“Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received” (1 Peter 4:10)
During the 26th National Congress of Evangelical Youth (CONGRENAJE), which brings together more than 1,200 young people from July 27 to August 1 in the city of Igrejinha, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil), the Sustainability Institute Latin America and the Caribbean (InS), from Faculdades EST, facilitated the workshop “Conflict Mediation and Peacebuilding”. With the participation of nearly 90 young people over two days, the activity provided meaningful moments of reflection, exchange and learning.
The workshop was led by InS coordinator, Ma. Scheila Dillenburg, and collaborator Me. Tiago Graube, and aimed to promote reflection on personal gifts and skills as tools to address conflicts, transform relationships, and promote a culture of peace. In alignment with the central theme of the congress, the workshop reinforced the importance of listening and serving others From the heart, in the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, building bridges for coexistence based on listening, empathy, dialogue and mutual respect.
In addition to young people from the Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil (IECLB), the workshop also welcomed youth from international delegations, such as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in South Africa (ELCSA Cape Church). One of the workshops was conducted in Spanish for young people from sister churches in the Lutheran communion in the region: the Lutheran Church in Chile (ILCH), the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chile (IELCH), and the Salvadoran Lutheran Church (ILS).
InS is also present at the congress with a booth in collaboration with the Gender and Religion Program (PGR), welcoming visitors, presenting its work, projects and initiatives, distributing materials and promoting spaces for dialogue on sustainability, gender, diversity, justice, equity and peace.
Participation in the 26th CONGRENAJE reaffirms InS’s commitment to training, capacity-building, development of gifts and resources and strengthening youth leadership in the mission and sustainability of the Church.
We thank the National Coordination of Evangelical Youth of the IECLB for the invitation and the opportunity.
By: InS Operative Team