Hi Denise,
You are so right. We are to love others to the best of our ability no matter their ethnicity, race, or anything else. How can we properly love someone without respecting their free will? I do not think that it can be done. I think that you made a really good point when you said that showing someone the way to the truth starts by allowing for religious freedom. Once that base is established, ideally, they will go on to follow the right path towards Jesus.