Most Saturday mornings Susan fixes a great breakfast. Friends arrive around 10. Some are Iranian. Some are Palestinian. Others Turkish and Yemeni. We always have halal food for our Muslim friends. Most weeks they pitch in. We have traditional eggs and pancakes mixed with dolma, samoosas, hummus, and borek. We were going to call it "Brunch and Share," but we are friends, so most just call it breakfast.

The peacemaking movement is officially well underway, and Peace Catalyst had a record-breaking year in 2013. We want to keep you in the know about what we're doing, so we've put together this overview of highlights from 2013. This is the work of so many people who work with us, support us, and are starting peacemaking movements in their own cities, so let's celebrate this move of God together!

In one of our recent posts, we wrote about how the FBI showed up at one of our Peace Feasts and how our peacemaking efforts help protect young Somali men in America from the recruiting efforts of al Shabaab. Today we'd like to talk more about the situation and share with you this analysis by Peter Sensenig.

In practice, evangelicals act as if the great commission (“make disciples of all nations”) is more important than the great commandments (love God and neighbor). Some would never say this, but as one who has been part of the evangelical movement since 1970, this has been my experience. Obeying Jesus’s command to “preach the gospel” usually takes precedent over his command to “love your neighbor.”

Jesus told the story of just a little yeast working its way into every part of the dough. The little yeast of peace and reconciliation can do the same to bring good news in this world. This yeast may end up permeating every part of our home countries and all over the world. We are not enemies. We hope for reconciliation with ourselves, God, and even across faiths.

It’s so fun to greet Muslims, saying, "Assalamu alaykum." Their faces brighten on hearing it. Try it. But it's also rich to go deeper, and that's why Peace Catalyst and others have been gathering Muslims and Christians together in Communities of Reconciliation.

The work we do in Peace Catalyst is not just a “feel good” effort. We are following Jesus and waging peace. One relationship at a time. And in doing so, we find that part of our long-term impact reduces terrorism, strengthens national security, and addresses real issues in a violent world.

So many times, we get upset about things we don’t fully understand. We assume the worst of others. We THINK we understand. We have an opinion based on our limited experience and perspective, but our lack of knowledge can be really dangerous.

The FBI agent was a sharply dressed young woman. I wondered why she was attending the Somali Peace Feast. Another friend who works with local internationals said this FBI agent had been a friend to the international community, helping both the agency and the local police department be more sympathetic with the immigrant populations.