2024
RICK LOVE AWARD RECIPIENTS
Dr. Rick Love, the late Founder and President of Peace Catalyst International, dreamed of mobilizing people around the globe into a peacebuilding movement. Everyone who knew him knew this was his passion and that he worked tirelessly toward it. He founded Peace Catalyst because of that dream and dedicated the last ten years of his life to peacebuilding, courageously crossing social, political, and ideological divides and inviting others to do the same. He did so because of his Jesus-centered approach to all of life.
To honor Rick’s legacy, to further his vision, and to raise up more peacebuilders like him, Peace Catalyst has established the Rick Love Peace Awards and is proud to present the recipients of these 3rd annual awards. These prestigious awards honor those who creatively cross divides to build peace.
RICK LOVE PEACE AWARD
To honor Rick’s work and passion, one award is presented to an outstanding peacebuilding practitioner reflecting the values displayed by Rick.RICK LOVE YOUNG INNOVATORS IN PEACEBUILDING AWARDS
Rick cared deeply about young people and wanted a new generation of peacebuilders to be raised up after him. We therefore present two awards to young people to jumpstart or help them continue their work and to provide them with a path to living out peace in the way modeled by Rick.
Rick Love Peace Award
MUNTHER ISAAC
Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac is a Palestinian Christian pastor and theologian. He pastors the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church in Bethlehem and the Lutheran Church in Beit Sahour. He is also the academic dean of Bethlehem Bible College and the director of the Christ at the Checkpoint conference. Munther originally studied civil engineering in Birzeit University in Palestine. He then obtained a Master in Biblical Studies from Westminster Theological Seminary and then a PhD from the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies.
Munther is married to Rudaina, an architect, and together they have two boys: Karam (11) and Zaid (9). Munther is passionate about issues related to Palestinian theology. He speaks locally and internationally and has published numerous articles on issues related to the theology of the land, Palestinian Christians and Palestinian theology, and holistic mission and reconciliation. He is the author of “The Other Side of the Wall”, “From Land to Lands, from Eden to the Renewed Earth”, “An Introduction to Palestinian Theology” (in Arabic), a commentary on the book of Daniel (in Arabic), and more recently has published a book on women ordination in the church, also in Arabic. He is involved in many reconciliation and interfaith forums, and he is a Kairos Palestine board member. His sermon Christ Under the Rubble was heard by tens of millions. He has appeared on CNN, BBC, Al Jazeera, MSNBC, CBS, and Democracy Now.
THANH NGUYEN
Young Innovators Award
At 23, Thanh Nguyen is a peacebuilder and researcher working at the intersection of religion and development. Currently a Project Coordinator at Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center in East Jerusalem, she leads strategic partnerships, hosts educational programs, and supports peacebuilding delegations to Palestine/Israel. Her role at Sabeel follows her work as a board member of Friends of Sabeel North America, reflecting her long-standing commitment to the region.
As a first-generation Vietnamese American whose own history is situated in colonial war, Thanh’s peace work prioritizes subaltern knowledge, resistance to historical amnesia, and indigenous political perspectives. While pursuing a B.A. in political science and international peace studies at the University of Notre Dame, she explored issues of religion, secularity, and coloniality with organizations like the Al Amana Centre, the Institute for Global Engagement, the Telos Group, and the Ansari Institute. In 2022, she was a student leader on a joint Peace Catalyst and Notre Dame trip focused on religious peacebuilding in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Independently, she also organized her own academic panels to initiate critical conversations on religion to students and conducted her own fieldwork to expand decolonial frameworks in peace studies literature. Her research, commitment, and leadership earned her the Kroc Institute’s 2023 Peter Yarrow Award in Peace Studies.
Beyond her academic and advocacy work, Thanh is also a poet and writer, with work on colonial displacement and belonging featured in Re:Visions Magazine, Silk Road Review, Decolonial Passages, and independent film/art productions. Moving forward, she aims to continue merging scholarship, activism, and storytelling in her pursuit of collective liberation.
Young Innovators Award
MOSES SEGUN ABOLADE
Moses Abolade is a leading voice in peace education, human security, and conflict transformation. Committed to equipping communities with the tools necessary for sustainable peace, Abolade serves as a consultant, educator, and advocate, creating pathways toward a just and peaceful world. His work is characterized by dynamic facilitation, rigorous research, and a deep belief that peace is not merely the absence of conflict but the presence of justice, security, and development.
As the Founder and Executive Director of the Peace Education and Practice Network (PEPNET) in Abuja, Nigeria, Abolade bridges the gap between academic research and grassroots peacebuilding. His innovative approaches have positioned PEPNET as a transformative force in peace education, reaching over 4,000 beneficiaries, including youth, vulnerable groups, peacebuilders, and policymakers across Nigeria and beyond. Since 2018, Abolade has designed and led more than 30 peacebuilding programs, each one a testament to his dedication to fostering peace through education and practice.
Abolade has authored essential peacebuilding resources, and his contributions to various publications explore the intersections of peace, education, and development, with a focus on conflict-sensitive development, human security, and digital peacebuilding. These works reflect his advocacy for innovative solutions to contemporary global challenges, particularly in the context of Nigeria and the broader African continent.
Abolade’s leadership has earned him a fellowship with the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) and his role as Nigeria’s Youth Lead for the Community of Democracies (CoD). As a facilitator and mentor, he has inspired mentees and learners to pursue careers in Peace and Conflict Studies, emphasizing ethical leadership and practical application in addressing the complex realities of global peace and security.
Abolade’s voice resonates on multiple platforms, including KAFTAN TV, where he hosts the Peace Zone program, a peace media project that educates audiences on the importance of peace in everyday life. Additionally, he coordinates The Debate Arena, another media program for peace, where diverse voices engage in meaningful dialogue on peace and conflict issues. His initiatives, such as the Peace Education and Management Training (PEMAT), the Annual Peace Education and Practice Conference (PEPCON), and the Peace Education for Secondary Schools (PESS) Program, designed to teach about 5 million young people in Nigeria about peace education, have had a lasting impact on the field of peace education.
Abolade has spoken at numerous international and community-led programs, addressing themes such as ethical leadership and conflict transformation. As a peace ambassador for World Citizen Peace and a recipient of the Lowell Erdahl Peace Scholarship, Abolade continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in peace education and practice.
Currently, Abolade coordinates the Peace Education for Higher Institution Program (PEHIP) in collaboration with the University of Abuja and other peace institutions in North Central Nigeria. This initiative, along with his broader work, underscores his mission to transform conflict through education. Through his ongoing efforts, Moses Abolade remains a champion of peace, dedicated to creating a world where every individual has the opportunity to live in harmony and dignity.