SAFA Purchases Richardson Baptist Church for Islamic Education Hub

Salahuddin Future Academy (SAFA) has purchased the former Korean World Mission Baptist Church campus in Richardson to develop an Islamic education center. The organization plans to transform the property into a facility housing a K-12 school, a seminary, and a mosque.

SAFA, which describes itself as a K-12 educational entity, stated its mission involves integrating Quranic and Hadith texts into Common Core standards through a curriculum it calls the "Islamization of Knowledge." The acquisition follows a legal dispute with the previous owners regarding the sale of the property.

According to reports from The Dallas Express, SAFA filed a lawsuit in February alleging that the Baptist church signed a contract in October of the previous year to sell the site for $3.8 million. SAFA claimed it paid $38,000 in earnest money with an expected closing in May.

The church later stated that its pastor misunderstood the document, believing it was a listing agreement rather than a binding sales contract. SAFA sought more than $1 million in damages before the suit was dismissed in April without a ruling on the merits.

The property has been owned by Korean World Mission Baptist Church since 1992. Translations of the church’s website indicate its mission focuses on transforming people into disciples of Jesus and bringing glory to God. Some prayers on the site express a desire for members to love Jesus above all else.

In conjunction with the purchase, Authentic Ilm Mission (AIM) intends to open the Dawah Academy & Seminary on the grounds. AIM describes the institution as America’s first national residential Dawah seminary, offering programs ranging from intensive entry-level courses to a Bachelor’s Degree in Islamic Studies.

A video posted to AIM’s Facebook page featured a speaker noting that the previous church had trained missionaries to evangelize Muslims, but that the organization would now control the site. The phrase "Muslim haters!!" appeared on the screen during this segment.

The acquisition occurs amid broader discussions about Islamic influence in Texas. At a recent open house at a Plano mosque, a speaker stated that Sharia law is already present in the area. Another attendee, who claimed to have lived under Sharia law in Iran, warned visitors about apostasy laws in that country.

Estimates suggest Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the world, with Texas holding one of the largest Muslim populations in the nation, though Muslims comprise approximately 2 percent of the state's total population.

Source: Texas Scorecard.

Sources

https://texasscorecard.com/local/islamic-academy-acquires-richardson-baptist-church-plans-k-12-school-seminary-and-mosque/