Samuel Kobia
General secretary, World Council of Churches
Bio and press contact: see below.
When the world is at war in so many places and the forces of violence, war and oppression seem to be increasing, praying for peace may seem to be a futile exercise. But we Christians believe both in the power and in the promise of peace, and we also believe in the power of prayer.
Prayer is part of Christian spirituality, a spirituality which is not a call to turn inward, to retreat from social action and public life but, on the contrary, a call to awaken and to pursue the continuity of things of the spirit with action for justice and peace.
That is why, in the framework of the Decade to Overcome Violence, the World Council of Churches has called on its member churches to observe an International Day of Prayer for Peace on 21st September.
On that day, we want to lift up people in all nations who are working together for a peaceful world. Let us encourage them and walk in solidarity with them. Let us intercede for them and give thanks to God for them.
This year, the regional annual focus of the Decade to Overcome Violence is on the United States of America. Therefore, let us pray especially for and with the US churches. Let us recognize and encourage the struggle of churches and individuals in the US to witness to peace and justice, both domestically and internationally.
By living the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we are enabled to find and create peace in the midst of a world characterized by violence at many levels. It is only the spiritual perspective that gives us Christians "the courage to hope".
The World Council of Churches has invited prominent Christian leaders and peace-makers throughout the world to share a message of peace. May their words be a source of inspiration for all of us.
Message delivered on 21 September, 2004, to mark the observance of the International Day of Prayer for Peace.
Biographical summary
Involved for many years in urban-industrial mission and development both in Kenya and in the World Council of Churches, WCC general secretary Rev. Dr
Samuel Kobia
has been a life-long advocate of justice and peace, devoting priority attention to the peaceful resolution of conflicts in Africa. A founding member of the Nairobi Peace Initiative, he chaired peace talks for Sudan in 1991 and, in 1992, chaired a national election monitoring unit that successfully steered Kenya through a peaceful transition from single- to multi-party system.
Media contact:
Juan Michel +
41-79-507-6363 media@wcc-coe.org
Last edited on
September 20, 2004
by
Miriam Reidy-Prost
/ WCC