Blessed Are the Peacemakers
“Blessed are the peacemakers because they will be called children of God.” (Matt. 5:9).
Into a world that is ugly with violence and hate, Jesus sends us as peacemakers. We aren’t given the choice of whether or not we would like to be peacemakers and we certainly aren’t given the choice of what kind of world we would like to live in. As bad as things maybe, this is the only world we have and if we are going to be true to our Christ, we must be peacemakers.
Welcoming the Chair of the Congo Electoral Commission in a workshop organized in Kinshasa/Congo at the eve of the Congo election. It was on Conflict Prevention and Peace Building.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has experienced years of political turbulence which have been responsible for the displacement of thousands of their citizens both internally and in neighboring countries. Efforts toward addressing the impact of the perpetual political unrest have been supported by the United Nations Peace Building program. These efforts have enabled fragile peace to hold in some parts of the country, but many parts have suffered from rebel activities related to the growing discontent of the governance prevailing in the country.
It is against this background that the Department of Peace, led by the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC), is accompanying the DRC for critical peace activities.
Last year (2018), I led a delegation from the Democratic Republic of Congo to Accra, Ghana. The delegation included the Chair of the DRC Electoral Commission as well as nine other members and the Commission for Integrity and Electoral Mediation, which is made of 13 religious leaders. The aim of the mission was to visit the three former Heads of State of Ghana and to hear their story on how they did a peaceful transfer of power. Since there were rumors that there might be bloodshed in the Congo, we thought it would be wise that Congolese learn from the Ghana experience.
When the peaceful transfer of power was made in Congo between the outgoing President (Joseph Kabila) and the incoming President (Felix Tsholombo Tshisekedi), I received phone calls from the interfaith leaders in Congo, thanking me for organizing the Ghana visit by saying ‘our dream has been fulfilled.’
Glory be to God!
Bosela Eale serves with the Peace, Diakonia, and Development Office in Kenya. His appointment is made possible by your gifts to Disciples Mission Fund, Our Church’s Wider Mission, and your special gifts.