May 02, 2008 09:55 am
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When Roger Gladden makes a trip to the Holy Land, you might say he’s doing it for world peace.
The Joplin man, founder and president of Christians for World Peace, returned last month from another Holy Land mission in which he delivered financial donations as well as medical supplies to ministries supported by the Joplin-based CWP.
This October marks the 12th anniversary of CWP, with a mission statement that says it all:
“We initiate, coordinate and participate in teaching, missions, evangelism and in activities and programs designed to promote peace through the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
The objective of CWP and Gladden is the same today as it was a dozen years ago: to work with and through other Christian groups, organizations and churches in promoting peace through the teaching of Christ.
When it comes to mission work, a two-week trip to the Holy Land can easily seem like much less with an itinerary leaving little room for anything but, well, mission work.
Gladden’s day-to-day diary reads like a United Nations agenda packed with goals and objectives that would make any UN ambassador proud, or, at least, breathless.
Despite demanding schedules to meet and people to greet, Gladden still took the time to record his thoughts of a hallowed and honored environment that most of us only discover through books.
As an example, after scurrying from place to place on CWP missions for over a week, Gladden paused to reflect on the Old City Jerusalem, which he called one of his favorite places in the world.
“No other place like it,” he wrote. “Somewhat like the Wild West in movies, a collection of mavericks, hawking goods, food, Bibles, people bearing wooden crosses, orderly processions of Christian groups, IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) with heavy guns strapped on their sides, Orthodox Jews (black hats, black coats, black shoes, in serious lock step) and, so, there is something for everyone. Nice to be an observer of the life flow.”
Gladden was back at the Old City Jerusalem the following day but this time to pay a visit to Safford’s Children Center.
“It (children’s center) is located at the very top of the Old City walls near the Damascus gate,” he noted. “This is a wild area. Cars and people everywhere. To park in this congested area you enter the mob scene and inch along until you get to a parking area to abandon your car and go only by foot. I have a very heavy load of meds, two large bags to tote up many steps, winding and turning, until I finally get to the hospital.”
In more than a decade of visits to the Holy Land, Gladden could talk unceasingly of his experiences. Although he has had complete freedom to come and go on most occasions, there have also been turbulent times when security was at its highest.
But, in the midst of it all, the soft-spoken man from Joplin has carried the banner high. His mission needs no clarification. The name of the non-denominational, Christ-centered organization says it all: Christians for World Peace.
Address correspondence to Rich Brown, c/o The Joplin Globe, P.O. Box 7, Joplin, Mo. 64802.
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Photos
Rich Brown, September, 2006