"[Jesus] was clear about what attitude we should have towards prisoners, an attitude that would make us inclined to visit, understand and forgive them... I hope we as Mennonites will have the courage to support rehabilitative approaches to offenders, approaches that make sense biblically and practically, rather than fear-based, dead-end toughness."
Read more from Will Braun on the path our government is taking with regards to fighting crime - one that "has been discredited and abandoned by its two main proponents [US and Britain]."
And be sure to learn more about MCC's work for Restorative Justice, which is about Respecting, repairing and restoring relationships that have been damaged through crime.
I judged you for watching sweaty men in tights play
fight. Forgetting that plank-eyes often
assume much too much, I placed you in a box.
Forgive me.
*****************
We sat on the tarmac waiting. And restlessness grew for the weary 136 who
had to wait. Waiting is something we
hate. Oft we forget that it is in the
waiting times of life (when we are forced to wander from our scheduled
existence) that G-d enters in.
[Small talk with Stanger #1.]
“Is this your final destination?”
“Ya, just have to make my way up to Stouffville.”
“North of here, right?”
“Ya, north-east. The
other side of Markham. You?”
“I live in Mississauga.”
[Enter Stranger #2]
“Sorry to interrupt.
You said you live in Stouffville... about how long does it take to get
there from here?”
“About 40 minutes, this time of night. You heading that way?”
“Maybe. My sister
lives up there and I was thinking of staying the night with her instead of
driving all the way home.”
“Well, let me know what you decide. I’ll chip in for gas or whatever if you will
give me a lift. Otherwise I am paying
$80 for a taxi.”
He called his sister and arranged to stay at her place for
the night. I grabbed my bags and heavy
winter coat (it was minus 30 in Winnipeg), exited the plane, and walked into
the terminal. Stranger #2 came out a few
minutes later carrying his bags and a guitar.
He introduced himself as David.
We waited for his checked bag. And we waited for the shuttle to the parking
lot. While we waited we talked.
David just moved home a few months ago after a dozen years out west. His mom died last year so he moved
home in December to spend time with his dad.
His dad picked up an infection and died in January. Now he is early 30-something dealing with death,
wills, a house full of stuff to sort through...
We sat in his ‘95 Ford Taurus for the 40 minute ride to
Stouffville. All in all we spent about
an hour and a half together.
Isn’t it amazing that we are alive - that there is life? It’s too bad they
don’t teach you about life in school.
We spoke of listening.
Learning to wait. Meditation. Living in the present. Hospitality.
Slowing things down. Taking life in.
I interrupted a story.
“Can you pull into the gas station so I can fill up the car? I don’t
have any cash.” He drove on past the gas
station and continued on about being welcomed once by strangers in a strange land.
A handful of minutes later I was home. He beat me out the car to hand me my bag from
the trunk. He wouldn’t accept anything.
Summerbridge is a Canada-wide summer service program of Mennonite Central Committee. The program provides opportunity to bring together people of different cultural backgrounds and equip them to serve in their local church. MCC and local congregations support participants. Affiliation with a Mennonite or Brethren in Christ congregation is required.
Rebekah Hudson, from River of Life MB Church in Riverview, NB, is
studying Peace and Conflict Studies at University of Waterloo.She participated in MCC’s Summerbridge program in 2007.
arm:How did you get involved
with MCC?
Rebekah Hudson: Through volunteering at my church. The Atlantic
representatives for MCC at the time, Tom and Judi, told my dad about
Summerbridge and he encouraged me to apply. Other than the “To Remember is to
Work for Peace” pins, Summerbridge was my first real introduction to MCC’s work
around the world.
arm: Why did you participate in the Summerbridge program?
rh:I wanted to serve my church
and Summerbridge was a great way to do that as a full-time summer job.I did Summerbridge in 2007 and 2008. I worked
at my church in two main areas – media/graphic design and children’s ministry.
My job was an expanded version of my volunteer work, plus some other responsibilities.Most days I worked on the website, powerpoint
and other media; did any administrative tasks that came up; and organized the
weekly children’s programs for the summer when the regular volunteers took a
break. This was a challenge because our church is very small - often half the
people who attend are kids, and most of the others are parents who also
volunteer! My work focused more on kids’ ministry in 2008.
arm: What was the highlight of your experience with Summerbridge?
rh:The biggest highlight of my
Summerbridge experience was our orientation in Winnipeg. All the participants
from across Canada came to learn more about Mennonite Central Committee and get
to know each other for a few days. We stayed at Canadian Mennonite University,
toured the MCC headquarters, volunteered at a food bank depot, went to the
North End and experienced the murals and musical culture of the city. This was
where I learned about restorative justice, fair trade, conflict resolution
strategies and MCC’s relief and development work for the first time. Learning
about alternative ways to solve these major problems ignited my passion for
peace and justice that led to my choice to pursue a degree in Peace and
Conflict Studies at Waterloo a few years later. I also met some incredible
people during my few days in Winnipeg. Although I haven’t kept in touch with
everyone, I still think about and pray for them often.
arm:How was Summerbridge part
of your faith journey?
rh:Summerbridge was also a
major growing time for me spiritually. I still look back at the orientation as
a very significant time, but I also learned a lot in my two summers of work. I
had a lot of opportunities to learn patience. I also discovered that working to
serve others often consists of everyday, monotonous tasks that must be done. Having
my dad as my direct supervisor took some getting used to, but we both learned
so much about working together in that time. I also learned a lot about how to
work with children, plan events and recruit volunteers. These experiences helped
me later in jobs at an office and a kids’ drop-in centre. Overall, Summerbridge
was a major learning experience for me!
arm:What are you hoping to do
in the future?
rh:I don’t know yet, but I’d
like to experience life in a different country soon. Something that involves
working with kids and young people for human rights would be amazing, but right
now I’m open to wherever God brings me.Summerbridge
was an amazing experience that helped shape the direction my life is heading
now. If you get a chance to participate in this program or any other MCC
experience, I definitely recommend it.
