Biblical Perspectives on "Peace" and the "Peaceful" Missionary Works of Mother Mary Charles Magdalen Walker, RSC, in Nigeria: Recipes for Today

The current world continues to witness more wars, violence and acts of terrorism than needed peace, joy, leisure time, justice, equity, compassion and hospitality. Conflicts and lack of hospitality can often lead to a humanity's population explosion in places other than people homelands, refugee crises, the enabling of street children, drug smuggling and human trafficking increases, especially when it comes to women and children. Since it is the sacred duty of governments of nations, churches, non-governmental organizations, religious bodies and well-meaning persons and groups to seek ways to ameliorate conflicts and wars, and suggest recipes that promote peace, wellness, hospitality, this essay historically, theologically and pastorally, discusses aspects of peace (šālôm / eirēnē) in the Holy Bible. In addition, it takes as a case study the peaceful and missionary activities and journey of Mother Mary Charles Magdalene Walker (MMCMW), RSC, the Foundress of the Religious Congregation of the Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus (HHCJ) in Africa. Can humanity, "today" as a community, families, schools, institutions, universities, political parties, religious communities, leisure centers, clubs, professional associations, towns, villages and individuals learn anything from the Bible about peace and how can it contribute towards reconciliation, wellness, unity, justice, truth, and peace-building? Above all, what can Africans and non-Africans learn from the early peaceful and holistic missionary activities of Mother Mary Charles Magdalene Walker, RSC? These are some of the questions that this essay attempts to inexhaustibly address with suggestions at the end towards a more peaceful and hospitable contemporary world.