On February 27, we welcomed, Gary Mason, a Methodist clergy person, who has spent 27 years in Belfast dedicated to facilitating the peace process in Northern Ireland.

NewGround Fellowship alumni and friends got together with Gary on Tuesday, February 27, to learn how to engage with people who are at extreme ends of the spectrum and how to move from violence to connection.

Gary has lectured in political, religious and academic forums throughout Europe, South Africa, the Middle East and the U.S.A. seeking to engage, mentor and share lessons from the Irish peace process. Gary was instrumental in facilitating negotiations with paramilitaries and government officials and in 2007.

Through his words and his example, Gary Mason compelled us to push past that pain and fear of the “other” in order to promote our shared humanity and effectively pursue peace.” – Maia Ferdman, Human Relations Advocate, HCIDLA