Jim's Peacemaking

Dear friends, Whether you are new to my updates and newsletter or you have been a subscriber or supporter for a long time, greetings from our new home in Chicago. A big change for Lyn and I this year was our move here in December to a rented apartment from our rural farm home of 27 years at Plow Creek Fellowship near Tiskilwa, IL. An important part of my peacemaking efforts has been this an nual reporting of my activities of the last year and a forward projection, with openness to the Lord’s leading, of my hopes and plans, along with a budget for the coming year. This exercise, I have found, is good for me as it lends perspective to my work and also holds me accountable to all of you who are praying and supporting the work and me financially. I’ll begin with some recent photos and commentary: This is one of five presentations to 300 Elkhart high school students in Indiana this April. The teacher noted, “This fueled a half hour of really powerful discussion.” Some of students response...

Queridos Amigos, 21-5-09 Investigación de drogas de la Corporación de Rand Un amigo me preguntó, “Que hiciste en la residencia de BVBH, intentar ganar dinero por tu organización?” Respondé que yo hago basicamente lo mismo con todas mis presentaciones: intento involucrarle a la gente en el pacimiento. Comparto que ahora concedemos a millón de dólares de ayuda financial para operaciones militares cada dia en Colombia y les digo como esa ayuda aviva a la Guerra y al sufrimiento de los Colombianos. Un poco mas de un año atras estabamos concediendo unos 1.5 millones cada dia. Se han reducido esa cantidad como resultado de oración y presión a nuestros representantes. He llegado a sentir que hay mucho poder en oraciones simples para cambiar eventos. La corporación conservador de Rand (http://forcolumbia/node/239) conductó una investigación del problema de las drogas en los Estados Unidos y encontró que seria 23 veces mas barato invertir dinero en programas de rehabilitación que invertir u...

Hello Friends, “I want to let you know, I am going to be praying for you,” a young man quietly told me after my slide presentation in his middle school in West Virginia. At each of my school presentations I say, “If you have interest in reading any of these books that have impacted my peacemaking, let me know and I will give them to your library.” Interestingly, the middle school students always mention a few books on my list. The most requested book, both in Philadelphia and in West Virginia, was Real Sex by Lauren Winner. A most honest and healthy look at sex. It brings to light the violence that is happening regarding sex that we never talk about or deal with. I wish I had read this book when I was a teen. In Philadelphia In one class I had 90 minutes and only 4 hours’ sleep beforehand, and I was wearing out, when the students brought up questions about what Quakers believe. Fortunately my Nephew Dave Fitz who is a Quaker and who is much more articulate than I am was along. ...

Hello Friend, Last night the Advisory Board for Jim’s Peacemaking established Reba Place Fellowship Ministries as the 501c3 charitable organization to receive contributions for Jim’s Peacemaking. The Advisory Board consists of Rich Foss, Ron Frantz, Tim Doran, Ron Johnson, Heather Clark and myself. I was very encouraged to hear each sharing their personal calling to peace and justice work when I asked why they joined this board. I feel very privileged to have each of them supporting and guiding this work. If you would like to support my peacemaking, make checks out to: RPF Ministries NFP and write Jim’s Peacemaking in the memo line. Send to: RPF Ministries NFP 723 Seward Evanston, IL. 60202 Peace, Jim

Hola amigo, Anoche la comisión de consejo para la pacificación de Jim estableció los Ministerios de Camaradería de RPF Ministerio como la organización de caridad 501c3 que recibirá contribuciones para apoyar a los esfuerzos de pacifcaciones de Jim. La comisión de consejo consiste en Rich Foss, Ron Frantz, Tim Doran, Ron Johnson, Heather Clark y yo. Yo fui muy agradecido escuchar los compromisos de todos al trabajo de paz y justicia cuando yo les pregunté por que ajuntaron a la comisión. Me siento muy privilegiado por trabajar con ellos en apoyar y guiar ésta misión. Si ustedes les gustaría apoyar mi pacificación, extiende los cheques a “RPF Ministries NFP” y escribe “Jim’s Peacemaking” en la línea de memorando. Mandan cheques a: RPF Ministries NFP 723 Seward Evanston, IL. 60202 Sinceramente, Jim

Dear friends, I asked for you to pray in the last letter and to say it simply, God answered far beyond our expectations. 1. In El Salvador, a moderate leftist candidate was elected, 51% to 48%. And a good friend in Colombia who was watching the election wrote, “I think this new president has real potential to be a government that is really for the people.” 2. When I went to give the five presentations to the Proviso West High School, the teacher was so fearful he would lose his job if my presentation even hinted anything about religion that I was ready to say, “Oh, let's just forget it.” But when we went to check with the principal, she assured us there would be no problem and said “This kind of presentation is an important p art of giving the kids a good education.” In asking the students what they thought of CPT afterwards, they were 90% very positive. One senior is seriously considering CPT as part of her future. 3. I got an email from the Presbyterian director that contained th...

Queridos amigos, 1. En El Salvador, un candidato moderadamente liberal fue elegido, de 51% a 48%. Y un amigo en Colombia que miró la elección me escribió, “Yo creo que éste presidente nuevo tiene la potencia real de instituir un gobierno que apoyará al pueblo.” Nuestros amigos Salvadoreños nos dijeron algo semejante. 2. Cuando di las cinco presentaciones al escuelo secundario Proviso Oeste en Chicago, el maestro temió tanto que perdiera su trabajo si mi presentación tenia algo que ver con la religión que yo estaba listo para decir, ‘No las hagamos.’ Pero cuando pedimos consejos del principal, ella nos aseguró que no habría ningún problema y nos dijo, “Este tipo de presentación es una parte importante de darles a los niños una educación buena. Cuando les preguntamos a los estudiantes después lo que ellos pensaron sobre el CPT, todos menos uno expresaron aprobación. El único estudiante que no le gusto a CPT me dijo, “Eres loco por tomar tantos riesgos.” Pero una estudiante mayor está con...