Bob Roberts Jr. is the founding pastor of NorthWood Church in Keller, Texas. Known around the world as an evangelical pastor who loves people from every faith, he has pioneered relationships with those that are usually shunned by Christians.

His oath to multi-faith started with a group of exchange students from Vietnam. Seeing these young people with different world views working and playing alongside others, he grew to love them, and through them, love their country. Wanting to serve the people of Vietnam, Bob developed a relationship with leaders in Vietnam and created a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), Glocal Ventures, to work in country to provide humanitarian aid and other resources. Learning “not to serve to convert, but to serve because we are converted” from his experience in Vietnam, Bob lead a team from NorthWood Church to Afghanistan where he once again was greeted by Muslim leaders who were willing to work together and sought help to provide schools and other resources. Overcoming his own fears about Muslims, he has developed a great respect for those who hold strong beliefs in differing faiths.

As other opportunities have presented themselves, Bob has tirelessly worked to purposely draw together coalitions of leaders who would not ordinarily work together and he has brought that philosophy home to Texas. He, along with Rabbi Schneider and Imam Zia, put together DFW’s first Multi-Faith weekend. Celebrating each distinct faith, members from the church, mosque and temple visited each location to observe eachothers’ traditions in order to cultivate a strong common respect.

Now, that relationship is being nurtured through community projects and other programs that show that people can hold strong beliefs whilst working together to improve not only their neighborhoods, but also to make a difference around the world.