Have you ever dropped a pebble in a calm pool of water and watched the ripples roll outward until the entire pool of water seemed to be pulsating with activity? That’s a good way to describe the peacemaking movement in Louisville. Read the story.

In the aftermath of recent shootings, many Christians are expressing the desire to show solidarity with Muslim communities around them. Solidarity is defined as “unity or agreement of feeling or action,” but what does that really mean, and how is it actually done?

It’s a diverse community with the potential for dangerous divisions. But it’s this very diversity that is bringing people of different faiths and all walks of life together. A major refugee resettlement city, Boise is home to new Americans from around the world, a majority of them Muslims, and Peace Catalyst peacemakers Nick and Laura Armstrong are at the heart of local efforts that are bringing community members together in deep and perhaps unexpected friendships.

We’re not just peacemakers; we’re Jesus-centered peacemakers. Here’s how we do it and how you can get started.

Muslims eating Halal food in the church fellowship hall. People making friends across cultural and religious lines. Christians and Muslims openly discussing our common ground and differences about Jesus. This is a snapshot of our most recent Love Your Neighbor Dinner at the Valley Vineyard in Reseda, California.

What if people of all faiths, colors, genders, and political affiliations could unite and stand together for the cause of peace and justice? On Sunday, we did just that. The Interfaith March for Peace and Justice was a coast-to-coast coordinated event that took place in 12 cities across the U.S. to affirm freedom of religion and to stand against racial and religious discrimination. Peace Catalyst was part of three of these marches, in Columbus, Ohio; Boise, Idaho; and Oxnard, California. 

On April 9-11, we convened a “Seek the Peace of the City” consultation at Duke University to catalyze and equip a national network of Christians and Muslims to create safe, just, and vibrant cities. Over 40 attendees representing 12 cities gathered for two days to learn together and begin forming plans to combine our efforts for the next two years to bring about transformation in our respective cities. 

You’ve already taken the steps to plan your Peace Dinner and you’re equipped with our 5 tips for hosting successfully, but you may still find yourself feeling nervous or unsure about any number of elements of your peace dinner. Here are answers to a few questions you might have.

What happens when you bring together a dozen teenagers who don’t know each other, come from two totally different religious backgrounds, and ask them to put their phones away for the day and actually TALK to each other?