Every year there is an entire week in February devoted to promoting world peace and harmony. It’s called World Interfaith Harmony Week and it starts on February 1. All around the world organizations and churches coordinate events during the first week of February to encourage connection between faiths and to inspire peace.

In 2010, when his majesty King Abdullah of Jordan first proposed the World Interfaith Harmony Week to the United Nations, he addressed the assembly, “More than ever before, our world is confronting multiple global crises which cannot be effectively addressed without a coordinated, multilateral action. No country can face these crises and provide for its future in isolation. The threats are global and so are the solutions.” The World Interfaith Harmony Week seeks to spread the message of harmony by encouraging the common basis of world faiths and the belief of ‘Love of God and Love of the Neighbor, or Love of the Good and Love of the Neighbor.’

This is the perfect chance for our communities to get in gear and promote peace in our own areas.

Try to think outside the box to do something that encourages intercultural and interfaith communication. Here are a few suggestions:

Is there a documentary, movie or podcast your community wants to share with your local neighborhood? Print out pamphlets or flyers with the location, time and date and be sure to mention that snacks will be included! After the viewing, open a discussion and break up into small groups to engage and discuss the movie. This could transition nicely into sharing how the Unification Movement embraces and seeks peace with all races and denominations.

Who doesn’t love a good old-fashioned craft fair? Certainly there are enough creative, talented Unificationists in our communities who have a lot to offer. Be it through food, art, music or dance, setting up a space where people from the community can be introduced to new cultures can create bridges where gaps may have been before.

The odds of knowing all the pastors in your area are slim. But why does that have to be the case? If all religions fundamentally want brotherhood and unity with each other, why not start on your own road? Take an afternoon and aim to go to five churches in your surrounding area and ask to speak to the church leaders. Just think how this would create harmony within your area. It shouldn’t be about competition, but rather cooperation, especially when you can agree on common goals.

Realize that the spirit world has been moved and a ripple effect has been created. All the sacrifices and pleas made by True Parents and Unificationists have been heard. There is a wave of people of one mind urging their own communities to encourage harmony and peace. We must connect with other denominations.