By ACNS staff

The Archbishop of Canterbury was one of two key speakers at a St. Patrick’s Day #‎IAmAPeaceMovement event which brought together 300 young Christians from all over Northern Ireland. 

The Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Nichola Mallon, was the second speaker at the gathering which organized by the team of Summer Madness, Ireland’s largest Christian festival, and led by Church Army Evangelist Jasper Rutherford.

Archbishop Welby’s address highlighted that Christian life is about growing into God, even though the world crushes young people’s identity and may even twist it, in Christ it remains unchanged. He called young Christians to be people who bring reconciliation in Ireland.

Led by Archbishop Welby, young people prayed for peace and commissioned each other to be active in peace-building and societal healing.

Rutherford reminded the audience about the theme of peaceful conflict resolution in Northern Ireland by alluding to the story in Genesis 26 where Isaac reopens wells that have been closed. Conflict arises as a result of this action but rather than escalate it, Isaac confronts difference and moves forward.

Comment: A St Patrick's night to restore fractured Northern Irish identities