am I in this world?'" said Ries, who became pastor of his small Bellingham church two years ago.

"I'm not so narcissistic to think I have everything figured out."

Ramadan is the holiest month in the Muslim calendar.

In Ramadan, adult Muslims, save the sick and those traveling, abstain from food, drink, smoking and sex between dawn and sunset.

Muslims dedicate their time during the holy fasting month to become closer to Allah through prayer, self-restraint and good deeds.

"I'm not a big breakfast person, so it's been difficult for me," Ries said.

Ground-breaking

With little knowledge about Islam, the pastor searched for someone to help him observe the holy fasting month.

With the help of Google, he found Monem Salam, the president of Saturna Brokerage Services, a subsidiary of Saturna Capital Corp., in Bellingham.

The American pastor immediately e-mailed the Muslim leader, asking him to be his mentor during the dawn-to-dusk fasting month.

"It seemed like it could be a good partnership," Salam said.

"We could both learn from each other."

On family dinners, the two started to meet before Ramadan to talk about fasting and Ramadan.

"He's breaking some ground here," asserts Salam.

Ries, who also started reading the Noble Qur’an, is keeping a journal about his reflections and experiences during Ramadan.

He hopes his experience of fasting Ramadan would be a healing step towards a better world.

"As a Christian, I believe this world is broken," he said. "It's not as it's supposed to be."

Salam hopes that sharing Ries’s experience with other church members and non-Muslims would have a better impact on understanding Islam.

"Hopefully, in the future, we'll have more individuals doing it.