麻豆社

Peacemaking can take many different practical forms, but it can be incredibly risky. One man who has put his life on the line for it is Canon Andrew White, known as the Vicar of Baghdad. He earned that title through over 20 years of tireless efforts to heal the major rifts between faiths in the Middle East. Despite continuously putting his life at risk, and having multiple sclerosis, his unwavering Christian faith has kept him going.

Andrew reflects 鈥淚 have never lost hope because my hope is built on nothing less than on the blood of Christ and his righteousness.鈥�

At the height of major conflict in Iraq, one of Andrew鈥檚 most extraordinary missions was deemed by many to be impossible 鈥� to bring together faith leaders from Iraq, Israel, and Palestine.

He says 鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 bring Israelis to Iraq, I couldn鈥檛 bring Iraqis to Israel, so we met in Cyprus in Paphos. One of the chief rabbis said to me after three days, 鈥渇ear is cancelled鈥�. One of the Ayatollahs said, 鈥淚鈥檝e been together for three days with what I thought were the evil Zionists of Israel. And I looked into your eyes, and I heard your story and I realised you weren鈥檛 a stranger. You were my friend!鈥�

Andrew no longer lives in Iraq but spends his time between the Middle East and the UK on peace missions, and speaking to church groups about his profound experiences.

He explains 鈥淧eople often say to me, 鈥榳ell who is your enemy?鈥� and I say 鈥榠t is the person whose story you have not heard鈥�. So a vital part of my work has been enabling people to hear the story of the others. This is not me talking about some strange far-flung people, this is me talking about your family. We are one, suffering together. And we can only bring wholeness, healing restoration, peace, power, protection and provision if we work together.

For Andrew, his motivation comes from one place alone: 鈥淭here is no concept of dealing with the reality of suffering unless you know the reality of the cross of Christ. The cross is what gives us life, hope, resurrection and forgiveness!鈥�

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