We are entering the season honoring the Prince of Peace, and this is a good time to remember one of his followers, Robert C. Broome, a peacemaker who passed away earlier this year.
While at Southern Seminary as a student under Glenn Hinson, Robert said Hinson “chased us from the classroom and into the world we were trying to change” with the message that if we are to become peacemakers, it will be the result of the quality of our personal and corporate spiritual lives. This principle led Robert to serve as teacher and campus minister at a Quaker boarding school in Tennessee. Robert, the “Baptist-Quaker,” thus lived simply, and in the words of his daughter, Lisa, lived his life “afflicted with an inward condition known as ‘world grief.’ ?”He loved the quiet, contemplative worship of the Quaker Christians and their stand on peace.
Seeking to connect with people of like mind with a hope of defining a way for Baptists to be reminded of their need to do peace and justice more effectively, Robert and his family moved back to Louisville and became involved with the peacemaker group at Deer Park Baptist Church. With his involvement, Baptist Peacemaker journal became a reality in 1980, and distribution became international.
Baptist Peacemaker continues in its effort to educate and cultivate peacemaking, remembering that God meant for us to live in peace and sent his only Son that there may be peace on earth, goodwill to all men – everywhere. We, too, have that calling at home, at church, in our families, our neighborhood, our relationships, in our government, our nation, our world.
Yes, one person can make a difference. Robert C. Broome, a peacemaker, a child of the Most High God – and my brother – made a difference.
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