Main YWAM Page, or to YWAM CommunicationsWord of the effort to break down centuries-old walls between Christians and Muslims is spreading far beyond the focus of the peace initiative - the routes of the historic Crusades, which small teams of Christians are retracing to ask for forgiveness for how the years of fighting for the Holy Land "betrayed" the true message of the gospel.
Many participants in The Reconciliation Walk - following the trails of the Crusader armies from Europe to Jerusalem - are taking the same apology to Muslim leaders and neighbors when they return home to Europe, North America and other parts of the world. "We've had a number of people take the message to Muslims in their community or to local mosques, where there has generally been the same kind of warm response we have seen in Turkey and along the route so far," said Lynn Green, The Reconciliation Walk coordinator and Youth With A Mission field director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
"We're encouraged by this, because Muslims all over the world are very conscious of the Crusades, it's just a part of their perspective on the world, and how they view Christians and Christianity."
In one English town, an approach by Reconciliation Walk participants has led to plans for ongoing meetings between local Muslim and Christian leaders, he added. "They are finding that they have a number of things in common, as far as values concerning family stability, youth and community issues."
The Reconciliation Walk set out at Easter, 1996 from Cologne, Germany - site of the start of the first Crusade - on the 900th anniversary of the launch of the "Holy War" to reclaim Palestine from Muslim control. Organizers plan to reach Jerusalem in July next year, in time to mark the 900th anniversary of the fall of the city.
Last year around 650 Christians from around the world traveled to Turkey to help present the friendship initiative's statement of apology - which declares that the Crusades corrupted Christianity's "true meaning of reconciliation, forgiveness and selfless love" - to people they met as they traveled from town to town.
Participants were warmly received throughout the country, said Green, with widespread media coverage. Some are returning this year to join other church groups and individuals taking the message to other parts of the country, in a six-month effort beginning this month.
Already The Reconciliation Walk has led to "a greater openness among Muslims to know about Jesus more accurately, because the resistance they have felt towards Christians because of our history is being dealt with," said Green.
"Through this event we are seeing a breaking down of the stereotypes in the minds and hearts of Christians towards Muslims, and the other way round. Time and again those taking part in the walk have said how amazed they have been at the way they have been received by the Muslim people they have met."
Reconciliation Walk representatives will take the apology to Syria and Lebanon later in the year before the 1998 leg of the project comes to an end. Meanwhile orientation programs in for walkers in Turkey are scheduled for Istanbul from May 24-6, June 21-23, July 19-21, and August 16-18.
The Reconciliation Walk:
PO Box 61, Harpenden, Herts AL5 4JJ, England.
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