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Tag: Peace and Reconciliation

LETTER FROM CEDAR | JUL 2025

Dear CEDAR friends and supporters, July marks the beginning of a new ministry year for CEDAR. Reflecting on the past year fills my heart with gratitude. Responding to the needs of a world marked by turmoil, our humanitarian relief and community development work has continued to grow. This is possible only by God’s grace and provision and your faithful support. The United Nations described the current state of global disorder as a ‘polycrisis’ — a convergence of ecological, social, economic and political crises, each compounding the impacts of the other and triggering a domino effect of disasters. Recent budget cuts by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have brought many global programmes in education, healthcare and

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‘SHARE’ 257 – God Plants Forgiveness in a Land of Hatred

Editor’s note: This issue of SHARE highlights the ministries of peace and reconciliation. In ‘Focus’, our staff member shares his visit to Rwanda’s reconciliation ministry, witnessing how the Lord has planted seeds of forgiveness in a land once scarred by genocide. ‘Back to the Bible’ reflects on Ephesians, showing how the cross of Christ not only brings redemption but also breaks down hatred and builds peace. It challenges believers to respond to the call of peace with action. ‘Learn a Little More’ explores the meaning of Shalom from both theological and practical perspectives, showing how CEDAR puts peacebuilding into practice through community aid, development, building, and activism. ARTICLES OF THIS ISSUE Download this issue

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What is Peace?

Written by Clara Chiu (Head of Partnership Development) In the Bible, the Hebrew word for ‘Peace’ is ‘Shalom’, which means completeness and wholeness. It refers not merely to the absence of conflict but to a more positive and flourishing state of being. The website Christian Learning describes ‘Shalom’ as a perfect brick wall, with no gaps or missing bricks. Christ came into the world to mend the brokenness of humanity, the flaws in systems, and the rifts between God and humankind, as well as among people themselves, restoring the fullness and beauty of God’s creation. At CEDAR, our humanitarian relief and community development efforts follow in the footsteps of Christ: We go beyond meeting physical needs, working alongside

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The Cross

Written by Dr. John Wai-On Chan (Associate Professor of Theology, Alliance Bible Seminary) Scriptures reading: Ephesians 2:16-17 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.’ Ephesians 2:16-17 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.’ The cross of Christ marks the end of all hatred in the world. In Ephesians,

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‘SHARE’ 257 – God Plants Forgiveness in a Land of Hatred

Written by Tony Chan (Senior Communications Officer) ‘He was an animal!’ said Faine, a survivor of the genocide, as she described Jean, the former enemy who took part in killing her husband. Written by Tony Chan (Senior Communications Officer) He was an animal! Said Faine, a survivor of the genocide, as she described Jean, the former enemy who took part in killing her husband. 31 years ago, Rwanda witnessed a genocide that shocked the world. In just a hundred days, around a million people were killed, most of them Tutsi, while most of the perpetrators were Hutu. Yet when you walk through Rwanda today, you see former perpetrators and survivors sitting together, chatting and laughing, worshipping God side

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LETTER FROM CEDAR | JAN 2025

Dear CEDAR friends and supporters, The UN Humanitarian Affairs Office (OCHA) reported in November that ‘2024 is the deadliest year ever for humanitarian workers’, with 281 killed globally. Relief work is getting more and more dangerous. At the same time, the violence against aid workers also reflects the fact that more civilians are being killed in conflict zones. Indeed, according to the United Nations, civilian deaths in armed conflicts surged by a shocking 72% in 2023. Four in ten civilians killed in conflicts are women, and three in ten are children. Conflict-related sexual violence against women and girls rose by 50% in 2023, an appalling increase. The Institute for Economics & Peace reports that we are living in

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‘SHARE’ 255 – Walking with the Afflicted: Seeing Hope in Weariness

Editor’s note: In this issue of SHARE, we share how to walk with those suffering in a turbulent world. ‘Focus’ shows us how to hold on to faith despite exhaustion amid global conflicts and disasters. ‘Learn a Little More’ provides an overview of the current state of conflict and peace around the globe and shares CEDAR’s work in Myanmar and Lebanon. Through the parable of the Good Samaritan, ‘Back to the Bible’ reminds us of loving our neighbour regardless of race and emphasises the teaching of continuous help to our neighbour. May we find the strength to walk with the conflict-stricken poor. ARTICLES OF THIS ISSUE Download this issue

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Global Conflicts and Peace

Written by Clara Chiu (Head of Partnership Development) Throughout the long process of human history, conflicts have often led to waves of refugees, displacing countless families. Those who migrate internally are known as ‘Internally Displaced Persons’ (IDPs), while those who leave their home country and seek refuge in a neighbouring country are known as ‘Refugees’. These conflicts can be caused by political struggles, religious persecution, ethnic conflicts, and so on. The Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), an Australian think tank, released the 18th edition of the Global Peace Index 2024 (GPI) in June 2024. The report ranks the level of peace in 163 independent countries and territories, covering 99.7% of the world’s population. The report states that

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‘SHARE’ 255 – Walking with the Afflicted: Seeing Hope in Weariness

Written by Ken Wong (Communications Officer) In a turbulent world, news of wars and disasters always surrounds us. In Afghanistan, Lebanon, Ukraine, and Myanmar, the war has devastated countless families, as if there is no end in sight. Although we are not directly affected in Hong Kong, we may still feel powerless and exhausted from the perspective of supporters, donors and bystanders—tiredness that comes from the depths of our hearts and is difficult to resolve. This weariness comes not only from our inability to quickly resolve the problems of war and the problems it brings but also from ‘information fatigue’ and ‘compassion fatigue’. Every day, our screens are filled with tragic news, but there is little glimmer of

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United in Christ to Restore Hope

Written by Winnie Fung (Chief Executive) ‘See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.’ (Isaiah 43:19) The theme of the 20th Integral Alliance (IA) meeting this year is the ability to see God ‘doing a new thing’. It’s a challenging call, as it is easy to see darkness and despair in our world these days rather than hope and ‘new things’. But as Christians, we follow in His footsteps to care about the poverty and suffering in this world, and it is imperative that we practice the spiritual discipline of seeing God ‘doing a new thing’ and

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