Preaching Peace In The School

Peace in the Holy Land can feel elusive. In the very places where the Prince of Peace lived and taught, violence, fear, and division often dominate the headlines. And yet, far from the centers of power and attention, there are faithful men and women quietly choosing a different way. Our ministry partners remind us again and again that the way of Jesus is still being lived out through courageous, costly acts of love, often without recognition, enough resources, or protection.

Below is a reflection from Hani, a member of our team, who was invited into a local school a few months ago to speak with children about choosing love, forgiveness, and reconciliation. It is a small story by the world’s standards, but it is exactly how the gospel takes root.

From Hani – Sharing at a Local School

"I was invited to speak at a local school as part of a program focused on coexistence and living in peace. The school is mostly Muslim, and I was grateful for the opportunity. When I arrived, the headmaster and the program organizer welcomed me warmly.

I spoke to a sixth-grade class and shared a story about two brothers who had a disagreement. One brother dug a trench to separate himself from the other. The second brother hired a carpenter to build a fence between them, but while he was away, the carpenter chose instead to build a bridge over the trench. Through that bridge, the brothers were reconciled.

I told the children that when we disagree with someone, whether a sibling, a neighbor, or anyone else, we should not build fences. We should build bridges of love.

I then opened the Gospel of Matthew and shared Jesus’ teaching about loving our enemies, blessing those who curse us, doing good to those who hate us, and praying for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44).

Afterward, I asked the children how they would respond if someone in class hurt them. They said they would respond with love. I explained that forgiveness is not easy and that it requires a deep and costly love. I asked them where such love comes from, and I told them that God is love, and He is the source of the love we need. Many of the children said they had never heard anything like this before.

Before leaving, I challenged them to ask God before going to sleep that night to pour His love into their hearts and to reveal His love to them.

At the end, I invited the students and their two teachers to stand and lift a duaa’, a prayer in language familiar to them. I prayed over them, asking God to protect and bless them, and then led them in a simple prayer: “God, bless our town, our friends, and our families. Protect our town from evil. Help us live peacefully in this land.”

After meeting again with the headmaster, she asked if I would share with another class as well. I did, repeating the story, speaking about love, and praying with them.

I pray that the Lord planted a seed in these children’s hearts, one that will encourage them to choose peace and help bring healing to a community that suffers from so much violence. Please pray that the Lord will open more doors like this and that we will be able to bring God’s word into more schools."

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Stories like this matter. They reflect the quiet, faithful presence of the Christian community in Northern Israel, living out the gospel of peace in ordinary and courageous ways. We give thanks that Hani was invited, that the school welcomed him, and that children were given a vision of love rooted in God rather than fear.