Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace | Mark DeYmaz

In this deeply reflective conversation, host John Terrill welcomes pastor, author, and practitioner Mark DeYmaz for an exploration of Christian peacemaking. Drawing from his new book Make Me an Instrument of Peace and his decades of work leading multi‑ethnic congregations, Mark unpacks the biblical, historical, and practical foundations of living as Christlike peacemakers in a fractured cultural moment.Mark shares his upbringing in economic hardship, his journey into pastoral ministry, and the early experiences that awakened his calling to build healthy, multi‑ethnic churches. Together, John and Mark discuss the Prayer of St. Francis, its surprising origins, and its enduring ability to shape Christians into people who sow love, pardon, hope, and light.Listeners will gain insight into:The true origins of the peace prayer (hint: not St. Francis)Why peacemaking is central to Christian identityHow juxtaposition and paradox lie at the heart of the gospelThe skills required to think and speak with nuancePractical disciplines for removing “peace‑disturbing factors” in our livesStories of God’s grace at work amid personal grief, community challenges, and ministry breakthroughsHow Christians can witness with humility rather than merely “make points”How churches can embody reconciliation in polarized timesThis episode invites us to pause, breathe, and rediscover the beauty and costliness of Christlike peace.Key TopicsMulti‑ethnic church leadershipCultural intelligence and nuanceThe peace prayer of 1912 and its global impactBiblical foundations of peacemaking (Matthew 5, Isaiah 61, Luke 4)Christian formation in polarized timesPractical disciplines for pursuing peaceMark’s personal journey and testimonyResources & LinksMark DeYmaz: Books, resources, and ministryMake Me an Instrument of Peace (NavPress, 2026)Mosaic Church & Mosaix Global NetworkResources on peacemaking, cultural intelligence, and multi‑ethnic church leadershipSend us Fan MailCONNECT WITH USSubscribe to The UpWords Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts and visit slbf.org/studio to learn more about our work at the intersection of faith, the academy, and the marketplace.This episode was created by the SLBF STUDIO at Upper House.Produced by Daniel Johnson and Dave ConourEdited by Dave Conour