Amplify Peace: Creating a Better Story Together

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Micah Fries – Multi Faith Neighbors Network

Religion has shaped history’s greatest acts of compassion and its most devastating conflicts. In the name of religion, too many wars have been fought, injustices carried out, and neighbors turned into enemies.

But what if it doesn’t have to be this way?

Who is on the other side of your comfort zone? Have you ever considered that you may be on the other side of someone else’s? Does having a different faith/religion have to divide us or could we actually become friends and work together to make this world a better place?

Our guest has dedicated his life to building bridges, stepping across divides to make peace and cultivate friendships. Micah Fries, is the Director of the Multi-Faith Neighbors Network, Director of Engagement at Glocal.net, and co-editor of Islam & North America: Loving Our Muslim Neighbors. Drawing on his experience as a pastor, author, and global minister, Micah explores how Christians, Muslims, and Jews can build trust across deep divides.

We tackle some hard but hopeful questions:

·       Why is multi-faith friendship so crucial right now?

·       Can interfaith engagement actually strengthen faith?

·       What does it look like when neighbors choose understanding over suspicion?

This conversation will challenge the stories you’ve heard about religion and invite you to imagine a better way forward.

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What if your opinion of someone - the “other” - was wrong? What if, after a respectful conversation, you still disagreed but began to see them differently - not as an enemy, but as a potential friend, someone you could learn from without agreement?

That’s the disruptive power of practicing the Golden Rule and the core of Andrew DeCort’s new book, Reviving The Golden Rule. In this episode we dive into what it means to embody neighbor-love in real time, especially in a culture defined by division and fear. We talk about where neighbor-love begins, how to live it when it feels risky, and why it’s not sentimental but transformative - able to change lives, communities, and even the world.

Andrew shares stories and wisdom that challenge us to look again at those we’ve written off, and to imagine what could happen if we treated them as neighbors.

Listen in and ask yourself: Who is the “other” in my life - and what might change if I chose to see them differently? What small step can I take this week toward love?

This episode is an invitation to move beyond sentiment into action. 

https://www.amazon.com/Reviving-Golden-Rule-Ancient-Neighbor/dp/1514012766

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What if the person you’re tempted to overlook is the one who could transform your life?

In Ethiopia, a young boy living in poverty stepped into Andrew DeCort’s life. Society had written him off - unseen, dismissed, with nothing to give. Andrew had a choice: engage or ignore. That moment not only reshaped Andrew’s life but continues to echo with meaning today.

In this episode, Andrew and I talk about his new book, Reviving the Golden Rule, and why Jesus’ familiar words - “Love your neighbor as yourself” - are still the most radical invitation we can accept. Together we explore why we’ve grown numb to its power, how neighbor-love has shaped human rights movements, and why seeing our neighbors again could change everything.

Listen in and ask yourself: Who have I overlooked, and what might change if I choose to love them as a neighbor?  

https://www.amazon.com/Reviving-Golden-Rule-Ancient-Neighbor/dp/1514012766

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Lyndsey Ratchford, World Vision

We are living in a defining moment. The needs of the world feel urgent, the divisions feel deep, and yet the invitation of Jesus is still the same: love, lead, and live as peacemakers.

In this episode, I continue my conversation with Lyndsey Deanne Ratchford – LDR - World Vision’s Senior Director of National Donor Engagement. Lyndsey reminds us that ordinary people can make an extraordinary difference. We are all invited into God’s story of healing and hope. She shares practical steps for how we can respond when injustices feel overwhelming, and how faith can reframe what’s possible.

She also shares powerful stories of transformation - entire communities reshaped when they encounter the radical love of Jesus. Cultures change. Relationships heal. Hope rises.

This conversation will push you to think bigger - to think God-sized - about your leadership, your influence, and the injustices God is calling you to confront.

WorldVision.org

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Lyndsey Ratchford, World Vision

What if God is calling us beyond “making a difference” to eradicating injustice?

In this episode, I talk with Lyndsey Deane Ratchford (LDR), World Vision’s Senior Director of National Donor Engagement. Lyndsey’s passion is to see everyday men and women recognize their own power and leverage it for the betterment of the world.  A graduate of Fuller Theological Seminary, Lyndsey has an MA in Intercultural Studies and a concentration in International Development. LDR is an avid proponent of high fives, Ted Lasso, and Trader Joe’s Chai Tea Latte Mix. She is currently living the dream in Cleveland Heights, OH, with her incredible life partner, George, and 6-year-old daughter, Thea.

