Palestinian Muslim peacemaker to speak at Trinity Lutheran

Published 9:10 am Friday, May 14, 2010

Palestinian Muslim peacemaker, Walid Issa, a self-described “Architect of Peace,” will speak at Trinity Lutheran Church at 10:30 a.m. Sunday. Walid is a 22-year old student from Bethlehem, Palestine, who was born, the second youngest of nine children, in a refugee camp after his grandfather’s land was confiscated by Israel.

He has been living in Minnesota and attending college for the past three years and is graduating from Normandale Community College with his associate’s degree in computer programming. He plans to continue his studies at S. Cloud State University this fall as he pursues his bachelor’s degree.

He has lived through two Intifadas (struggles) and continues to live in the midst of violence and uncertainty with Israeli soldiers unlawfully entering his family home. He is a member of Minnesota-based ARK for Peace Organization (http://arkforpeace.org/about-us/ark-peace-charter/), and is a committed peacemaker.

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Also, at 1 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, Issa will again make a presentation along with Kate Peer, president and co-founder of Group Travel Directors Inc. of Minneapolis. Peer has been to the Holy Land nine times. She will share her insights and knowledge about travel to the Holy Land. She has been in the travel business for 38 years.

In addition, the Rev. Curtis Zieske of Trinity Lutheran Church will speak about his own experiences from five previous pilgrimages to the Holy Land and his upcoming pilgrimage plans this coming Nov. 4-16. For more information about their presentations and the November pilgrimage, contact Zieske at 373-2466 or e-mail tlpastor@msn.com.