December 1, 2009

Peace in Takum
by Tracy Young

See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare...
~ Isaiah 42: 9a

So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting themessage of reconciliation to us. 
~ 2 Corinthians 5:17-19

During Advent, we're anticipating the breaking-in of a bold new thing. We wait in hope and expectation for something different from those old things of brokenness and injustice and conflict. Something new is coming.

The people of Takum, Nigeria and the surrounding region are all too aware of the old things. Takum, the site of the oldest foreign mission of the CRC, had been the epicenter of a devastating ethnic, political and religious conflict. Decades after the CRC established its first daughter church there, it was torn apart by tribal and political disputes. Brothers and sisters in Christ had turned on each other in outright war. Villages were destroyed and neighbors killed.

But the God who reconciled himself to us through Christ brought healing to what seemed like an impossible situation. The CRC, the Reformed Ecumenical Council, and many other international and local players came together to do the hard work of brokering peace and working for restoration in these shattered communities. It took countless meetings, months of work and sure commitment from local people and support from outside players - but peace came to Takum.

Years after an initial peace agreement, the people of and around Takum work to keep peace among one another, to heal divisions and to show what that new thing can look like. One shining example: A group of young people comprised of different ethnic groups - the groups that had once declared they could never be brought together - now meet together to discuss how to work for peace, unity and development in their communities. As a way to demonstrate respect for each other's backgrounds, these young people put on one another's traditional attire. Just as God put on humanity to reconcile us to himself, these youths put on one another's clothing to heal, to unify, to embrace the new thing.

Prayer
Prince of Peace, we give thanks for the healing that has happened among people in Nigeria. We pray for continued stability and commitment to the new way of peace. Show us how to be participants in reconciliation whether in our own relationships and communities, or in places around the world.

Pursue Peace

The story of breakdown and reconciliation in Nigeria is a fascinating one. Click here to learn more about the CRC's work in peacebuilding in Nigeria.

Tracy Young is communications consultant for the Office of Social Justice.