Ambassadors for Peace in Prince George’s County, Maryland, initiated the first of a series of seminars with community leaders on February 25, 2006. Held in a home in Greenbelt, MD, a suburb of Washington, D.C., the seminar included readings of quotes by Rev. Sun Myung Moon on “Bridge Building and Peacemaking,” responses from the community leaders, discussion groups, and a panel on “Rolling Up Our Sleeves,” ie. how to apply the principles of “bridge building.” This program was a forum providing Ambassadors for Peace an opportunity to meet each other, exchange ideas based on a common theme, and enhance their efforts by inviting other Ambassadors for Peace to work with them in their peace-making initiatives.

Ambassadors for Peace follow inspirational readings

Commenting on the first session of inspirational readings, Rev. Ron Brown, Pastor of Christian Love Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., said pastors “have to stop being Sunday-morning Christians” and embody God’s love. It’s not true, he admitted, that God can do everything at will. “God can’t work through us unless we allow Him”, he said. Spiritual leaders “must not be confined to old ideologies and taboos” but instead be “bold.”

Mrs. Susan Fefferman of the Women’s Federation for World Peace shared about her experiences as a former missionary in Iran. She noted that there are “immense walls that block us from realizing we are brothers and sisters.” The only thing that worked, she said, “was loving the enemy and living that love every day.”

The panel of community activists who shared their experiences on bringing reconciliation included Ms. Doris Thomas, founder of Serenity Players, a community theater program, and her daughter Ms. Ayo Hendi Kendi, founder of the African American Holiday Association. This nonprofit organization uses holiday celebrations and rituals as a way to build bridges. Among other activities, it sponsors February 13 of each year as “Black Love Day”, a day to show love in action through service.

Mr. Constantine David, Chairman of the advisory board of “Jamii Africa”, shared his experiences in his work to reconcile Africans and African-Americans, by sponsoring summer “pilgrimages” to Benin, West Africa. These journeys are designed to break down barriers created by the transatlantic slave trade. Both Ms. Kendi and Ms. Thomas have participated in this “journey” and both expressed deep appreciation for their “internal liberation” from the trip.

Pastor Robert Truesdale of the International House of Prayer for All People spoke of his work with convicted offenders through his prison ministry. He emphasized that effective service is only possible when the needs of the needy are understood.

Rev. Angelika Selle of the New Hope Family Church spoke about her experience with the Middle East Peace Initiative. She also took the opportunity to promote the upcoming pilgrimage of March 14-21, 2006 as “an opportunity to do something and make an impact.” The pilgrimages by Ambassadors for Peace to the Holy Lands show the people in that region “what peace looks like” and they “bring hope”, she said.

The next seminar in the Prince George County AFP series, planned for Saturday, March 25, will focus on family and youth issues.

---

Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites