In the pages of this book, you will meet more than 100 heroes, but most of them are not the kind of heroes our culture celebrates for muscle, beauty and wealth. These are peacemakers. They circle the planet. A few are famous like Gandhi and Bono of U2. But most of them you will discover for the first time in these stories. Watch out! Reading about their lives may inspire you to step up into their courageous circle.

"Interfaith Heroes" is an inspiring 31-day reader, showcasing short biographies of men and women throughout history who have crossed traditional boundaries of religious groups to build stronger communities. The dramatic story of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is included as well as biographical sketches of Mahatma Gandhi and St. Francis, among the more famous names in the book. But most readers will discover new uplifting stories, including the recently documented efforts by Albanian Muslims during World War II to hide Jews in their attics. Sketches of other famous leaders include Baptist pioneer Roger Williams, the Sufi poet best known simply as Rumi, Hindu writer Rabindranath Tagore, Jewish theologian Martin Buber, the American evangelist Howard Thurman and the French Catholic Cardinal Aaron Jean-Marie Lustiger. These stories were written and edited by Daniel Buttry, an international peace negotiator for American Baptist Churches - but the style of the book is balanced and educational. This is an exploration and a celebration of diversity, not a book aimed at converting anyone to anything other than peacemaking itself. The book includes questions for daily reflection that are designed to spark creative thinking by people of all faiths. The sketches and daily questions could be used by discussion groups or students in classrooms studying history, global culture or the sociology of religion. Also included is a Study Guide for individuals, groups and classrooms. Plus, suggestions for organizing new, regional interfaith groups. The book is supplemented with online content at www.InterfaithHeroes.info and readers are invited to read this book - and nominate more heroes whose lives will be honored and explored in future editions of this series.

Born into the warrior culture of a military family, Daniel Buttry's Christian faith led him to become a nonviolent activist. Peace Warrior provides an inside, firsthand look at peace training, nonviolent struggle, and mediation in conflict zones around the world. Buttry reveals the stories behind news headlines of conflicts or peace accords. He escorts the reader into the shadowy world of guerilla leaders, traumatised victims, and ordinary people who become agents of peace against incredible odds. Exploring the labyrinthine processes to bring peace to two particular long-standing armed conflicts in Asia, Buttry provides a peek into historical events, and their behind-the-scenes developments. He shares freely the hopes, fears, frustrations, courage, failures, successes, humour, and faith that are all a part of making a difference for peace at the fault lines of violent conflict. He takes us into the challenging world of inter-faith peacemaking at a time when religious differences are highlighted in many of our global conflicts. Peace Warrior is set at the front lines of conflict, but is infused with a bright hope from Buttry's work alongside little-known heroes who have built peace amid the harshest environments.