On a March evening in 2022, inside the sanctuary of Northwood Church in Keller, Texas, something unprecedented was unfolding. Hundreds of worshippers filled the evangelical megachurch's stadium seating—but kippahs, hijabs, and skull caps dotted the crowd alongside Christian families. At the front, three religious leaders engaged in friendly banter: Baptist Pastor Bob Roberts Jr., Imam Mohamed Magid, and Rabbi David Saperstein, co-founders of the Multi-Faith Neighbors Network. This moment epitomized two decades of groundbreaking interfaith work that would eventually earn them recognition at the White House.
"I met this warlord in Afghanistan, and for some reason, there was a connection between us," Roberts recalled to the diverse audience, describing the encounter that transformed his ministry. "I thought to myself, I'm with the baddest of the bad Muslims, and he has become my friend. I've got this all wrong. While I thought I saw God right, or as well as anyone can, I wasn't seeing people right".
Breaking Barriers Through Authentic Relationships
Bob Roberts Jr.'s journey from a traditional Baptist pastor's kid in East Texas to an internationally recognized peacemaker began with what he calls "accidental" encounters in Afghanistan following the 9/11 attacks. Originally planning to become a global missionary after graduating from Baylor University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Roberts instead planted Northwood Church in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, which has since spawned more than 200 church plants.
His first trip to Afghanistan in February 2002 for humanitarian work led to an unlikely friendship with a prominent Afghan leader who knew Roberts was a pastor. This relationship sparked an innovative program connecting young American pastors with Afghan imams to build schools and clinics throughout the war-torn country. "I dream that every mosque would have an evangelical church that's right close to them that would befriend them and build a relationship with them," Roberts explained during a conversation with Islamic scholar Dr. Yasir Qadhi.
Roberts has since worked across multiple continents, collaborating with Christians, Muslims, and other faith communities in Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Egypt, the West Bank, Israel, Iraq, Kuwait, and Iran. His extensive experience has earned recognition from the United Nations, the U.S. Department of State, the World Economic Forum, and international royal families.
Faith and Achievement in Global Engagement
Beyond his pastoral duties, Roberts founded GlocalNet, a ministry mobilizing churches for public square transformation, and serves as president of the Institute of Global Engagement, which catalyzes religious freedom worldwide. His prolific writing includes six books exploring themes of global transformation and interfaith cooperation.
The Multi-Faith Neighbors Network, which Roberts co-founded with Imam Mohamed Magid and Rabbi David Saperstein, represents his most significant interfaith achievement. The organization builds "mutual trust and respect among faith leaders through civic engagement, authentic relationships, and honest dialogue leading to compassionate and flourishing communities" while preserving each tradition's unique theological identity.
In September 2022, the White House honored Roberts and his co-founders with the "Uniter Award" during the United We Stand Summit, recognizing their grassroots bridge-building work across American faith communities. "These American heroes are working in their communities across the country to stand against hate, heal divides, and build unity," White House officials declared during the ceremony.
Community Impact Through Women's Leadership
While Bob Roberts garners international attention, his wife, Nikki Roberts, has pioneered grassroots interfaith engagement through women's networks. For 15 years, she has led "Inspire," a multifaith women's group that began around cooking traditional meals together and has evolved into a platform for sharing religious traditions and building supportive relationships.
"Women are inherently relational and intentional in forming friendships, often acting as empathetic listeners," Nikki explained during a Global Faith Forum presentation. Her approach emphasizes how women "set the tone in their homes and significantly impact their children's attitudes towards multifaith work".
Nikki's personal anecdotes illustrate her practical approach to relationship-building. She consistently chose the checkout line of a hijab-wearing supermarket employee, demonstrating how "small, everyday actions" can create meaningful connections. Her women's groups have supported members through significant life events and collaborated on community service projects, transcending religious boundaries.
"Building bridges of peace is not only for the current generation but for future ones," Nikki emphasized, expressing her dream of expanding Inspire groups nationally and internationally. These networks aim to "form authentic relationships and increase understanding of diverse beliefs without compromising one's own".
Overcoming Challenges in a Polarized Era
The Roberts' interfaith work faces significant challenges in an era of increasing religious polarization. "In Dallas, Texas, where the prejudice and the Islamophobia are harder than anywhere else, if it can be done here, it can be done anywhere," Bob acknowledged during a mosque visit. He compared his Dallas outreach to a hypothetical scenario of starting "a Baptist Sunday school class in Mecca".
Despite these obstacles, their Multi-Faith Neighbors Network coordinates grassroots movements with religious leaders across Christian, Muslim, and Jewish traditions, creating resilient communities capable of withstanding "hate, violence, and polarization". The organization's success demonstrates how faith leaders can "mobilize their congregations to serve their communities to model the kind of society that all of us are trying to build".
Roberts received additional recognition in 2023 when 21Wilberforce honored him with the Frank Wolf International Religious Freedom Award, acknowledging his decades of peacemaking work. His contributions extend to prestigious forums, including the Doha Interfaith Conference and various United Nations initiatives.
Inspiring the Next Generation
The Roberts' legacy extends beyond personal achievements to institutional change within evangelical Christianity. Bob's transformation from a pastor who had "never really talked to a Muslim" to an internationally recognized bridge-builder demonstrates the possibility of theological growth without compromising core beliefs.
Their Global Faith Forum, launched in 2022, brings together "prominent voices from Christian, Jewish and Muslim communities to build cooperation between people of different faiths". The forum trains participants to become interfaith leaders themselves, creating a multiplying effect across communities.
"This is 'multifaith,' not interfaith," Roberts emphasizes, distinguishing their approach as one that preserves distinct religious identities while fostering cooperation. This philosophy allows religious leaders to "work cooperatively across faith traditions, even in the midst of often irreconcilable theological differences".
As religious polarization threatens social cohesion across America, Bob and Nikki Roberts' quarter-century of bridge-building offers a proven model for fostering understanding without theological compromise. Their White House recognition, international partnerships, and grassroots networks demonstrate how individual commitment to authentic relationship-building can create lasting social transformation, inspiring a new generation of faith leaders to choose cooperation over conflict.