Struggling With

III.    Vows of Nonviolent Witness

“We pledge to act in allegiance to God alone, and to resist injustice with goodness”

10. I will speak up in defense and protection of anyone, even enemies, who are attacked with violence of word or action, even at the risk of my own life.

(Isaac Beachy, Fellowship of Reconciliation Colombia)

Isaac discovered at least one very important thing from the San Jose de Apartado Peace Community in northwest Colombia: struggle for God’s shalom is not easy! In his February 2011 blog entry, Isaac admits: “When I first wrote the title to this blog [‘With the Struggle’] I had no idea what a struggle meant. Before, a struggle was an exciting story full of graffiti, marches, people power, powerful Spanish protest songs and was victorious. Struggling or being with a struggle seemed like an adventure to me... Now fully understanding the emotional and often physical cost of being in a struggle, I see it’s not something you do for fun.”

Consumed by Forgiveness

IV.    Vows of Voluntary Sacrifice

“We freely offer up our appetites, wealth, and pride to relieve the suffering of the world, for the sake of our neighbors and God’s joy.”

16. In confrontation and conflict I will seek justice and reconciliation rather than victory, and I will make any necessary sacrifice of my own person, pride or property to achieve reconciliation and justice.

[The following version of this story of is entitled “Consumed by Forgiveness” in the August 2011 edition of the Virginia Mennonite Conference and Missions joint newsletter, Connections. Quotations in this story come from articles in the Pueblo Chieftain and Valley Courier of CO and Mennonite Weekly Review]

Chieftain Photo/Matt Hildner

“All too often I see victim’s families consumed by hate.” Judge Martin Gonzalez understands compassion and hope are a powerful oddity and conveyed that fact to the young sixteen-year-old receiving his sentence. “The forgiveness of [this victim’s] family has reverberated throughout this case… You have had a shield around you of forgiveness and love by the victims that is phenomenal. They have been your guardian angels.”

Cindy and Herm Weaver and children Hope and Dillon lost their daughter and sister in October 2010 when she was hit and instantly killed by a pickup truck while out on her bicycle. Chloe Weaver was with Mennonite Voluntary Service in Alamosa, Colorado when she was struck from behind by young driver, Kyle Stotsky. Yet, in this wrenching tragedy an inspiring story of Christ’s transformative love has beamed through the responses of the Weaver family. The Weavers stressed their hope for restoration and reconciliation with Kyle rather than incarceration and retribution. Herm, the conference minister with Mountain States Conference of Mennonite Church USA, made it clear that Chloe would have had no desire to have two lives ended and would rather have Kyle continue Chloe’s legacy. 

Standing With Our Neighbors

III.    Vows of Nonviolent Witness

“We pledge to act in allegiance to God alone, and to resist injustice with goodness”

11. I will resist evil and injustice by individuals, governments or other institutions, with the goodness exemplified by Jesus Christ and his apostles; I will not hold back from fear of punishment or loss

PBS Religion & Ethics Newsweekly - 7.7.2006

*When governments declare battle against national enemies, Christians can feel helpless to be Jesus’ hands and feet in international arenas of violent injustice.  Despite a growing sense of powerlessness regarding the second Iraq War in the mid-2000s, Christians and others in Harrisonburg, Virginia found ways to be God’s vessels of peace for Iraqi people by responding to the war’s evil effects in their own town.