In the novel City of Peace, a Methodist pastor named Harley Camden is moved by his bishop to a tiny church in Occoquan, Virginia. In that new community, he meets a couple named Youssef and Sofia, Coptic Christians from Egypt. From the start, he is surprised that they are close friends with a family named the Bayatis, Muslim immigrants from Iraq.

“The Bayatis have become some of our closest friends here in Occoquan,” Youssef tells Harley one night at dinner, “largely because we have shared so many meals. Back in Egypt, Christians and Muslims are getting together less and less, which has caused the animosity and violence to increase.”

“Food is important to us,” Sofia says. “Think of the many times that Jesus sat down to eat with people — even tax collectors and sinners. Christian hospitality is very important to Youssef and me.”

“I do appreciate it,” says Harley. “Think of how much better the world would be if people actually sat down and ate with each other.”