There are several questions we get asked over and over again. The wording may be different, but the concerns remain the same. So we're writing a number of blogs addressing some of our Frequently Asked Questions. Today’s question: “Is it really possible to have peace between Christians and Muslims?”

It’s fine to talk about what we believe, but it is better to see people’s faith put into action. As we work alongside people and hear each other’s stories of life and faith and family, it makes it a lot harder to believe the stereotypes. What would happen at your church if Muslims started showing up to help paint the walls or mow the grass? Can you think of a good project we could do together? The Muslims in Louisville are asking.

In peacemaking, we often talk about this kind of thing on a large scale, but it actually applies to everyday relationships and conversations, and that’s what makes this book such a gem. The principles in Crucial Conversations empower us to both talk about the hard things AND maintain relationship. They give us the tools to “talk openly about high-stakes, emotional, and controversial topics.”

At our most recent Peace Feast, and I had the privilege of hearing the story of a young mother who had fled from the violence and war in Syria. She wants everyone to know about the suffering of her people. Her story reminded me of another flight by a family of refugees who also fled under the cover of night to a neighboring country. They fled to Egypt to save the life of their child from a murderous ruler. The child’s name was Jesus.

On Saturday, Peace Catalyst staff and volunteers in Seattle came together with our Bosnian friends in remembrance of the Srebrenica genocide their people experienced in Europe only twenty years ago. They asked us to join them in the act of remembering the horrific events so that massacres like this never happen again.

23 Burmese refugee leaders gathered for a Peace Feast in Denver. We all sat cross-legged on mats, enjoying a variety of delicious Burmese foods and talking. But this was different than most Peace Feasts.

Two leaders from the Hizb ut-Tahrir spoke to our group in Jogjakarta, Indonesia. These men outlined a bold, utopian Islamic vision. They saw themselves at war with Western civilization and sought to establish a global Caliphate - an Islamic government with a leader over their entire Muslim community, known as a Caliph. 

Even if one disagrees with my assessment of Muslims, I think we can all agree on the clear teaching of the Prince of Peace. A couple weeks ago I spent three of the most intense and exciting days of my life making peace in a city in Central Java, Indonesia. Everywhere I went I told my favorite stories from our work in Peace Catalyst International and shared key verses from the Bible about peacemaking.

What do peacemakers do in a country like Indonesia? Here’s an example from my recent visit, highlighting the essence of what we do in Peace Catalyst International.