First Baptist McKinney’s lead pastor, Sam Holm, is expected to issue an apology Sunday morning following a guest sermon that sparked debate in the congregation. The sermon, delivered by Warren Samuels on October 4, was part of the church’s Revelation series and focused on staying faithful to Scripture while showing love to neighbors of different beliefs.
Sermon Highlights
Samuels cited Revelation 2, warning that the church at Thyatira had tolerated false teaching. He then turned to the local mosque project, describing Islam as a system of political ideas wrapped in religion and stating, “Islam is absolutely totally incompatible with the message of the cross.” He emphasized that this theological objection does not justify violence, adding, “Muslims aren’t our enemy… violence is never the answer.”
While condemning the teachings of Islam, Samuels repeatedly urged congregants to love Muslim neighbors, saying, “You’re going to have to get to the point where you love the Muslim people more than you hate what they teach.” He called for prayer, evangelism, and the conversion of Muslims to Christianity.
Church Response
A letter to Pastor Holm, reviewed by the Dallas Express, praised Samuels’s message as a call to uphold biblical convictions while treating Muslim neighbors with kindness and compassion. The letter expressed concern about reports of an upcoming apology but did not reveal Holm’s intended remarks.
The church’s archive still lists the sermon online, and members can view it through the church’s website. First Baptist McKinney holds Sunday services at 9:15 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. at 1615 W. Louisiana St.
Local Context
The sermon follows recent coverage of a Muslim cleric’s appearance in McKinney urging the spread of Islam, as well as a recall campaign sparked by the city council’s August 4 approval of a mosque site plan. Critics of the mosque have raised concerns about spending, infrastructure, and transparency, while the recall organizers reject labeling the effort as a religious grievance.
As the community navigates these tensions, First Baptist McKinney appears committed to maintaining its biblical stance while encouraging respectful dialogue and prayerful engagement with its Muslim neighbors.
Original reporting: The Dallas Express — read the source article.
