Members of the Joseph Maren Peace Foundation from Jos North and Jos South Local Government Areas on Saturday, June 6, 2026, gathered for a peace volunteers’ retreat at the Emmanuel Ovorgba Center, Rayfield, Jos, aimed at strengthening grassroots peacebuilding efforts across communities affected by conflict.
Speaking during the retreat, the National Director of the foundation, Rev. Prof. Joseph Maren Sampson, said the event brought together volunteers actively engaged in community reconciliation, conflict resolution, and the promotion of peaceful coexistence. He noted that the retreat focused on the theme, “The Power of Forgiveness and Reconciliation,” emphasizing its importance as a tool for restoring harmony and fostering lasting peace in communities that have experienced crises and violence.
Rev. Prof. Joseph Maren Sampson emphasized that reconciliation and forgiveness are essential tools for healing communities affected by conflict. He explained that true reconciliation is modeled after God’s reconciliation with humanity through Jesus Christ. According to him, peace is not merely the absence of war or tension but a state of wholeness and right relationships with God, fellow humans, and creation. He stressed that forgiveness helps victims release resentment and find healing in Christ. However, forgiveness does not minimize wrongdoing or remove accountability. He urged peace volunteers to promote forgiveness and reconciliation as vital steps toward lasting peace and community restoration.
Rev. Yaknan Labar, a member of the Joseph Maren Peace Foundation in Jos South, said the retreat highlighted the critical role of forgiveness and reconciliation in resolving community conflicts. He noted that many conflicts persist because people are unwilling to forgive, making reconciliation difficult. According to him, participants learned practical approaches to fostering forgiveness and unity in communities. He expressed confidence that applying these lessons would contribute to a more peaceful and harmonious society in the future.
Maria Michael Akusu, Coordinator of the Joseph Maren Peace Foundation in Jos South LGA, described the retreat as an eye-opening experience that provided practical solutions to challenges faced by peace volunteers in the field. She said the training clarified areas that had previously caused confusion and equipped participants with a better understanding of how to carry out their work effectively. Akusu expressed confidence that the lessons learned would help address existing gaps and strengthen peacebuilding efforts in their communities.
The retreat ended with a renewed commitment by participants to apply the lessons learned in their respective communities. The volunteers pledged to intensify efforts toward promoting forgiveness, reconciliation, and peaceful coexistence, expressing optimism that the knowledge gained would strengthen grassroots peacebuilding initiatives and contribute to reducing conflicts across Jos North, Jos South, and other vulnerable communities in Plateau State.
