We first met John and Kay Hodge through their work with CFM in Nigeria. In 2021 John and Kay, in a huge step of faith, moved their young family from Nigeria and based themselves in the UK to launch a new ministry in partnership with CFM called Seek Peace and we provided support to this new venture. Seek Peace partners with churches and Christian missions in regions experiencing conflict to plan, deliver and reflect on the impact of their peacebuilding and reconciliation work.
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2022 Review
In 2022 they started working with a small peacemaking ministry called CHIPS (Christian International Peace Service) who have established peace projects in Nakapiyili, Ghana and work amongst two ethnic groups Nanumba and Koncumba, who are historical enemies. John travelled to Ghana and helped CHIPS continue to develop their peacemaking work and provided guidance for them. This year Seek Peace will continue to work with the programme team in Ghana to develop new strategic peacebuilding initiatives in Nakpayili. They have also been asked to advise and support CHIPS' work among disadvantaged youth in parts of London regarding the rising gang violence and to help them develop their theological voice in this work.
Seek Peace have also continued their work with the Computer Centres in Jos, Nigeria. This continues to support building relationship between youth from Muslim backgrounds and youth from Christian backgrounds through education.
Seek Peace have also continued their work with the Computer Centres in Jos, Nigeria. This continues to support building relationship between youth from Muslim backgrounds and youth from Christian backgrounds through education.
2023 Support
In 2023, Seek Peace are looking to continue working with their programme partners to further the work of the previous year. Their prayer is that Seek Peace grows to be part of equipping and supporting the local church and local missions in volatile regions to share the heart of the gospel and the theology of reconciliation – for this is what Jesus accomplished for us on the cross and emboldens us to do for others.
Your support of $3,000 will
Your support of $3,000 will
- Support John and Kay Hodge to partner in peace and reconciliation projects ($3,000).
Send Me
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Prayer and Praise
- Pray that Seek Peace grows to be part of equipping and supporting the local church and local missions in volatile regions to share the heart of the gospel and the theology of reconciliation
- Pray for support in the next phase of Seek Peace
- Pray for new regular supporters to release John and Kay more into the work of Seek Peace
Testimonies
I'd like to share the stories of the 75 community elders who have been commissioned now to mediate and transform conflicts. All of them, even those of different religious backgrounds to Christianity have encountered the Kingdom through this, and are now participants of seeing God's vision for their communities come to fruition. It may be a first step, but Jesus is present at this table!
One of the centre staff, Alex, when talking of the role of his faith in Jesus in motivating him to continue with this often-difficult work described how discouraging he found it at certain times when they were trying to set up the Jos North Centre. He described how they would go into this community and be turned away time and time again by people of faith who said that setting up a space for Muslim and Christian youth to learn together was ridiculous. Alex described speaking to one man however in the community who was soft to the vision and he encouraged Alex that God is at work and to run with the people who have soft-hearts, let it build his faith, because God is at work.
We think this describes how the Holy Spirit is moving through this work, and how the Lord is calling diverse people to Himself. When His people put their own identities aside, to pick up Christ's, put their own security aside to care for another's they bear witness to the spiritual and physical freedom that follows when God's Kingdom is declared throughout our broken cultures and relationships.
By God's provision John was able to work with a small peacemaking ministry called CHIPS (Christian International Peace Service) who have established peace projects in Nakapiyili, Ghana and work amongst two ethnic groups Nanumba and Koncumba (historic enemies). CHIPS have been working to share the gospel through bridging divides. Moved by Christ, they 'move into the neighbourhood' and believe that a core role that they play in their witness is to 'absorb the enmity' that divides. Through doing this they are living out of the resurrection life that Jesus speaks of. Their staff in Nakpayili have been wanting to develop the impact of their work. They have reached a time in the life of this project where they want to measure their work and use this to develop the direction of the new projects they start. John's work with them has been so timely. The trustees of CHIPS were blown away by the work John did with the team in Ghana and have now asked whether we can go further in partnering with their ministry in 2023.
Of this work, their trustee wrote:
"Firstly, may I say how extremely valuable John’s work has been to the CHIPS organisation. I cannot speak highly enough of his willingness and ability to get involved, to undertake work that has been incredibly useful, and his ability to provide a different and complementary viewpoint on our activities, strategy and philosophy. John was able to spend eleven days with the CHIPS team in Ghana. Amongst other activities, in depth 1:1 interviews were carried out with all of CHIPS’ full-time Ghana project staff. Much if not all of his findings will be relevant and useful, not only to the CHIPS Ghana project, but also to our activities in Brixton (London) and as we think through our aspirations for a third as yet unidentified location. In particular, John’s ability to articulate, categorise and summarise his conclusions and thought processes is refreshingly easy for those of us involved in the day to day and month by 2 month development. This brings a fresh perspective, is easy to follow and, in simple parlance, helps us to see the wood beyond the trees. Of specific interest are the differing forms of contact, geographically, socio-economically, theologically, culturally, etc., and his work on the relative abilities to reproduce the differing activities, with strengths and weaknesses."
One of the centre staff, Alex, when talking of the role of his faith in Jesus in motivating him to continue with this often-difficult work described how discouraging he found it at certain times when they were trying to set up the Jos North Centre. He described how they would go into this community and be turned away time and time again by people of faith who said that setting up a space for Muslim and Christian youth to learn together was ridiculous. Alex described speaking to one man however in the community who was soft to the vision and he encouraged Alex that God is at work and to run with the people who have soft-hearts, let it build his faith, because God is at work.
We think this describes how the Holy Spirit is moving through this work, and how the Lord is calling diverse people to Himself. When His people put their own identities aside, to pick up Christ's, put their own security aside to care for another's they bear witness to the spiritual and physical freedom that follows when God's Kingdom is declared throughout our broken cultures and relationships.
By God's provision John was able to work with a small peacemaking ministry called CHIPS (Christian International Peace Service) who have established peace projects in Nakapiyili, Ghana and work amongst two ethnic groups Nanumba and Koncumba (historic enemies). CHIPS have been working to share the gospel through bridging divides. Moved by Christ, they 'move into the neighbourhood' and believe that a core role that they play in their witness is to 'absorb the enmity' that divides. Through doing this they are living out of the resurrection life that Jesus speaks of. Their staff in Nakpayili have been wanting to develop the impact of their work. They have reached a time in the life of this project where they want to measure their work and use this to develop the direction of the new projects they start. John's work with them has been so timely. The trustees of CHIPS were blown away by the work John did with the team in Ghana and have now asked whether we can go further in partnering with their ministry in 2023.
Of this work, their trustee wrote:
"Firstly, may I say how extremely valuable John’s work has been to the CHIPS organisation. I cannot speak highly enough of his willingness and ability to get involved, to undertake work that has been incredibly useful, and his ability to provide a different and complementary viewpoint on our activities, strategy and philosophy. John was able to spend eleven days with the CHIPS team in Ghana. Amongst other activities, in depth 1:1 interviews were carried out with all of CHIPS’ full-time Ghana project staff. Much if not all of his findings will be relevant and useful, not only to the CHIPS Ghana project, but also to our activities in Brixton (London) and as we think through our aspirations for a third as yet unidentified location. In particular, John’s ability to articulate, categorise and summarise his conclusions and thought processes is refreshingly easy for those of us involved in the day to day and month by 2 month development. This brings a fresh perspective, is easy to follow and, in simple parlance, helps us to see the wood beyond the trees. Of specific interest are the differing forms of contact, geographically, socio-economically, theologically, culturally, etc., and his work on the relative abilities to reproduce the differing activities, with strengths and weaknesses."