WEA Peacebuilding Initiative

The Start: During the 2008 World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) International Leadership Team meeting in Africa, leadership agreed that peacebuilding is a priority for the alliance and that the Church needs to be on the leading edge of peacebuilding and reconciliation in the world because this reflects the heart of the gospel.

WEA Peacebuilding Initiative Goal: By April 2010 the WEA Peacebuilding Initiative seeks to see evidence of least 40% of its 128 national evangelical alliances, member organizations, partners and commissions having helped cultivate and sustain peace in places impacted by violence—with a focus on children of impoverished nations impacted by armed intrastate conflict.

Peacebuilding Advisor: Geoff Tunnicliffe has asked Michael McGill to help develop the WEA Peacebuilding Initiative by serving as the WEA Peacebuilding Advisor. Michael invested several years coordinating and expanding the global Christian effort to address child sexual exploitation and trafficking. He has invested the last two years conducting PhD research on how to better engaging youth in peacebuilding.

Just Children: With nearly 90% of the worlds 2.2 billion children in developing nations and 16 of the 20 poorest nations having experienced a major civil war over the last 15 years, there is a horrible connection between children, poverty and violence that seems to perpetuate continued civil war. Much research shows us that children are more likely than adults to change their ideas and behavior. Thus, youth have a key role in breaking cycles of violence and helping build durable peace. Just Children was founded by Michael McGill to wage peace in developing nations impacted by civil war by mobilizing child peacebuilding and transforming awareness into action. Just Children is now a project of the WEA Peacebuilding Initiative.

Why WEA?: We have a strong Biblical commitment, rooted in forgiveness, grace, and restoration, and a unique opportunity to help build peace, especially in places where armed conflict has erupted, and especially among the most vulnerable—children of impoverished nations impacted by civil war. Among other things, WEA has international networks available to quickly offer practical and well researched training and tools to millions of people, enabling them to help curb violence when, and before, conflict sparks.

An Action Plan for Peace: The 1st International WEA Peacebuilding Consultation October 25th to 30th key Christian peacebuilding leaders from around the world will participate in strategic planning meetings aimed at coordinating and expanding the global Christian peacebuilding movement. These working meetings will be part of the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) General Assembly, which is held only once every 6 years (http://ga08.org). Over 500 leaders from around the world will participate in the WEA General Assembly and about 200 more in pre and post meetings. The Peacemaking Consultation will include about 20 key Christian peacemakers who will work with the other General Assembly participants to create a widely accepted peacebuilding action plan. The Peacemaking Consultation is planned to result in:

  1. A 5-year strategic plan for developing an effective WEA peacemaking initiative
  2. Specific commitments from 35 or more participating organizations on how they will help achieve the plan
  3. 300 or more signatures of commitment to the plan from participants
  4. Feedback and recommendations for continued youth peacemaking research

You Can Help!:

  • PRAY for the WEA Peacebuilding and the millions of people around the world impacted by armed conflict
  • TELL OTHERS by sending them this link, or share with your church or small group about people impacted by war and ways to help.
  • GET EDUCATED from our quarterly newsletter by emailing us at Info@JustChildren.org.
  • GIVE FINANCIALLY via: Web: Visit www.JustChildren.org for online giving instructions. Check: Please make gifts payable to WEA. Add "WEAPB" to the memo line. Mail to 644 Strander blvd #154 Seattle WA 98188 USA, or MIP Box 3740 Markham Ontario L3R 5J1 Canada. Call: +1.866.826.3073 toll free to make a credit card donation.