Pray for Peace pins "stick" around

Oct. 16, 2002

Contact: Laurie L. Oswald (316)283-5100, E-mail:

NEWTON, Kan. (MC USA) -- The idea of 9-11 relief efforts has seemed to "stick" after Mennonite Church USA ventured into peace pin-making.

Mennonite Church USA Executive Board staff took firm hold of the peace-pin concept this past year as they offered an alternative to the red-white-and-blue ribbons people wore. The result is a one-inch tall rectangular pin, emblazoned with the words "Pray for Peace" and the MC USA/ MC Canada dove and olive branch logo. It has a green logo and lettering, edged with gold, on a white background with gold trim.

MC USA made $11,797 from the project. The money will be dispersed between Project Restoring Hope, for use by Mennonite churches in the New York City area, and Mennonite Central Committee relief efforts in Afghanistan. Each group will receive nearly $5,900.

Whole-heartedly received, the pin seemed to "fly" off the shelves to customers in North America, Australia and Japan in a short period of time. Within three weeks, the original order of 1,000 pins was sold and reorders had to be made three times to keep up with demand for the pins. The MC USA Executive Board sold almost 3,500 pins.

The peace pin fundraising-effort has ended, but requests for the pin are still coming in. Pins can still be purchased through the Mennonite Publishing House. Each pin costs $5.99 plus shipping and handling.

Some think the message behind the pin is invaluable.

"Through this troubling and confusing time, peace must be the only action to be worked for -- not war," one pin-owner wrote. "Peace and victory belong to all nations, not just the United States of America."

To order pins, call MPH at 1-800-245-7894 or e-mail flr@mph.org to place your request. With e-mail orders, please include a preferred shipping address.

Heidi Buller, a student at Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kan., is an intern for Mennonite Church USA news service.