Main YWAM Page, or to YWAM Communications, or to Main News Digest PageA 2,500-MILE "peace pilgrimage" that has helped tear down some of the centuries-old walls between Christianity, Islam and Judaism takes a major further step soon.
The Reconciliation Walk, which sees Christians retracing the routes of the historic Crusades with an apology for the way they misrepresented the gospel, recently concluded a two-year trek throughout Turkey with a series of historic meetings.
In a few weeks' time, participants will begin to arrive in Syria and Lebanon to spread their message of repentance and reconciliation there, on the next leg of their trek from Cologne, Germany - where the Crusades began - to Jerusalem.
Leaders of Muslim and Jewish communities received The Reconciliation Walk apology at special events in Antakya - formerly Antioch, one of the centers of the early Church - marking the 900th anniversary of the fall of the city to the Crusaders.
Ninety walkers from 19 countries gathered in Antakya to present the message to representatives of the government and police, as well as Muslim, Jewish and Orthodox and Catholic communities. One city official who expressed his gratitude commented that if all people had the same attitude as the Reconciliation Walkers, the world would be a peaceful place.
The Reconciliation Walk began at Easter in 1996, since when around 1,000 Christians from some 30 countries have walked parts of the route - down through Europe and into Turkey - to share the project's official message of regret with people they have met along the way. Organizers believe that the bloody "holy wars" fought to regain Palestine from Islamic control are a major reason for ongoing enmity between Christians, and Muslims and Jews.
The Reconciliation Walk statement apologizes for how the Crusades "betrayed" the real message of Christianity by corrupting "its true meaning of reconciliation, forgiveness and selfless love". The project has been warmly received across Turkey as visiting groups have taken its message to towns and villages across the country over the past three summers.
Their efforts have been featured in TV and newspaper reports, with groups being welcomed by applauding crowds and at official receptions by religious and community leaders. One shop owner was so touched by what he heard that he told a team of English visitors: "I feel like I should walk back to London to say thank you."
The response has been "quite miraculous", said Reconciliation Walk coordinator Lynn Green, Youth With A Mission field director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. "Our overall goals in Turkey were met and surpassed long ago."
Reconciliation walkers will spread out across Syria and Lebanon from October, carrying the message to different parts of the countries until next April. "We expect more than 200 participants for the two countries," said Green. "They have been very welcoming thus far."
He added that time and again participants had been overwhelmed by the warm reception they had received along the way. "It shows that when we commit ourselves to the high standard of Jesus' commands, especially that we love our 'enemies', we find that often that they turn out to be our friends."
The Reconciliation Walk is due to culminate in July next year with a special gathering in Jerusalem to mark the 900th anniversary of its sacking by the Crusaders.
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