The past three months have been among the most consequential of Global Immersion’s history, and 2024 will only accelerate this trend.

We responded to the atrocities unfolding in the Holy Land by launching our first-ever Virtual Immersion, a series of resources that amplify the voices of those affected. To date, this initiative sparked our highest level of engagement across podcast and social media channels. Our goal has remained steadfast: to offer you tangible pathways for becoming Everyday Peacemakers who can see accurately, immerse courageously, and contend for peace creatively.

The stories we shared earlier this month of exponential impact among the Westside congregation and Whitworth campus are representative of countless stories left untold. Moved by a desire to participate in peace, thousands are learning from Global Immersion to embrace Jesus’ way of peacemaking as the ideal approach to engaging conflict. 

While the violence in Israel and Gaza has been our primary focus since October, we anticipate that the 2024 election season will bring with it an increase in conflict and the widening of divides in our communities. The need for Everyday Peacemakers is only going to become more urgent.

To meet the moment, we have discerned four priorities for 2024:

1. Awaken Imaginations: Through our media channels, we will consistently invite and inspire you toward a restorative faith and practice for peacemaking within your own story and place.
2. Forge Conflict-Competent Leaders: Through Journey of Hope (JOH), we will guide the next cohort of sixteen cross-sector leaders (with influence reaching over 25,000 individuals) in their formation as Reconciling Leaders.
3. Galvanize our Community of Reconciling Leaders: In three years, we’ve formed 150 leaders from seven countries (reaching over 200,000 folks) through Journey of Hope. This year, we will convene our alumni through quarterly virtual sessions, a first-ever in-person retreat, and personalized coaching and spiritual direction sessions.
4. Co-Create with Kindred Partners: We’re actively strengthening relationships with kindred organizations in the areas of peace and politics, reducing gun violence, racial reconciliation, and Israel/Palestine so that we will be prepared to rapidly develop and deploy peacemaking resources and experiences like the “Christ in the Rubble” Livestream on Dec. 23.

As the new year approaches, we are facing a budget shortfall in funds raised and pledged. To empower our uniquely gifted, small team of four’s capacity for what lies ahead, we need to raise an additional $120,000 for 2024, or we risk cutting some of these essential personnel and programs.