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Peaceworks Prayer and Unity
At the heart of all that Peaceworks is and stands for, is prayer.
Whilst an increasing amount of time is spent in the wider community
in mediation work, our Christian values still remain paramount.
Many of the pioneers of mediation have been Christian and we believe
that to quietly work in non-anxious interventions is a form of Christian
service. Our prayer life is a backdrop to this, although we never
embarrass our clients by assuming or foisting our beliefs onto them.
However, regarding the work we do within the Body of Christ, we
are free to express our holistic beliefs in biblical peace-making.
This work falls into three broad categories: strategic prayer
initiatives, local church unity and equipping the
church to be peacemakers.
1. Strategic Prayer
Peaceworks leads, facilitates and supports prayer initiatives that
are designed to address spiritual roots and history of an area,
people group or a particular issue. For example, Peaceworks might
be invited to bring teams of volunteer supporters to a town to pray
and use spiritual gifts for the healing of ancient and historic
wounding. We do not believe that we come in as experts, rather as
a support or a resource to accompany what is already happening in
that area. Likewise, Peaceworks might be invited to bring its organisational
and convening skills to run a conference bringing together Christian
leaders from European and African nations to find reconciliation
together. Peaceworks also works with and on behalf of other prayer
movements, organisations and initiatives.
Most of Peaceworks prayer involvement is initiated by external agencies,
whether a local church, a group of churches or another organisation.
We have a network of supporters and volunteers who accompany and
support such times of prayer. One of the most powerful events run
by Peaceworks was an Anglo-German team visit to Dresden and Auschwitz
on the 55th anniversary of the liberation of the death camp in 2000.
Peaceworks takes a holistic approach to prayer, believing that where
possible, prayer needs to be accompanied by practical action. We
try to be the prayer that we pray in the way we operate and love
our lives.
Peaceworks contribution has been recognised internationally by the
International Reconciliation Coalition and we serve
as the England office of this organisation. We also facilitate an
England Reconciliation Coalition.
2. Local Church Unity
Peaceworks has been a force for local unity in southern England
where it is based, encouraging partnerships between churches, seeking
to bring reconciliation to differences and convening gatherings
of local believers. We work closely with the Building Together network.
3. Church as Peacemakers
All peacemaking is long-term and hard work! We try to be a place
where Christians committed to peacemaking can find one another.
We also share stories and resources enabling the church to make
appropriate responses to the international, national and local conflicts
all around us. |
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