Meet 2024 Rick Love Award Recipient Munther Isaac

Sep 12

Dr. Rick Love, the late Founder and President of Peace Catalyst International, dreamed of mobilizing people around the globe into a peacebuilding movement. Everyone who knew him knew this was his passion and that he worked tirelessly toward it. He founded Peace Catalyst because of that dream and dedicated the last ten years of his life to peacebuilding, courageously crossing social, political, and ideological divides and inviting others to do the same. He did so because of his Jesus-centered approach to all of life.

To honor Rick’s legacy, to further his vision, and to raise up more peacebuilders like him, Peace Catalyst presented the 3rd annual Rick Love Peace Awards at Alliance for Peacebuilding’s annual gathering, PeaceCon, on September 11, 2024 in Washington, D.C. These awards honor those who creatively cross divides to build peace, exhibiting the same character and courage displayed by Rick.

Three awards were given: one Rick Love Peace Award and two Rick Love Young Innovators Awards.

The Rick Love Peace Award is for a peacebuilding theologian or practitioner who reflects the values of our founder and has made significant contributions in the past year. It includes a $2000 cash award to support the recipient in their peacebuilding efforts.

Meet this year’s Rick Love Peace Award recipient, Munther Isaac…

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“I am deeply honored to accept the Rick Love Award. It is a privilege to be recognized alongside previous recipients, particularly from an organization that carries forward the impactful legacy of Rick Love. I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Rick Love during the Christ at the Checkpoint conference in Bethlehem. His commitment to interfaith peacebuilding and his profound impact on breaking down barriers of misunderstanding and prejudice remain a source of inspiration for me.

As someone who studied at the same seminary as Rick, I saw that we both share a common spirit of advocacy and reconciliation. Though from very different backgrounds, the uniting message of our faith led us to many of the same places.

I come from Palestine, a land often described in terms of its complex and challenging realities, including the ongoing military occupation, apartheid, and genocide. My journey has been dedicated to challenging stereotypes and advocating for justice, which is central to my third book, “The Other Side of the Wall.”

In these times, taking a stand for peace means more than just diplomatic efforts. It involves a courageous commitment to justice and solidarity with the marginalized. It is about choosing sides with those who suffer and standing firm in our faith convictions.

As we witness ongoing tragedies, including the devastation that affects our communities, it is vital to remember that God sides with the oppressed. This principle drives our work at Bethlehem Bible College and the Christ at the Checkpoint initiative.

Peacebuilding is not about naive diplomacy or simplistic notions of “both sides.” It requires speaking truth to power, challenging our own traditions, and forming partnerships across diverse faiths and beliefs. It is a collective effort to create communities marked by peace and justice, embodying the true spirit of interfaith dialogue and mutual respect.

Thank you once again for this remarkable honor. I am inspired to continue this important work and to uphold the values that Rick Love exemplified throughout his life. With gratitude of this honor, Rick’s memory is a reminder to remain always committed to the pursuit of peace.”

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Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac is a Palestinian Christian pastor and theologian. He pastors the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church in Bethlehem and the Lutheran Church in Beit Sahour. He is also the academic dean of Bethlehem Bible College and the director of the Christ at the Checkpoint conference. Munther originally studied civil engineering in Birzeit University in Palestine. He then obtained a Master in Biblical Studies from Westminster Theological Seminary and then a PhD from the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies.

Munther is married to Rudaina, an architect, and together they have two boys: Karam (11) and Zaid (9). Munther is passionate about issues related to Palestinian theology. He speaks locally and internationally and has published numerous articles on issues related to the theology of the land, Palestinian Christians and Palestinian theology, and holistic mission and reconciliation. He is the author of “The Other Side of the Wall”, “From Land to Lands, from Eden to the Renewed Earth”, “An Introduction to Palestinian Theology” (in Arabic), a commentary on the book of Daniel (in Arabic), and more recently has published a book on women ordination in the church, also in Arabic. He is involved in many reconciliation and interfaith forums, and he is a Kairos Palestine board member. His sermon Christ Under the Rubble was heard by tens of millions. He has appeared on CNN, BBC, Al Jazeera, MSNBC, CBS, and Democracy Now.

BOOKS BY MUNTHER ISAAC