Hi there. I’m just back from Orlando, where I led a couple of workshops at the annual Peacemaker Ministries conference. I was one of the keynote speakers at last year’s conference in Charlotte, North Carolina, and they actually invited me back. Go figure. If you’re not familiar with Peacemaker Ministries, I encourage you to check them out. It’s a wonderful organization that assists churches in biblical conflict resolution. Thousands of churches and individual believers around the world have benefited from the Peacemakers’ work.
At the conference, I had the honor of meeting Thabiti Anyabwile, author of the bold and much-discussed book The Decline of African American Theology. Pastor Anyabwile delivered a powerful keynote address on “The Danger and Delight of Forgiveness.” In his opening address, Peacemaker Ministries founder Ken Sande said, “One of the supreme ways for us to reflect God’s glory is to make peace with those who have offended us or whom we have offended.” Imagine an entire ministry exclusively devoted to helping folks resolve conflict and experience grace and forgiveness.
On the way to Florida, I was able to catch up on some of my magazine reading. Have I ever mentioned here that Philip Yancey is one of my vocational heroes? I had the privilege of working with him awhile back when I was an editor with Christianity Today. Philip’s example as a journalist and as a promoter of grace have had an immense influence on my career and life. Against the backdrop of another hotly contested presidential election that exposes our nation’s deep divisions, I’m challenged and encouraged by his latest column in CT.
Awesome post, Ed! Thanks for bringing Peacemaker Ministries to our attention. Wow… a ministry focused on conflict resolution. This is real reconciliation…. what could be more biblical? Too often it seems even within the church we have focused solely on confronting the problems (which in truth need to be confronted) without offering solutions in the spirit of love, grace and hope. I find myself too many times justifying my angry and arrogant attitudes by pointing to Old Testament prophets like Amos, all the while forgetting that those prophets not only cried, “Let justice roll down like mighty waters,” (Amos 5) but followed that up with “In that day I will restore David’s fallen tent. I will repair its broken places, restore its ruins, and build it as it used to be.” (Amos 9)
Thanks for the reminder that true reconciliation is more than pointing out the problems… it’s living the solution!
I’m curious, was RACIAL reconciliation a focus of the conference? With speakers like Thabiti Anyabwile, I’d venture to guess it was….
By the way, Philip Yancey has long been one of my heroes as well. In fact, right now I’m in the middle of “Soul Survivor: How Thirteen Unlikely Mentors Helped My Faith Survive the Church.” Powerful stuff!
B”H
Hi Brother Ed,
” … I was one of the keynote speakers at last year’s conference in Charlotte, North Carolina, and they actually invited me back. Go figure.” Maybe that’s how you see things Ed, but it’s no wonder to most of us. I think you have a lot of truly insightful things to share so I’m glad you had this opportunity.
BTW, I called your office twice and left you a VM. Call me back when it’s convenient as I want to discuss further the possibility of a local gathering. Here’s my work number if you want to call after 6PM. (847) 467-2222 . Tonight is my last night this week. You can feel free to call my cell phone anytime.
Blessings,
Shlomo
it’s no wonder to most of us. Ditto.
BTW Shlomo, I’m totally calling you. 😉
B”H
Hey Judy, I’ll be waiting. My work schedule goes like this: Sun Mon Tues 6PM – 6AM. I am generally just getting set up between 6 and 6:30. Other than that anytime is fine with me. I may have to put a call on hold from time to time, but I can usually speak anytime with anybody.
Peace,
Shlomo
Hi, Ed–was so glad to read that you met Mr. Anyabwile!
Just catching up a little bit here, and was delighted with the mention of Peacemaker Ministries. We’ve just started working through one of their group studies in our weekly small group, and I can already tell it looks like good stuff.