The Peace Feast: Breaking Bread in a Broken World
photo by Andy Larsen
In the wake of 9/11, fear and suspicion seemed to dominate the cultural landscape in the U.S., and the church I pastored in Bellevue, Washington, wasn’t immune. Islamophobic tropes began creeping into conversations, and I could see how fear was building walls between “us” and “them.”
At the time, I didn’t know much about Islam or Muslims. But I sensed the Holy Spirit tugging at my heart, urging me to step across the divide—not with an agenda or answers, but with openness. It felt like my Cornelius moment, reminiscent of the story in Acts 10 where God nudged Peter to step into the unfamiliar, tearing down walls of separation between Jews and Gentiles.
So, I went.
I visited mosques, homes, and immigrant-owned restaurants in the greater Seattle area. I expected awkwardness, maybe even resistance. Instead, I found hospitality—Muslim friends who welcomed me as a neighbor, as someone who loved God, my family, and my community. In those spaces, stereotypes began to melt away. And something unexpected happened: they bore witness to me, too.
They saw me not as a caricature of an evangelical Christian (that’s my historical tribe but I find it wanting in so many ways today) but as a person trying to follow Jesus, someone committed to loving my neighbor, even if that neighbor didn’t look, pray, or worship like me.
What struck me most in those early encounters was how bearing witness to one another’s humanity transformed us both. In a world increasingly divided by policies like the Muslim ban and amplified by Islamophobic rhetoric, sitting together—sharing meals and stories—felt revolutionary.
When I met Muslim friends like Muhammad and his wife in Hebron, I saw this transformation firsthand. On separate occasions, Cari and I visited their home, and Muhammad’s wife made knafeh for our birthdays. That simple act of care and celebration reminded me of the beauty of shared humanity. It wasn’t just dessert—it was an expression of love, a reminder that even in a broken world, hospitality can heal.
photo by Andy Larsen
Those early relationships awakened something in me. I realized that these connections weren’t just about breaking stereotypes—they were about discovering the possibilities of God’s Kingdom.
I began to see more clearly the vision Jesus spoke of in Matthew 8:12, the Great Feast where people from every nation, tribe, and tongue are welcomed to the table. I realized that the simple act of sharing a meal could be a foretaste of that ultimate gathering. It wasn’t just about food; it was about embodying Jesus’ way of radical inclusion and hospitality.
This awakening didn’t stop with me. As I brought others from my church into these spaces—whether through Peace Feasts, iftars, or shared meals with immigrant families—I saw the same awakening happen for them. Their hearts softened, their stereotypes dissolved, and they began to see their Muslim neighbors not as "others" but as people who love God, their families, and their communities.
Now, I focus on empowering others to take their own steps toward building bridges. Through Peace Feasts, we invite groups to immigrant-owned restaurants to support local businesses and foster meaningful cultural connections. These gatherings are simple yet powerful:
Witness: Participants see their neighbors not as stereotypes but as real people with beautiful stories.
Awaken: They awaken to the joy of shared humanity and the possibilities of reconciliation.
Empower: They are equipped to continue building relationships and living out Jesus’ command to love their neighbors.
In this work, I’ve seen how a shared meal can become a foretaste of the Great Feast Jesus spoke of. A table becomes a space where walls come down and the Kingdom comes near.
Every city has its hidden treasures: restaurants that bring the world to your doorstep. Supporting them isn’t just a nice gesture—it’s a way to embody the hospitality of Jesus.
What if we transformed our mealtimes into moments of intentionality? What if we traded fast food for falafel and sat at tables where peace could grow?
In a broken world, breaking bread together becomes a revolutionary act. It’s a way of bearing witness to God’s love, awakening to the possibilities of reconciliation, and empowering others to join in the work of peace.
So the next time you’re hungry, consider this: What would it look like to feast for peace?
photo by Andy Larsen
This blog was originally posted at https://blessedarethepeacemakers.substack.com/p/the-peace-feast-breaking-bread-in
Andy and Cari are peacemakers devoted to engaging their “other” as followers of Jesus Christ, believing this is a core characteristic of true disciples of Jesus. Andy uses his camera to build bridges of understanding between groups and to decrease social distance. Andy and Cari spend much time facilitating encounters with their “other” across the country and in the Middle East, helping disparate communities build relational bridges of understanding, and their greatest passion is to hang out with Muslim friends and get people out of the pew, or off their prayer rug as the case may be, and into relationships with their “other.” Learn more about Andy here.
