[First Freedom Center] The First Freedom Center, a nonprofit organization founded to advance religious freedom, will award Canon Andrew White, the vicar of Baghdad, its International First Freedom Award in a ceremony in Richmond, Virginia, on Jan. 12.

In the citation for the award, the First Freedom Center notes that White “has built an extraordinary ministry of reconciliation and conflict mediation in the Middle East” and also that “White’s standing and reputation with the most senior religious leaders in Iraq has helped him reduce not only violence against Iraq’s increasingly small Christian community, but reduce violence against all Iraqis as well.” With this award White joins a list of previous award recipients that includes Václav Havel, Tony Blair and John Wallach.

White has written two books based on his experience in the Middle East. The first, The Vicar of Baghdad, details his decision to become the vicar of the only Anglican church in Baghdad and his approach to making peace in the Middle East. The second, Faith Under Fire, is an exploration of his faith and the faith of others in the face of continual violence.

For more information regarding the First Freedom Award click here.