Indonesia receives a unique message of hope and reconciliation

Indonesia receives a unique message of hope and reconciliation from 'Ambassadors for Peace' delegation
Middle Eastern Ambassadors from many Middle East countries gather in Jakarta to hear about the 'Religious Rights Resolution' from the team

By Dan Wooding reporting from Jakarta
Founder of ASSIST Ministries

JAKARTA, INDONESIA (ANS) -- One of the world's largest and most diverse countries - Indonesia - has received a delegation from Ambassadors for Peace, a religious freedom organization, to discuss how everyone can live in peace with others who do not follow their religion or share their beliefs with complete free and open dialogue.

Dr. Ansdell telling the group that there is a need to act now on religious freedom as His Excellency Mohammad Daowdieh, Ambassador for Jordan looks on
The group, founded by Dr. Garry Ansdell, senior pastor of Hosanna Christian Fellowship in Bellflower, California, and Ameal Haddad, an Arab pastor originally from Jordan, has already shared its distinctive message in many other countries such as Egypt, Bahrain, Kuwait, Syria and Morocco.

Ambassadors for Peace was created shortly after the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City on September 11, 2001, when Ansdell and Haddad began responding Muslim and other leaders who like them thought there was a desperate need to codify and discuss in "an open dialogue, of the differences and similarities of their faith and give dignity and respect to each other."

Dr. Ansdell said, "This is a once in a life opportunity for us to share with political and religious leaders who desire to see religious freedom spelled out for all," Dr. Garry Ansdell, co-founder of the group

Ansdell said, "We all have a divine right to believe in God and acknowledging our differences, gives an honest approach to dialogue instead of pretending we all believe the same way."

Since that time, they have been leading the way internationally for many key members of different religious beliefs to come into agreement for a Religious Rights Resolution. The document's main theme is to "foster religious tolerance, the right to faith, freedom of speech, and freedom from reprisal or persecution. and open dialogue "

"Religious rights have a place in the workplace, community and between institutions and most importantly between individuals," he said. "This document puts in writing what people of religious beliefs already know to be true and necessary.

"The United Nations in Article 18 of its Declaration of Human rights has established the freedom of religion in all countries. This resolution spells out the application of that for the individual from all faiths in all countries."

Ansdell, who was once an atheist, acknowledges "their rights not to believe."

The group of Ambassadors from
throughout the Middle East
On Thursday (March 15, 2012), His Excellency Mohammad Daowdieh, Ambassador for Jordan, invited a group of mainly middle-eastern ambassadors to his home to hear from the group about the vision of Ambassadors for Peace. They included those from Egypt, Palestine, Tunisia, Libya, Algeria, Morocco, Yemen, Oman and Sudan.

They heard Haddad tell them in Arabic, "Violence committed in the name of religion is on the rise and increasing. Whether it's Muslim-on-Muslim oppression based on theological differences taking place in , Syria, or Afghanistan, or attacks perpetrated against those of other faiths in Africa, or even occasional Protestant vs. Christian violence in Ireland, not one day passes without the news media carrying accounts of people whose lives have been lost, houses of worship destroyed, forced deportations, displaced people running out of their own homes and their native countries where their ancestors had lived for centuries.

The brutality, violence and bloodshed that are committed against a fellow citizen, in the name of religion should not be tolerated by other citizen.

"How long are we to remain merely spectators of these international horrors? It is a disgrace for noble peoples to accept, condone, or tolerate bloodshed motivated by religious hatred of any kind.

"There must be a dialogue between the followers of different religions based on equal ground and religious freedom dialogue, which recognizes that all adherents of different religions have an equal right to exchange their views within the context of peaceful co-existence and mutual respect."

Ameal Haddad speaking at the event
with Javier Aguayo watching
He went on to say, "The Ambassadors for Peace Religious Rights Resolution does not seek to unite religions. Quite the contrary, it recognizes that fundamental and irreconcilable differences exist between the various religious traditions, faiths, and practices of human kind. It extends an invitation to those of goodwill who wish to seek peaceful coexistence with those who do not follow their religion or their faith, urging acceptance of others, non-judgment others, and respect others, based upon the content of their character and not their religion."

Javier Aguayo, who is a Southern California businessman, and a board member of Ambassadors for Peace, told ANS that one of his companies, which is called Jav-Air, an air-condition company. He is particularly concerned with freedom of religion in the workplace of any religion. It fits right into the policies and procedures in all companies."

"The reason I got involved with Ambassadors for Peace was when saw the application in the religious document that protects both the employer and the employees.

The group will be meeting many other religious and political leaders while in Indonesia and if you would like more information on their work, please go to: www.am4peace.com