The Peacemaker

Long before Jesus was born Isaiah said: "A Child is born to us! A son is given to us! He will be called Prince of Peace." Micah said "He will bring peace." At his birth the angles sang "Glory to God in the highest heaven and peace on earth."

Don and Carol Richardson left Canada for New Guinea to tell the Good News about Jesus Christ to the tribes who lived there. There was constant mistrust and treachery between neighbouring tribes, and fighting constantly broke out. But the tribes people had found one way to keep the peace. Each chief would hand over a child of his own tribe into the care of the enemy. Provided the adopted child was healthy and alive, there would be no war. If the child died, fighting broke out once more. For that reason the "Peace child" was looked after carefully and well.

Don used this custom, as a way of explaining the coming of Jesus. God had given his own, much loved Son as a peace child to mankind, to show that he wants to be friends with us. But unlike the tribes' peace child, this bringer of peace with God can never die. So when men and women accept God's peace child, they know that never again need there be war between them and God. Many of the listening Sawi people understood that message and became Christians. Love took the place of fear and hatred and soon they wanted to spread that love, to their one time enemies, the tribe nearest to them.

It was Christmas time. They sent an invitation......

by Mary Batchellor