In an increasingly conflict-ridden and fragmented world, the God who grants peace and wholeness calls Christians to understand and address the root causes of violence and injustice so that we may share in mending the brokenness that exists in our world.  Peacemaking is the human response to God’s gift of peace giving.

The Presbyterian Peacemaking Program makes it possible for leaders from our partner denominations and partner organizations around the world to visit the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) each year to interpret issues of peace and justice. Since 1984 over 220 International Peacemakers from more than 57 countries have been hosted by Presbyterians. These visits have informed Presbyterians, opened hearts and minds, touched lives, established relationships and inspired new ministries. By sharing stories of their work and witness, they help us to understand peace and justice concerns around the world and they provide insights that can inspire us to greater faithfulness. Their visits broaden our sense of God’s inclusive family and help equip us to build a culture of peace and nonviolence for all God’s children. We are honored to have Dóra Kanizsai-Nagy   from   Hungary   visit   us   Saturday,   October 22.

Dóra Kanizsai-Nagy, from Budapest, Hungary, has a degree in international relations and began her career in think tanks focusing on energy policy and democracy. Since 2008, she has served with the Reformed Church in Hungary (RCH) in various capacities – first as a project manager and later as the head of the RCH’s Refugee Ministry. In 2014 she co-founded the Kalunba Social Services Association, an NGO that now actively serves refugees in Budapest. Dóra and her team work towards helping their clientele in both the short- and long-term, providing services such as housing assistance, employment, schooling programs, language lessons, as well as community building opportunities. “Since the beginning, it has been vital for to me to actively search for the ways in which we can provide practical help for those turning to us. It is very important for me to show how the church can apply abstract theological values in a practical sense,” says Dóra, when describing her work. The refugee mission aims to provide concrete and practical help to the population that it serves so that their clients might lead more full, well rounded, and independent lives as productive and valuable members of society.