CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Even his voice has changed.

Almost three years into the process, the Rev. Jack Eades feels more strongly about the idea of "peacemaking" churches than when he first encountered the idea. As he speaks, his voice carries an enthusiasm for his work.

He and his wife felt so sure about what they believe is a life-changing experience that they opened their home to a prisoner for several months.

Eades works as an outreach minister for the West Virginia Baptist Convention, a branch of the larger American Baptist Church. For years, he watched churches confront change, often producing conflict in church members.

"Most churches are not able to deal with conflict in a biblical way," he said. He searched for a new path, and on the Internet he found the site www.peacemaker.net and read Ken Sande's book on the subject.

Eades is now certified in the peacemaking process. The West Virginia Baptist Convention has enrolled 27 churches in the peacemaking process, and hopes to have 50 by 2012.

Eades sees the peacemaking concepts working in churches, marriages and all human relationships.

He and his wife learned about a former minister who was convicted of embezzling money from his church. They prayed about what they should do, and they felt led to bring him into their home. He stayed with them from October to March.

They also helped him to address the issues that precipitated his fall. Among other points, they taught him seven peacemaking concepts that the embezzler wrote into his letter to the judge. Those points include: address everyone involved, avoid "if, but, maybe," admit specifics, acknowledge the hurt, accept the consequences, alter behavior and ask for forgiveness.

As the embezzler worked through those points, he became a changed person, Eades said.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Even his voice has changed.

Almost three years into the process, the Rev. Jack Eades feels more strongly about the idea of "peacemaking" churches than when he first encountered the idea. As he speaks, his voice carries an enthusiasm for his work.

He and his wife felt so sure about what they believe is a life-changing experience that they opened their home to a prisoner for several months.

Eades works as an outreach minister for the West Virginia Baptist Convention, a branch of the larger American Baptist Church. For years, he watched churches confront change, often producing conflict in church members.

"Most churches are not able to deal with conflict in a biblical way," he said. He searched for a new path, and on the Internet he found the site www.peacemaker.net and read Ken Sande's book on the subject.

Eades is now certified in the peacemaking process. The West Virginia Baptist Convention has enrolled 27 churches in the peacemaking process, and hopes to have 50 by 2012.

Eades sees the peacemaking concepts working in churches, marriages and all human relationships.

He and his wife learned about a former minister who was convicted of embezzling money from his church. They prayed about what they should do, and they felt led to bring him into their home. He stayed with them from October to March.

They also helped him to address the issues that precipitated his fall. Among other points, they taught him seven peacemaking concepts that the embezzler wrote into his letter to the judge. Those points include: address everyone involved, avoid "if, but, maybe," admit specifics, acknowledge the hurt, accept the consequences, alter behavior and ask for forgiveness.

As the embezzler worked through those points, he became a changed person, Eades said.

He added that last year, 19,000 churches in America experienced a scarring conflict. He said churches often have a disagreement over an issue, but when a disagreement arises, it can cause the church to split into factions. Instead of arguing about an issue, the factions end up in personality conflicts.

Learning how to make peace using biblical principles can make a difference, he said.

When a church agrees to invite a peacemaker in, they will work on how to resolve conflict in a Bible based way.

Two scriptures help the process get started, Eades said. First, glorify God. As Paul wrote in I Corinthians 10:31, "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."

A second scripture helps people understand they must start with their own impediments first.

In Matthew 7:11, Christ told his followers to take the log out of their own eyes so that they could more clearly see to remove the speck in their brother's eye.

From there, the peacemakers teach church members how to reconcile their differences.

"When you see people hugging each other at the end of these sessions, it means so much," he said.

"It's been powerful," he said of his experiences.

Reach Susan Williams at susanwilli...@wvgazette.com or 348-5112.