In 2006, I lived with a Rwandan housemate while working on the Tsunami recovery program in Aceh, Indonesia. He was typically quiet, but sometimes, when he was drunk, he’d share his harrowing experiences from the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. As a young Tutsi, he had been targeted by the Hutu militia. With his visually impaired brother and other family members, he had to flee for their lives, running through a landscape littered with the dead. They narrowly escaped death at countless checkpoints before finally crossing the border into Uganda. It was a genocide that had been brewing for years, yet no one noticed and no one seemed to care.
The memories of my housemate’s stories haunted me as I recently moderated a webinar marking the 30th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide. Dr. Joseph Nyamutera, a renowned peacebuilder and pastor from Rwanda, discussed the crucial role churches have played in healing the nation. He delved into the Rwandan Church-based Peace Model, a powerful framework they now teach to hundreds of people worldwide. The Church in Rwanda is admirably fulfilling its mandate of being a Peacemaker (Matthew 5:9), but only after the terrible devastation.
Every year on September 21st, the United Nations calls upon the world to observe the International Day of Peace. This year’s theme, “Cultivating a Culture of Peace,” is more urgent than ever.
In a world rife with conflict, inequality, and discrimination, we must redouble our efforts to promote dialogue, empathy, and human rights for all. According to the Global Peace Index, there are currently 56 active conflicts worldwide, the highest number since World War II. In fact, 97 countries have experienced a decline in peacefulness in 2024.
The devastating consequences of armed conflict are all too clear. Over 95 million people have been forced from their homes due to prolonged violence. The specter of war looms large, a constant threat to our fragile existence.
But there is a solution, a roadmap laid out in the Bible at Romans 12:17-21. “Do not repay anyone evil for evil,” it reads. “If possible, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, but leave room for God’s wrath. If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Every Christian must demonstrate this biblical solution and encourage others to do the same. We must lead the way, empowered by Christ. Churches must be proactive, understanding Satan’s schemes, and initiating peacebuilding measures when necessary.
It’s a monumental task, commissioned by God, and He is the only one who can provide the strength and wisdom to accomplish it.
– By Salathiel Nalli