Skip to main content

Pastor’s Sharing

Image
By

Dear Friends              Pastor’s Sharing
3/10/2019 Cali, Colombia
“Can you tell us what your sharing’s are about?”  Ask my Nazarene church friend Juan and his mother Norha.
“I focus my sharing on healing the deep divide that is in Colombia today. One side supports the peace accords and the other opposes them. My focus comes out the book “I’m Right and You’re an Idiot.” Both sides are thinking this of the other and not talking to each other. That is very similar to what is happening in the USA, for Trump and against Trump.”
“I will begin by sharing my experience of trying to do this myself. Then I will ask the listeners to share their experience of conversation with the other side. I see this as a way of encouraging each other to talk across the wall separating them. And thus to plant seeds for a more kindly Colombian society.“
“That is a real challenge as we all know today here in Colombia,” said Norha. She added, “Juan, it would be great to have Jim share with Enrique’s Baptist pastors who support his 42 year drug addiction program.
(2 days later Juan told me) “Enrique said he would like to meet with you before setting up a time for you to talk.”
Enrique started, “I have been a left wing activist a long time. I could not believe it when my wife said she had voted for the right wing Duque who is trying to undermine the peace agreement. Guess we just have to accept some things. Life is a challenge.” added Enrique.
(3 days later with the pastors) I began with the usual introduction and a few of my experiences sharing’s across the aisle and then I ask them to articulate their experiences.”
And at that point people just began to share their experiences and ideas and they didn’t stop for over an hour later.  Out of about 15 all but 2 shared at least 2 minutes. They often directed their remarks to each other rather than me.  Something I hoped they would do as my goal is that they would do most of the talking.
A woman pastor who works with war victims remarked, “I have come to believe no matter what religion even Buddhist we all worship the same God.” I added, “Once when as a part of CPT we met some FARC soldiers’, and when we prayed the “Our father” with them. One of the soldiers broke down crying when we got to the part forgive us our sins. Deep down he believed in God.”
Pray these seeds will be fruiting justice and peace and helping to end the walls that divide Colombians today.
 Jim




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Hope in Iraq

By
Dear Friends, I have recently finished Peggy Gish’s book An Iraq Journey of Hope and Peace . It brought me to deep prayer at times, helping me to see US soldiers as human beings and breaking down some of my stereotypes of them. It also helped me experience the personal pain of Iraqis who are caught in the war as opposed to hearing statistics in the news. This was peacemaking taking place in my own heart and mind. Peggy’s honesty in sharing her own personal struggle and admitting her own mistakes is challenging to my own peacemaking. Another aspect of this book that was inspiring to me was that when CPTers in Iraq realized they were making a mistake in midst of sharing with Iraqis, they were able at times to change right then and there. This is clear evidence of the Spirit at work. It also gave me a sense of how God was able to use the seemingly small amount of people, just six or so, to make a significant difference for the good in this horrible situation. I am adding to this messag...
Post a Comment
Read more

An Incredible Prime Minister

By
           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...
Post a Comment
Read more

Colombia Reports

By
Introduction Letter Jim Fitz is a member of Plow Creek Mennonite Church, in Tiskilwa, Illinois. He works full time in peacemaking, which includes about 3 months a year with Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) in Barrancabermeja, (Barranca for short) Colombia. In the Barranca area, CPT there provides protection from the threats to and killing of various armed groups by being a nonviolent presence and witness for about 100 farm families. Jim will be in Barranca area Oct.1- Dec. 22. During the application process for Christian Peacemaker Teams, one of the first things that the CPT interviewer said to Jim, " Do you realize this is a very dangerous situation and do you have a bunch of people who can pray for you?" This gave Jim some hesitation but upon some reflection, he felt that he had a church full of people who would pray for him. He also felt a clear call to this work. He felt he was ready to try to risk his life for peace in the same way soldiers risk their li...
Post a Comment
Read more