Lay Saints

In a world bewitched by war, few peace advocates go beyond platitudes, prayers, and protests. In 2003, volunteer peacemakers from Christian Peacemaker Teams and Voices in the Wilderness risked their lives by waging peace in a war zone. Arriving in Baghdad at the onset of the American bombing campaign, they: documented the bombing of the Al Shaab market; got the word out to supporters back home; shared the risks faced by ordinary Iraqis; and forged people-to-people, soul-to-soul connections with ordinary Iraqis. They met obstacles such as: militarist delusions; press sensationalism; official interference; infrastructure failure; and confinment by embattled authorities. After suffering police detention, several were injured on the road to Amman. All team members returned to witness to what they had seen.