What happens when passion collides with purpose? Meet Lyndsey - a catalytic leader whose journey has taken her through deep valleys of struggle and doubt, as well as mountaintop experiences of faith and transformation. Her story reveals what radical love looks like in action. She also invites us to rethink our own role in God’s vision for justice. Join us on a journey that explores extreme poverty, cultural and generational injustice, the power of proximity, and the greatness of God breaking through it all.

This conversation will stir your imagination for what God can do when ordinary people believe transformation is possible.

WorldVision.org 

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In Part 2 of our conversation with Heather Surls, we step into the wilderness - both the physical deserts of the Middle East and the inner deserts of the soul. Heather reflects on how displacement, suffering, and story have formed her faith in ways she never expected. She shares what it looks like to navigate the political tensions of the land while honoring deep friendships on both sides of the conflict - Palestinian and Israeli - and how peacemaking often begins with seeing the humanity in each. This conversation calls us to move beyond easy answers and into the mystery of peacemaking that’s shaped by humility, proximity, and a love that refuses to take sides. 

Heather is the author of the recently released book, Beyond The Jordan. https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Jordan-Misunderstood-Imperfect-Attempts/dp/1632968037

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Heather Surls, a journalist and author living in Jordan, we explore what it means to truly see the people behind the headlines. Through her time in the Middle East, Heather has learned to listen deeply, honor culture, and build connection across lines of difference. She shares how learning from women - through language, tradition, and shared values - has shaped her understanding of identity and belonging. Together, we talk about finding the fingerprints of God in unexpected places, holding tension with tenderness, and discovering what it means to be a peacemaker in lands often defined by division. This conversation invites us to see differently - and to be changed by what we see.

Heather is the author of the recently released book, Beyond The Jordan. https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Jordan-Misunderstood-Imperfect-Attempts/dp/1632968037

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One man’s journey from inmate to healer - and why your view of justice might never be the same.

In this powerful episode, David Prian shares his raw, redemptive story of incarceration, reentry, and finding purpose through serving others. We explore the ripple effects of prison on children, spouses, churches, and communities - and why restorative justice may be the only way to heal what punishment never will, and to imagine a whole new way forward.

What would you hope for if it were your son, your sister, your friend behind bars?
What could your church - or you - do to walk with them toward restoration?

None of us are untouched by the brokenness of the system. This conversation invites us to listen, reflect, and reimagine what justice - and compassion - could look like.

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What if the odds said you’d never make it - but you did?

David Prian’s life began in foster care, moved through addiction and incarceration, and could have ended there. But it didn’t. Against all odds, David rose—not just to survive, but to lead. Today, he’s a successful entrepreneur (Inspired Marketing and Design), a mentor, and a bold voice of hope in his church and community.

How does someone go from a prison cell to building a thriving business? What does it take to rewrite a story the world already gave up on? This conversation is about more than overcoming odds. It’s about redefining what’s possible when someone is seen, supported, and set free to live with purpose.

Is there anyone you’ve given up on—including yourself?

David’s story will challenge you to think differently—about justice, redemption, and the quiet power of belief. It will stir your heart and open your eyes to the stories behind the statistics.

Listen to Part 1 now on the Amplify Peace Podcast.
Because behind every statistic is a name, a story, and a future waiting to be rewritten.

Click. Listen. Share. This one might just change how you see everything.

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In the first episode with Michael Zacharia, Michael shared his story of becoming—navigating identity, belonging, and the complexity of a multicultural home shaped by both Palestinian and Jewish Israeli heritage.

Now, we turn toward the present.

Michael opens up about the meaningful work he does today—guiding individuals, organizations, and churches through the challenges of leadership, conflict, and purpose. He shares the path that led him into this space—not a straight line, but a winding road shaped by humility, disruption, and spiritual depth. Throughout the conversation, Michael reminds us that conflict itself isn’t good or bad—it’s how we approach it that matters. Healthy conversations can lead to healing, better outcomes, and restored relationships.

He shares practical, transformative tools for engaging conflict with clarity and compassion—tools we can all apply in our lives, whether we’re leading others or simply navigating everyday relationships. You’ll want to take notes!