On Saturday, Feb. 5, I was treated to one of those wonderful experiences that anyone who has ever planned an event prays for: exceeded expectations. The event in question was a gathering of young people from four Kitchener-Waterloo area churches: First Hmong Mennonite Church, Chin Christian Church, First Mennonite Church, and Grace Lao Mennonite Church.
Q: What do these churches have in common?
A: They all have teens and young adults that inspire me and make my job so enjoyable.
Also: They are all part of congregations whose members came as new Canadians, either as immigrants or refugees within the last 30 years or so.
----------------------
So, back to the exceeded expectations. First of all, we had close to 60 participants - our initial optimistic estimates were 50? MAX? And the energy they brought with them! Well.
Exhibit A) A group of youth walk in the doors of Grebel, all rockin' the youthful daring fashion that I am too old for. I welcome them:
"Hi guys, welcome! Where are you from?" I meant what church are you coming from.
Lead guy with spiky hair: [with broad smile] "We're from Burma! Where's the bathroom?"
And it only got better from there.
Enter Felipe Gonzalia, former-fellow-intern at MCCO this summer and youth leader at First Mennonite. Check out this video for a glimpse of the joyful madness that ensued when Felipe started working the crowd with an epic game of Rock, Paper, Scissors. See if you can spot our Executive Director Rick Cober-Bauman in the mix. Not since attending the Summit in which MCC's governance structure was discussed did Rick find such energy.
The rest of the afternoon and evening featured can best be captured in photos:
Packing Health Kits and knotting quilts for MCC's relief aid shipments. Big thank-you to Material Resources coordinator Wendy Cotter for taking the time to show us how it's done.
Fellas with cool hats learning how addictive knotting can be.
Thla and crew from Chin Christian Church pack health kits.
Rick Cober Bauman getting in on the knotting.
Went outside to load our boxes and lo! It had snowed a foot since we started.
"You may think this string is ugly but to me, it was the string that held my life."
Lee Vang from First Hmong Mennonite Church holding the bag that contained a school kit ... that she received in a refugee camp 31 years ago in Thailand. More on this moving and remarkable story here.
The wonderful energy carried through with a tour of Grebel and ended with a delicious dinner prepared by the famous Grebel kitchen staff. There are no photos of this because I was busy eating, thank you.
I will end this post with the words of a participant who posted on the wall of the facebook event afterwards and really sums up well the energy and general feelings of the day:
Soooo amazing!!!!! Looooved it!!!!!
Can't wait for next time! Hope to see everyone there!
Really fun! People who didn't come you missed out yo!!!! Come out next time!!!!
[Ken Ogasawara works with MCC Ontario as the social media guy and the connecting with immigrant/first-generation churches guy.]
Hi my name’s Cass. I’m from Stouffville and I’ve been
going to Community Mennonite Church when I can for the past 2 or 3 of years
now. I’m currently a second year Peace and Conflict Studies student at the
University of Waterloo.
A couple of years
ago I got connected to MCC's Enlace program through a childhood friend. I didn’t know anyone
else going on the trip, but I had always wanted to pursue a career in
international development and learn more about Latin America, so I thought this
would be an amazing opportunity to do so. Getting on that
plane I had no idea what to expect, but I definitely came back seeing the world
through new eyes. I made amazing friends who I’ve stayed in touch with, and had
experiences I’ll never forget.
What I learned
from my experience in Guatemala and El Salvador (and recently in New York
at the MCC United Nations office seminar) was the incredible role that the Church plays in
International development. In Guatemala the grass-roots sustainable income
generating programs like fish farms and greenhouses in the rural villages seemed like they reflected the communities needs. The MCC workers treated their work as if it was so much more than a simple job. They became
members of the communities that they lived
in, and everyone seemed to truly respect the work that they were doing.
Seeing that community approach to development work first hand, has helped me to
shape my own understanding of peacemaking. It gave me a model to strive
towards.
After
experiencing these community relationships both with my team and those I met in
Guatemala, I couldn't go back to living the same way I had. I started going to
church to develop my faith and keep that global consciousness and those
relationships alive. The church community is an inspiration to me because I
really enjoy being around people who are genuinely interested in working to
change the world.
[For more information about Enlace, a service and learning program for 16-19 years olds visit here.]
Lazarus Rising is an initiative of Toronto area Mennonites and Brethren in Christ responding to homelessness and marginalization in Toronto. It partners with Sanctuary, a downtown Toronto community and church that works at building community among the marginalised and the mainstream.
By walking with the poor on Toronto's streets, Lazarus Rising encounters the Jesus of "the least of these" and puts legs on Menno Simons conviction that "true evangelical faith … clothes the naked, feeds the hungry, comforts the sorrowful, shelters the destitute."
Street pastor Doug Johnson Hatlem leads a walk the third Friday of every month (evening). If you are interested in joining him or learning more please be in touch with Doug at lazarusrising@mennonitecc.on.ca.
