Pan y Paz (Bread and Peace)

An Invitation to North American Mennonites from Colombian Mennonites

   Photographs of the September 21 event can be viewed online.

   Update 9/17/2002 Thanks to a quick response and financial support from the Northern faith community, the PAN Y PAZ declaration was published on Sunday, September 15th in the four major daily papers around the country. You raised nearly $18,000!
Read the update...

   The Invitation (Summary of the Project)
     Also available as a formatted Acrobat file (94k PDF).

The North American goal was to raise $10,000 by Sept 11 to pay for newspaper ads declaring this nonviolent stand and refusal to take sides.

   Report on the State of Colombian Churches to the Global Family of Faith

Individuals who speak out in favor of peace and protection for civilians are eliminated ruthlessly by all sides. More than two million Colombians have been displaced by violence or the threat of violence, many as a deliberate strategy of war.

For their stance Mennonites face real and immediate danger. More than 20 Christian leaders have been killed this year and armed groups are forcing churches to close. This summer, Gabriel Montes, a volunteer with Justapaz, the Mennonite peace organization, was killed.

   The Colombian Mennonite Church September 21 Declaration
     Also available on page two of this formatted Acrobat file (94k PDF).

As the conflict intensifies, Colombian Mennonites have felt called make a public declaration of faith, a witness to their government, armed groups, and other citizens.

   Prayer service by Rachelle Schlabach, MCC Washington

    Logo Clipart for use in your advertising or newsletters.

   Sample letter to government official

   MCC Action alert July 29, 2002

   MCC Seeds of Peace

You are about to embark on a month-long journey of seeds and hope. As you go along, you'll meet some Colombian brothers and sisters, and learn how can you can help them plant seeds of peace.

   MCC Colombia page

• Turning towards Peace packet
• photo gallery
• a vignette by Janna Bowman, MCC worker
• Sanctuaries of Peace project