Ten men from five churches traveled to Rwanda at the request of an indigenous African ministry to teach and encourage pastors in the skills of conflict resolution. My role was to act as illustrator, using what I like to call SketchCraft, as a medium to convey Biblical concepts across language barriers.
What is conflict? One way of looking at it is to consider two people with opposing goals or methods. They may struggle together to achieve something, but they will always be at cross-purposes.
Ken Sande's The Peacemaker describes the slippery slope of dealing with conflict, from avoidance on the left to aggression on the right. Reconciliation occurs in the middle.
Sande's 4 G's of conflict resolution start with Glorify God. Instead of "me" at the center, how can I give God glory in this conflict?
The second G is Get the Log Out. Matthew 7:5 tells us that we can't see another's faults clearly if our own faults blind our eyes. What is my part in this conflict? Are my hands stained as well?
The third G is Gently Restore. Galatians 6:1 sets a context of humility and love for our attempts to resolve conflict.
The fourth G is Go and Be Reconciled. It is time to forgive, which brings freedom, not just for the one I forgive, but myself as well.
True forgiveness promises four things: not to dwell on the incident, keep digging it up again, spread it to others, or let it stand between us and block our relationship.
Instead of resorting to the courts, there are alternatives. We can negotiate, introduce a mediator to advise, or bring in an arbitrator to develop and impose a solution.
The mediation process involves several steps to assure a thorough and genuine resolution to conflict. 
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