In establishing a fine restaurant, the Nation of Islam sought to encourage by example African American entrepreneurship and self-help, and to provide a model of "the better things of life," a taste of heaven on earth. Religious institutions have often organized and provide space for secular social events such as dinners, bingo, and neighborhood festivals. For some groups, such as the Nation of Islam and the evangelical Christian Willow Creek Church, careful engagement in secular pursuits has been an important part of their religious mission.

Source: Newberry Library