Random Thoughts on My Canadian Friend Don Posterski – May God Rest Him in Peace!

Don Posterski

UPDATE: On Wednesday, June 13th, at 2pm, Toronto time, my dear friend Don Posterski went to be in glory with Christ and the saints. May he rest in peace!

I met Don for the first time in early 2000, just a few months after I joined World Vision, to work in the Middle East and Eastern Europe Region (MEER), as Director for Faith & Development (F&D – the sector of which Don was in charge in WVI, earlier called Christian Impact – CI, and then Christian Commitments – CC)). Soon after that, he invited me to join him in the WVI Commission on the Church, which, due to Don’s wisdom and his ability to lead a team of very diverse and hard headed members, was the most significant initiative in which I was involved in my 20 years in WV. I wish I had a picture from any of those significant meetings, but I do not. Therefore, I will try to compensate (over)illustrating other events.

Later that year, in October, I invited Don to join my team in Sinaia, Romania, for the first regional event of our sector, called the Christian Life Conference. There, the main speaker was Jim Houston, who taught on Christian Discipleship, while Don taught on building church partnerships, Tim Dearborn taught on witness to Jesus Christ and I taught on spiritual formation. It was a great event, which participants remember fondly, almost 18 years later. Again, Don gave the measure of his unique leadership style, by keeping himself in the background and encouraging others to serve with their gifts. (Again, sadly, I lost all pictures from that event.)

World Vision Working for Peace in Kosova – 11 Years Ago

Kosovo – Just a few weeks after violent protests in Mitrovica left one dead and more than one hundred injured, 20 members from six ethnic groups were brought together by World Vision to discuss peace.

The meeting, which defies the flood of ethnic violence that has racked the divided northern Kosovo City of Mitrovica, was the second official meeting of the Community Council for Peace and Tolerance.

Under the protective umbrella of NATO KFOR troops, who provided the security and transport to bring all the ethnic groups to one location, the three hour meeting started and ended without incident within the safe confines of the Danish Battalion’s Camp “Olaf Rye”.

Fatmire Feka on Forgiveness

Fatmire Feka with Don Posterski and Rudy Scholaert
(from World Vision)

Fatmire Feka’s first-hand experience of the 1998-1999 Kosovo War inspired her to found the “Kids Club for Peace,” a group of organizations that help children overcome challenges related to ethnic tensions. Her efforts in the areas of peace and reconciliation led to her inclusion in the 1000 Women group nominated for the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize. She delivered this engaging address on forgiveness at Why Everything Must Change (WEMC) 2009 in Oakville, Ontario, Canada.