Blog post
As an associate pastor at Thika Cathedral and a children’s minister working with Africa Christian Church and Schools in Kenya, I have always believed that faith should be active and rooted in community. Yet, at GETI, I discovered that faith also calls us to unity and reconciliation beyond our own borders.
The theme of this year’s GETI—focused on ecumenism and the future of the church—could not have come at a better time. We are living in a collapsing world, a world fragmented by conflict, economic struggles, and social divisions. Coming together with young theologians and church leaders from different continents reminded me that the body of Christ is truly global. Despite our different languages, denominations, and traditions, we share one faith, one baptism, and one calling: to love and serve God’s people.
At GETI, I was particularly moved by how dialogue was practiced—not as a debate, but as an act of listening. In small group sessions, I learned from participants who came from contexts marked by war, displacement, and cultural loss. Their testimonies opened my eyes to how faith sustains people even in the most fragile situations. I realized that reconciliation is not just an abstract theological concept; it is a lived reality. It begins with the courage to listen to each other’s pain and to hope for healing together.
One of the most transformative moments for me came during a session on the church’s role in peacemaking. We reflected on how Christians can respond to division not with fear or suspicion, but with empathy and service. That session echoed deeply with my ministry in Kenya, where I work with children and families affected by poverty and broken relationships. I returned home with a renewed commitment to nurture peace at the grassroots—through education, care, and creating spaces where children learn to see one another as God’s image-bearers.
My GETI experience also taught me that unity is not uniformity. True ecumenism honors our differences while drawing us toward a shared mission. I found this reflected in worship: voices rising in many languages, yet harmonizing in one song of praise. That image stays with me—a reminder that the church’s diversity is not a problem to solve, but a gift to celebrate.
As I reflect on this journey, I am filled with gratitude to the World Council of Churches for creating a space where young leaders can encounter the wider church and be equipped for service. GETI reminded me that theology is not just about knowledge but about transformation—of hearts, communities, and systems.
In a time when our world feels fragile and divided, the call to reconciliation and peace is urgent. My prayer is that every Christian—wherever they serve—will find ways to build bridges of understanding and to embody the hope that Christ offers. Because peace begins not in grand declarations, but in the humble acts of love we choose each day.
About the author :
Agnes Wangeci Mwangi is an associate pastor at Thika Cathedral of the Africa Christian church and schools in Kenya.
