On Saturday afternoon (October 22), after a walk through Central Park, the Rev. Peter Tibi took a nap. He was entitled.
Peter, from the world’s newest country – South Sudan, participated in the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program’s International Peacemakers Program. He made visits to South Carolina, Iowa, Georgia, Colorado, and Tennessee before coming to New York. In each location, he shared about the work of RECONCILE to heal trauma, reconcile conflict, build community, and enhance governance in South Sudan.
On his way home, he stopped in New York to make some visits within the UN Community. He arrived on Wednesday evening. Thursday morning he went to work.
During his time with the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations, Peter:
- Preached at a worship service at the Church Center for the United Nations
- Met with a staff person from the U.S. Mission to the United Nations
- Made a presentation to our NGO partners
- Met with a staff person from the UN Development Programme
- Made a presentation at Union Theological Seminary (co-sponsored by Auburn Theological Seminary and New York Theological Seminary)
- Met with staff of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) about the situation of South Sudan in general
- Made a presentation at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church
- Did a videotaped interview (watch for details when it becomes available)
- Met again with OCHA staff to talk about ways that RECONCILE works with those affected by the Lord’s Resistance Army
In each place, Peter told his story gracefully and boldly, offering a consistent, faithful witness to the nonviolent Jesus Christ who guides the work of RECONCILE. At each of the presentations, we prayed for Peter, for his colleague Milcah Lalam who had participated in this year’s Commission on the Status of Women thanks to Presbyterian Women, for the other RECONCILE staff members, and for the people of Sudan and South Sudan.
May God bless the people with a just and lasting peace.
The picture shows the participants in the event at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church commissioning Peter in prayer. Thanks to Jon Brown for the picture.