This reflection is based on and inspired by the fascinating story of a man named Dolkun Tunurganjan, a 31-year-old Uighur Muslim from Xinjiang, the semi-autonomous region in northwestern China. Dolkun is currently riding his motorcycle across numerous provinces and regions in China in the name of promoting greater ethnic harmony.

How can we love Muslims when we face the evil of terrorists? These people purposely murder innocent people to make a political point! Doesn’t the Bible say a lot about justice and punishing evil people?

Peacemaking is needed (and can be done) in all arenas of life, and today we highlight Mario Mattei, an artist working for peace through film, photography, and storytelling.

What if you had a chance to sit down with one of the Boko Haram guys, before they kidnapped the Nigerian girls. If you knew of his plan, would you try to talk him out of hurting them? Unfortunately, if you did that, you would be in violation of U.S. law.

“Is freedom of religion a liberal political agenda or is it a biblical mandate?” The middle-aged man sitting across from me asked this question intently in response to my comments on the role of religious freedom in peacemaking. I smiled and said, “Good question.”

I recently attended a conference at the Naval War College in Rhode Island on Religion and Security in World Affairs. I loved the lectures and the lively interaction. Yet something deeper was being stirred in me. I could not pinpoint what it was until I recalled the statement by Martin Luther King Jr. that those who love peace must learn to organize as effectively as those who love war.

The fruit of Jesus-centered peacemaking is real, authentic friendship. This is much more than a politely-tolerate-one-another level of “friendship,” because Jesus calls us to actively love others, even those with whom we have real differences. Here in Raleigh, our Peace Catalyst community is working to foster these kinds of friendships between Muslims and Christians—friendships in which we laugh and cry together, talk openly about our deepest convictions, and work together for the common good.

As we continue our series of featured peacemakers here on the blog, today we highlight Bob Roberts, a must-know in the world of peacemaking.

The laughter of women, the smell of Mediterranean delicacies, and the array of beauty products filled Maha's home. For two days, her house was transformed to funnel compassion into action.