FORMER PASTOR CONVERTS TO ISLAM
Shaun King, a well-known activist and former Christian pastor, recently announced his conversion to Islam following his experiences with the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Reflecting on the past six months of suffering and trauma in Gaza, King expressed, “It has touched me in the most profound ways to see people right now in the most dangerous, traumatic place on the planet still be able to sometimes look at nothing but rubble and the remains of their family, and still see meaning and purpose in life.”
In a video posted on Facebook, King and his wife Rai were seen reciting the shahadah, the Islamic declaration of faith, at a mosque in Dallas, Texas, under the guidance of Palestinian-American imam Omar Suleiman. King shared that his decision to embrace Islam was influenced not only by his experiences in Gaza but also by his admiration for the legacy of Malcolm X and his close relationships with Muslim friends.
Previously serving as a pastor at Total Grace Christian Church in DeKalb County, Georgia, King later founded Courageous Church in Atlanta in 2008. Known as “The Facebook Pastor” for his use of social media to attract new members, King also utilized online platforms to advocate for social justice causes. Following his resignation from Courageous Church in 2012 due to personal reasons, King continued his activism through social media, writing extensively on issues such as civil rights, race relations, and police misconduct.
