Introduction to Christian Peacebuilding

6-week Online Small Group

Does the gospel we believe provide a framework to address the real challenges of our world?

During this introduction to Christian Peacebuilding, we will begin to approach this question by expanding our understanding of themes like God’s reign, Kingdom, shalom, justice, conflict transformation, and reconciliation. These themes draw us into a process of reframing Christian life on the road to holistic peacebuilding.

What will this small group include?

  • Meet & Greet - Hear the personal stories in your cohort from other Christians around the world

  • God’s Vision & Mission - Shalom & Peacebuilding

  • The Church’s Peacebuilding Vocation & Call

  • Introduction to Conflict Transformation

  • Discipleship: Christian Formation for Peacebuilding

  • Peacebuilding Postures & Skills

Participants can expect a highly interactive experience, with a lot of discussion accompanying new content. We request that participants intend to be present for the majority of the sessions in order to facilitate their own learning and the learning of the class.

Course Dates & Times

This small group will happen online via Zoom. Each week, participants will receive preliminary resources (readings and videos) to digest before our meeting. The goal for these small groups is to provide a diverse set of introductory materials and some guided reflection questions so that participants might be able to engage in an ongoing transformative process within themselves and reuse the content to lead exploratory conversations and small groups about peacebuilding in their own communities.

Next Upcoming Small Group:
September 24 - October 29, 2024 (Tuesdays)

  • Europe:

    • 7:00-8:30pm (British Summer Time)

    • 8:00-9:30pm (Central European Time)

  • USA:

    • 11am-12:30pm (Pacific Standard Time)

    • 2-3:30pm (Eastern Standard Time)

Meet Your Facilitators

This 6-week online small group, created by and in partnership with Peace Catalyst International, will help you learn how conflict can become an opportunity to work toward God’s fullest vision of reality, one of justice and mutual flourishment. You will begin to grasp how conflict unveils ruptured relationships, both interpersonally and between groups.

This small group is designed for everyday Christians and Christian leaders who are curious about how their faith and lives could be shaped into becoming a remedy to the chaos and pain of our world. We hope for it to be a kickstart to a lifelong process of being shaped into instruments of peace.

Harley Bigger

Harley is originally from Ontario Canada, and has lived in Northern Ireland for the past three years working with An Cuan with his wife Leesha, and their young daughter, Selah.

At the age of 15, Harley was regularly serving in local homeless ministries and shelters and was moved by the injustice of poverty and the people it effects. These early experiences motivated him to seek out a faith that is concerned about injustice and abuse of power. Since these formative experiences, he has led teams to places like Lebanon and South Africa to work with marginalized communities, led and taught on Discipleship Training Schools and facilitated spaces for prayer and contemplation. He is enamoured by poetry and nature and loves all things good and pleasant, and longs to see all people transformed into peacemakers.

Alyssa Luzaich

Alyssa, originally from Northern California, has spent the last 13 years living in various parts of the world, serving with YWAM. Over the past decade, she has had the opportunity to start several businesses in photography and design while also being involved with Discipleship Training Schools in Kona, Hawaii, a place that has become a second home to her.

In 2023, Alyssa felt called to move to Northern Ireland, convinced that a holistic understanding of the gospel is essential for a sustainable relationship with God. She saw An Cuan as the ideal place to help bring this message to life. She is convinced that God speaks into every area of our lives—physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. With this perspective, Alyssa is excited to contribute to staff care and development and to help launch programs that help others to understand the gospel of reconciliation and its significance in today's world.

Registration

Cost is free. Space is limited to 18 people.

If space is full, you will be autmatically added to the waitlist through registration.