Pilgrimage of Peace: A Journey of Faith, Justice and Solidarity

In June 2025, I had the privilege of joining the inaugural Young Adult Pilgrimage of Peace (YAPP) in South Korea—an experience that deepened my Methodist–Wesleyan identity and expanded my understanding of what it means to be a peacemaker in today’s world. This opportunity followed my participation in the World Methodist Council in Sweden the year before with a group of UCA members.

YAPP was organised by the United Methodist Church (UMC), Korean Methodist Church (KMC), and the World Methodist Council (WMC) as part of their Young People’s Peace Programme (2024–2029). The pilgrimage brought together young leaders from 15 countries across Methodist, Wesleyan, United, and Uniting traditions, creating a space to explore justice, reconciliation, and non-violent discipleship.

We travelled through Gwangju, Daejeon, Paju, and Seoul—not as tourists, but as pilgrims walking prayerfully through places marked by colonisation, military violence, resistance, and intergenerational trauma. We visited the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ), stood at the borders where families remain divided, and listened to the voices of mothers still fighting for their families memories to be honoured.

Each day was grounded in theological reflection. We didn’t simply talk about peace—we grappled with its cost. We asked hard questions: What does it mean to follow Jesus in a militarised world? How do we hold space for grief and action? What does justice look like in contexts of long-standing division?

As a second-generation Tongan Australian, I felt a deep resonance. The stories we heard in Korea mirrored those from our Pacific/Australian communities—stories of militarisation, environmental exploitation, identity erasure, and cultural survival. I thought of Kanaky’s fight for independence, West Papua, the threat of deep-sea mining, the nuclear testing legacy, and the foreign powers carving up our ocean. I also carried with me the responsibility of living on unceded First Nations lands in Australia, where truth-telling, sovereignty, and justice remain vital to the life and witness of the Church.

In the midst of lament, I encountered a powerful sense of hope—through prayer, sharing stories and community. I return home carrying stories that were entrusted to us. I smile with tears as Im reminded me that peace is not passive. It is active, costly, and deeply rooted in love. This pilgrimage didn’t just shape my theology—it sharpened my call.

This journey renewed my faith and strengthened my commitment to truth-telling, solidarity, and making our Church a place where everyone is valued and safe.

May we be a Church that dares to walk where Christ leads—into places of pain, healing, and hope.