Advent Peace: Tigrayan Alliance Fellowship Discerning Community

This Advent season, we invite you to join us as we reflect on the coming of Jesus and the inbreaking of His Kingdom on Earth. Together, we’ll discover how different New Ventures are learning to share the hope, joy, love, and peace of Jesus in their unique contexts and neighborhoods across Canada. 

Advent reminds us that God’s peace will be fully restored one day. 

700 years before the birth of Jesus, the prophet Isaiah foretold the peace ushered in by the coming Messiah: 

“For to us a child is born/ to us a son is given/ and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.” (Isaiah 9: 6-7, emphasis added)

The first advent of Jesus did bring peace beyond understanding. Through His life and defeat of death, Jesus restored peace between us and God. What a gift!

But as we reflect upon peace, we’re forcefully reminded of the many ways our world is by suffering, violence and broken relationships. Peace often feels out of reach in our wounded world. 

Tigrayan Alliance Fellowship, a Discerning Community in Toronto, Ontario, understands this well. This community of Tigrayan Christians is gathering in response to a felt need for worship and fellowship in their language. Together, they hope to provide practical support to those affected by the invasion of Tigray, an autonomous region of Ethiopia.  

Since the crisis began in November 2020, Tigrayans in Canada have been unable to communicate with friends and family members in Tigray. Tigrayan Alliance Fellowship will provide opportunities to gather, connect with each other, and pray for God to end the conflict. 

When facing devastating headlines and situations like this, the “peace on Earth” emphasized in Luke 2:14 feels far off. Yet, as we light our second Advent candle this week, may we remember the peace that will be consummated, fully restored, when Jesus comes again. 

God is in the business of redeeming all things. And He invites us to partner with Him in being peacemakers, bringing order and beauty to areas of brokenness around us. This is exactly what Tigrayan Alliance Fellowship desires to live out. For the next six months, this Discerning Community will discern how they can join Jesus at work in their language community, create space for intercession, and actively support those in need in Tigray. 

Our neighborhoods, cities and world are hurting, but they won’t forever. We praise God for leaders and communities who are actively partnering with Jesus in making peace, as we wait for Him to come again and re-establish shalom peace in its fullness. 

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Learn more about Tigrayan Alliance Fellowship and how you can join them in prayer here.