Peacebuilding Students Receive Ephraim Isaac Leadership Awards

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The 10 inaugural students in the MA in International Peacebuilding program received awards last week named for Dr. Ephraim Isaac, a revered Ethiopian scholar who was on hand to present them. Fellowship in Prayer, a New Jersey-based organization, sponsored the awards.

Along with the award came a $2,000 check for each student to use on their capstone projects, the culmination of their yearlong program.

David Newton, Rev. Wayne Meisel, and Dr. Isaac, all members of Fellowship in Prayer's Board of Directors, spoke to the students about the importance of their training at Hartford International University.

Fellowship in Prayer supports programs that promote "interfaith dialogue and steps toward global peace" and "empower individuals and groups

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to explore the rich variety of spiritual resources and practices available to them through the world's religions and spiritual traditions," which made HIU students perfect recipients of the group's funding, David Newton said. "This organization is about interfaith but also about the creation of peace," he said.

Dr. Isaac, who speaks 26 languages and travels the world in pursuit of peace, said he was very pleased about the work HIU is doing, especially in light of its history as a groundbreaking institution.

"You are always setting the pace," he said. 

Of conflicts around the world, he said, 75 percent have religious aspects to them, he said. That makes it even more important to train peacebuilders in a religious context.

President Joel N. Lohr thanked the Fellowship in Prayer delegation and congratulated the students on their awards. 

"I trust that you will use this money for good," he said. "And pay it forward."