Team Member Highlight: Michael “Dougle” McDougle
Originally published on Dougle’s Substack as “Called to be Peacebuilders - An Invitation to Join Our Work”
My name is Dougle. I’ve been married to Lucy for 21 years, and we have two incredible sons and one wonderful daughter-in-law. Over the course of our life together, we’ve lived and served in Russia, Ukraine, China, and now Lithuania. I currently serve as a lecturer in Peace and Conflict Studies at LCC International University in Klaipėda, Lithuania, and I do this work through Peace Catalyst International.
Jesus is the Prince of Peace. His kingdom is a kingdom of peace. The gospel we proclaim is a gospel of peace. And the children of God are those who make peace, who, as James writes, “sow in peace and reap a harvest of righteousness” (James 3:18). That is the invitation and the vocation we’ve embraced.
Before sharing what our work entails, let me share with you a bit of what Peace Catalyst International is all about, which can, I hope, help you better understand the motivation and intention behind the work we do:
We’re Jesus-followers on a mission to help Christians be better peacebuilders and to partner with our neighbors for more thriving communities.
We believe Jesus is the Prince of Peace and that God’s mission is to establish holistic, just peace that brings flourishing in all dimensions of life. This is how we understand the biblical concept of “shalom,” and we believe the Church’s job is to embody and live out that shalom now.
Peacebuilding is a process that aims to nonviolently transform the relationships and cultural and social conditions that generate destructive and violent conflict. We believe God’s mission is peacebuilding: working to establish the holistic just peace captured by the Biblical concept of shalom. We also believe the Church’s vocation is to follow Jesus in this work of peacebuilding by collaborating with our diverse neighbors to transform relationships, heal communities, and work for the flourishing of all people. As such, we believe the essence of Christian discipleship is forming Christians to follow Jesus as peacebuilders. At Peace Catalyst, we inspire Christians to reimagine how we participate in God’s work toward this vision of peace.
So, what does this actually look like in our context?
First, I teach. At LCC, I help students from over 60 countries wrestle with the realities of violence, injustice, reconciliation, and peacebuilding. Through courses like Conflict Transformation and Civic Engagement, I guide students to think critically and act justly. I also mentor students beyond the classroom and help the university to think through its broader commitment to peace and justice.
Through my teaching, I aim not only to inform students about peace and justice, but to form them into people who live these Kingdom values. Students have described my classes as life-changing—spaces where they are equipped to see enemies as people, to resist dehumanization, and to build empathy across lines of difference. One student wrote that these classes ‘shift their perspectives to see people as people, and not as where they come from, their skin color, ethnicity, or religion.’ More than that, these classes are shaping students to embody the values and practices of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, in a divided and hurting world.
Second, I seek to live what I teach. I serve on the Israel-Palestine Working Group for Peace Catalyst International, advocate for just peace in the Holy Land, and soon, Lord willing, will help lead solidarity pilgrimages that elevate Palestinian voices. As my work continues to grow, I anticipate expanding these efforts to include initiatives related to Ukraine, Russia, and other regions in need of healing.
Third, I hope to provide more teaching, training, and equipping—both in-person and online—for churches and Christian communities seeking to embody the gospel of peace in their own local contexts.
