Skip to main content

A Fresh Overview of Jim’s Peacemaking


Hello Friends, A Fresh Overview of Jim’s Peacemaking January 17, 2012

Before I get to the overview I would like to tell you a story:

When I was in Colombia last year I shared with some farmers that were forced to leave their farms by paramilitaries who accused them of helping another paramilitary group. I told them a story of how another village responded to the paramilitaries when they were accused of supporting the guerrillas. They said, “We are not going to leave our farm as usually happens. We would rather die than kill guerrillas.”
The leader in the audience responded, “Maybe we were cowards?” I feel this planted seeds for the farmers to consider standing up to bring peace to their village. This inspiring people to act for peace is one of the main purposes for my trips to Colombia.

Now for the overview.
My mission is to Grow Peace internationally and locally by
Instilling Hope through:
• Raising awareness of God’s actions for justice and peace through CPT.
• Inspiring people to act and pray.
• Modeling reconciliation, friendship, understanding, and compassion.
• Engaging in conversations that seek common ground.
.
In 2011 I gave 25 presentations In Colombia encouraging schools and churches to get involved in Peacemaking. In April 2012 I plan to travel to Colombia again for about 1 1/2 months to share about my 8 years of peacemaking with the CPT Team.

In addition to my planned trip to Colombia in October and November I plan:

A speaking trip through Iowa and Missouri . The last time I was there I spoke at a Methodist church where the Pastor each week prays for the troops. When I was finished sharing he prayed for peace and for me.

A booth at the Illinois Bureau County Fair for 5 days in August. There I will share about my peacemaking and give out my “one click” pamphlets. These pamphlets enable people to write their senators, congressperson, and president with one click, asking them to stop supporting the 2 million dollars a minute for military that is part of the present US budget. (reference: afsc.org) You can see the pamphlet on line at www.Jimspeacemaking.org


A booth at the Mennonite Relief Sale at Goshen Indiana in September, where last year I gave out some 200 “one click” pamphlets. There people buy many books on peacemaking. That week I will speak in churches and schools. In 2011 I had 9 venues in the area.

A booth at the Cornerstone Music Festival for 5 days in June where I will give out about 400 “one click” pamphlets and talk to several hundred people. Many of these youth have never thought of connecting their journey as a Christian with peacemaking.

In conjunction with this I plan to continue to do peacemaking here in Chicago. This will include several presentations. And I'll be giving to people I meet on the street the “One Click” pamphlet along with a CPT brochure.
.
Also I write some 20 peace letters to the 2000 people on my list each year.

And last but not least, I pray 2-3 hrs daily for friends, justice, peace and myself (to help keep me on track).

I might add that several people have asked whether I am still part of CPT. I am officially an alumnus promoting CPT by sharing about my 7 years with the CPT team in Colombia.
.

Shalom, Jim

To maintain one soldier for war, our taxes pay a MILLION DOLLARS a year.
I will be a soldier for peace for $15,000 a year.



Would you like to be a join in this peacemaking by helping to fill the gap for the $5000. I need for the coming year? Thanks you for your consideration.

PS. To make a donation make checks out to:
Jim’s Peacemaking
send to: Jim’s Peacemaking Or donate on line at:www.jimspeacemaking.org
723 Seward St
Evanston, Il 60626
All donations are tax deductible.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

An Incredible Prime Minister

           An Incredible Prime Minister     Dear Friends, a hopeful happening,                  Two years ago, Ethiopia was a basket case. The government seemed to be losing control The majority Oromo people were restive under a rule that seemed to rob them of their place. The traditionally powerful Amhara rioted. A state of emergency brought silence on the surface, but underneath the nation seethed. Civil war threatened. A foreigner was killed. Tourism waned. Finally, the prime minister resigned. The church prayed earnestly. Then, unexpectedly, eight months ago, the relatively unknown Abiy Ahmad was elected prime minister. What followed was equally unanticipated. In a bold, courageous acceptance speech; Ahmad announced a policy of peace, love and unity for the nation and its relationships with the rest of the world. He made sweeping promises and, to the surprise of a world cynical of political promises, kept them. “We need friction but not hatred, argument but not insult,”

"The Repairman's Mother In-law"

Dear Friends, "My mother in-law Nellie read that Peace Pilgrim booklet you gave me. She was very moved by it, and she would like to read more by Peace Pilgrim. Do you have any thing else? And she would like to talk to you too," our repairman excitedly said to me. I responded, "I don't have any thing else by Peace Pilgrim, but you can give her this book Restorative Justice by Howard Zehr." Later I got to talk to Nellie. Nellie then shared, "Oh yes, that was really inspiring. We have to build peace person by person and house by house by the way that we relate to and treat each other. What Peace Pilgrim has to say is very important. And I really like the book Restorative Justice that I am now reading. I especially like to read stuff like that." I responded, "When you get that one finished, I can loan you another book!" The political saga continues in Barranca. A prominent Catholic priest, Padre Francisco, a close consultant to the Mayor, who is

un acontecimiento esperanzador

amigos,  un acontecimiento esperanzador  este es un acontecimiento esperanzador! Hace dos años, Etiopía era un caso estancado. El gobierno parecía estar perdiendo el control. La mayoría de las personas Oromo estaban inquietas bajo una regla que parecía robarles su lugar. La tradicionalmente poderosa Amhara se amotinó. Un estado de emergencia trajo silencio en la superficie, pero debajo de la nación se arremolinaba. Una Guerra civil amenazaba. Un extranjero fue asesinado. El turismo disminuyó. Finalmente, el primer ministro renunció. La iglesia oró fervientemente. Luego, inesperadamente, hace ocho meses, el relativamente desconocido Abiy Ahmad fue elegido primer ministro. Lo que siguió fue igualmente imprevisto. En un audaz y valiente discurso de aceptación; Ahmad anunció una política de paz, amor y unidad para la nación y sus relaciones con el resto del mundo. Hizo grandes promesas y para sorpresa en un mundo cínico de promesas políticas, las cumplió. "Necesitamos