The Peace Child
Few modern day stories illustrate the picture of grace like the “peace child” as told by Don and Carol Richardson, missionaries in New Guinea to the Sawi tribes.
The events happened in the 1960’s as the couple sought to evangelize the Sawi tribes, warfaring cannibals. In the end their efforts seemed to accomplish little, and after the fifteenth civil war between the tribes, Don and Carol announced they were leaving, having exhausted their efforts to end the fighting.
When they announced they were leaving in the morning, the tribal leaders pled with them to stay, promising to make peace when the sun came up. Skeptical, the Richardsons retired to bed, and when they woke up at dawn, they had no idea what they were about to witness. Indeed, their very lives were about to be changed forever. The warring tribes were gathered outside their home, a field in between the opposing sides.
Suddenly there was a scream to the right. A man with an infant, and his wailing wife in tow, crossed to the opposite side, and gave the other tribe his baby. He stated he was pleading the peace child. Minutes later the scene repeated itself from the other side, complete with father, infant, and the weeping mother of the child. Again the peace child was pled.
The leaders then solemnly approached the Richardsons and explained that as long as these children grew up and lived in one another’s tribes, there would be peace among the Sawi people.
The Richardsons explained this was the gospel they had been trying to preach. Then the Sawi people began to dedicate their lives to Christ, one by one, finally understanding the message that a child in a manger had similarly brought us peace, giving his life that we might no longer be at odds with God, separated by sin and death, but rather while we were yet in our sin, Christ gave his life for ours, the just for the unjust, the righteous for the sinner.
After a few years passed, at Christmas one of the leaders wanted to share a message. He opened his Bible and turned to Isaiah and shared, “Unto us a child us born, unto us a son is given.” The living metaphor had been fully grasped.
A few years ago, on the fiftieth anniversary of this event, a journalist went to New Guinea and found the people still at peace, and still following Christ. A miracle of what faith can do.
He is risen, he is risen indeed.
