Inspired by Jubilee
Interfaith Conference at Mount Royal University
By the Grace of Allah, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Students Affiliation (AMSA) at Mount Royal University successfully hosted its interfaith event, “Does GOD Exist? Inspired by Jubilee,” on April 9, 2026, in Room Y-222 at Mount Royal University. Inspired by Jubilee’s spectrum-style discussion format, the program brought together panelists representing Islamic, Christian, Hindu, and Atheist/Agnostic perspectives to engage with key questions surrounding faith, morality, and the existence of God. The event was designed to foster respectful interfaith dialogue while reaching a broader non-Ahmadi audience through a thoughtful and accessible campus program. It also marked AMSA’s first major event at MRU in many years, making it an important milestone in the club’s renewed campus presence.
A significant factor in the event’s success was the promotional campaign carried out in the days leading up to April 9. Over 230 posters were placed across campus, and over 150 business cards were distributed through direct in-person outreach. Organizers personally handed these cards to students, encouraging them to register and attend. These efforts were reinforced through Instagram, LinkedIn, the MRU Reddit community, club outreach, and the Luma registration page. Reminder SMS and email messages were also sent to registrants in the days leading up to the event. The combination of physical promotion and digital outreach proved effective in extending the event well beyond AMSA’s own membership and gaining broad campus interest.
Preparation for the event also required substantial technical and logistical effort. Drawing from the broader “Does GOD Exist?” initiative, volunteers worked extensively on the custom www.doesgodexist.ca platform, which had been developed from scratch to support the Jubilee-style format. The platform was built because no existing online system could properly accommodate the interactive structure envisioned for the event, including live prompt display and a visual spectrum of responses. This same platform had previously been used at UCalgary’s event, and members from both MRU and UCalgary were involved in preparing it for use. Considerable time was spent refining, testing, and adapting the system for practical implementation. Volunteers also finalized the event flow, prepared the visual materials, and hand-crafted the physical signs used by panelists during the discussion. Support from AMSA UCalgary was instrumental in this process, and several improvements based on feedback from the earlier UCalgary event were incorporated into the MRU program, including a stronger emphasis on audience questions, clearer pacing, and the use of timers for each prompt.
The effectiveness of these efforts was reflected in the final attendance figures. The event received 90 registrations, yet final attendance reached 123 guests, exceeding registration by 33 attendees and resulting in a remarkable attendee yield of approximately 137%. Most significantly, 95 attendees were non-Ahmadi, demonstrating that the event successfully attracted the wider audience it was intended to reach. The venue was filled, with additional overflow seating used at the back, and the event both began and concluded on time. These figures are especially notable given that this was AMSA MRU’s first major event in many years and therefore served not only as a standalone program, but also as a test of the club’s renewed presence and capacity on campus.
The program was structured around eight prompts, with panelists raising physical signs to indicate whether they strongly agreed, agreed, were neutral, disagreed, or strongly disagreed, before briefly explaining their position. This format clearly displayed each speaker’s stance while allowing meaningful differences to emerge in a respectful setting. A live QR code enabled audience members to submit questions and comments, which were later addressed during the 40-minute Q&A.
Following the moderated discussion and Q&A, closing remarks were delivered by the President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association, Western Calgary. Guests were then invited to remain for dinner and informal conversation. A total of 26 large boxes of pizza were served, along with water and drinks, and separate accommodations made for Lajna. A book stall was also set up, giving attendees an opportunity to take literature and continue exploring the themes raised during the discussion. This closing portion added an important tablighi and educational dimension to the evening by extending engagement beyond the formal panel and allowing for further personal interaction with guests.
Overall, “Does GOD Exist? Inspired by Jubilee” was a clear success for AMSA MRU. It drew a strong turnout, attracted a substantial non-Ahmadi audience, filled the venue, and created a respectful setting for serious discussion on campus. Just as importantly, it demonstrated that AMSA MRU is once again capable of organizing thoughtful and impactful programming at Mount Royal University. As the club’s first major event in many years, it established a strong foundation for future initiatives and reflected the value of combining careful planning, technical preparation, campus outreach, and interfaith dialogue. Alhamdulillah, the event was an important step forward in restoring AMSA MRU’s visibility and presence on campus.
