In our home, a simple photograph sits on the mantle: a rock painted with the words “We Refuse to Be Enemies.” It comes from the Tent of Nations, an organic farm in Bethlehem tended by a Palestinian Christian family. That image marks the beginning of my husband’s journey with Global Immersion in 2014—an immersion that reshaped our family’s practices, challenged our inherited theologies, and deepened our shared vocation. It’s why we’ve invested in this mission for over a decade.

My daily life is full of the ordinary—making meals for neighbors, driving carpools, accompanying newcomers, teaching preschoolers. And yet, even in the ordinary, the world feels like it’s on fire. The tectonic plates of change are shifting under my children, my church, and my neighborhood. What keeps me grounded in hope is the work of Global Immersion.

As Board Chair, I have the privilege of witnessing an underground network of leaders who are quietly, courageously refusing to be enemies:

• A faith leader in the Pacific Northwest turning guns into garden tools.
• A South Dakota pastor guiding a congregation into the way of Enemy Love.
• California prison reformers developing conflict mediation skills.
• Artists creating work that invites hope and repair.
• Pastors and lay leaders crossing denominational and culture-war lines to listen, befriend, and heal.
• Christian university leaders forming students to follow Jesus across lines of conflict.

These stories rarely crack the code of social media algorithms, but they are transforming our world. Global Immersion is discipling leaders who bridge across differences, build peacemaking communities, cultivate communal resilience, and embody the peace of Jesus. Through them, thousands are being reached with a vision for reconciliation that is both courageous and deeply needed.

This year, our Board has worked hard to strengthen the foundation of this mission. We deepened relationships with and support structure for our Peace Fellows, diversified revenue streams, and invested in relational development strategies that keep our community close to the stories of peacemaking.

Yes, the world is groaning. Yes, the fires rage. And still, I bear witness to ordinary leaders rising with extraordinary hope.

If these stories strengthen your own, I invite you to join me in giving to this work. Your generosity forms leaders who embody peace in places desperately in need of it. The impact is exponential.