In recognition of International Day of Peace on September 21, I gathered Mission Network stories that reveal that peace is not an abstract ideal but a living force capable of healing wounds, forging connections, and transcending boundaries.
Let us be inspired by these stories to be the architects of a more peaceful world where the stories of discord are overshadowed by the enduring narratives of unity, love and reconciliation.
Romans 12:16-18 ESV
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
Apache Stronghold continues prayerful struggle to protect sacred places
Another way the Coalition plans to continue their support for Apache Stronghold is through Community Peacemaker Teams (CPT) training. CPT sends trained volunteers into tense locations to help prevent violence and peacefully protect people.
Peacebuilding efforts continue in Ecuador
“Throughout May and June, Chenlo, Guamán and Wigginton led a series of eight workshops, in seven Ecuadorian provinces, with a total of 1,400 people in attendance. The workshops challenged the attendees to consider what Jesus’ political platform would be, with key passages including Isaiah 53 and the Beatitudes (Mathew 5:1-12).”
How do Mennonites think about peace?
“Recognizing the complexity of violence, and therefore how complex it is to be a people of peace, has led, I think, to more careful and nuanced ways of reading the biblical story. The biblical story has consistently provided the cornerstone in exploring, understanding, and feeding a Mennonite perspective of peace.”
Andrew Suderman
Just Peace Pilgrimage
Mennonite Mission Network invites you and your congregation or group on pilgrimages that explore what God is doing to bring about justice and peace in the world and ways in which we can participate in such movements.
Peacemaking agency director challenges U.S. churches to uphold democracy by creating space for dialog
"It was a beautiful thing when [the government] said, ‘But it's very violent, do you want us to accompany you with guns?’And we said, ‘No. Keep your guns. Because engaging and talking to people brings peace, not the guns.’"
Oscar Siwali
Ayni: An invitation and a vision
Many Christians talk about reconciliation in spiritual terms, but what sets Anabaptists apart in Guamán’s eyes is that “The reconciliation sought by Mennonite Christians also applies to creation.”
In silencing the noise of war, dialogue takes place in Burkina Faso
“We told Yé that we, as Christians, must consider the option of dialogue, with each party listening to the other. We must silence the sound of weapons to listen to ourselves as humans.”
Siaka Traoré
South African peace leaders determined to be nation’s light
The conflict mediator training was held at the offices of the South African Council of Churches in Johannesburg, South Africa, the organization that was once headed by Bishop Desmond Tutu.
Service Adventurers forge peace from war
In late January, the Colorado Springs (Colorado) Service Adventure unit undertook a learning component with RAWtools. RAWtools is an organization that advocates for peace by forging guns into garden tools and providing nonviolence training, resources and more.