CEDECOL National Assembly, DoPA and Summit of the People

Just got back last night from the 59th Annual National Assembly of the Evangelical Council of Colombia (CEDECOL) in the lovely colonial city of Popayán, Cauca.

Highlights, other than bouncing over the Andes in a Fokker 50, included participating in round-table discussions on Human Rights and Church and State led by Rev. Pablo Moreno and Rev. Jairo Suárez (both members and leaders of the CEDECOL Peace Commission), as well as hearing a sincere thank you from CEDECOL President, Rev. Edgar Castaño, for the important documentation of the Prophetic Call Human Rights Documentation Project.

Yesterday, the Peace Commission went public with the decision to hire a paid National Coordinator. Please pray for the Commission to find the right person to fill this important position; the first time in its 20 year history that the Peace Commission will have a National Coordinator working full-time for the Commission.

In other news, the Peace Commission is once again asking you to join us in the Days of Prayer and Action for Peace in Colombia. You can download worship packet here for worship resources for your church to join us!

Here in Colombia we will be joining with other churches and civil-society organization at the Summit of the Peoples which will offer civil-society alternatives to the Summit of the Americas which will gather the Presidents from across the continent on April 14 and 15. We plan to hold a public peace vigil on Friday, April 14.

Video Interviews with Yours Truly

While on home assignment in the United States from May-November, 2011 Global Ministries produced a couple of short interviews with me about my work.

This first video was shot in October 2011, just prior to my return to Colombia for a second term:

This second video was shot in May 2011 just after I had returned to the US after my first term in Colombia:

Advent Reflection: Occupy Our Hearts

 My reflection from the Metro Baptist Church annual Advent Reflection Guide:

From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.   -Mark 13:28-31

Jesus urges his disciples to learn the lesson of the fig tree; he wants them to be as adept at discerning the signs of the coming of the kingdom of God, of the son incarnate amongst us, as they are at predicting summer in the fig tree’s spring blossoms.

Upon reading this passage I can’t help but think of this year’s “Arab spring” and wonder how adept we’ve become at reading the signs of the times.  As some are occupying the symbols of US corporate greed on Wall St., I hear Jesus calling us to discern the corruption in the temple that precedes its destruction. Dare we see the coming of the kingdom in the midst of wars and earthquakes and famine? Can we dream of new worlds, communities and ways of caring for each other?

May our hearts also be occupied this advent, invaded by an irresistible hope that the messiah is indeed coming to proclaim the year of the lord’s favor knowing that heaven and earth may pass away but Christ’s words will not.

Loving God, occupy our hearts that we may occupy the world with the love and justice of your kingdom.

Michael Joseph is a long-distance member of Metro. He works with victims of violence in Colombia as a missionary of Global Ministries of the United Church of Christ and Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

Beginning a New Term

It's official! As of the vote of the Common Global Ministries Board last week... I'll be heading back to Colombia for another four-year term. In fact, I'll be returning to Bogotá tomorrow. I'll continue to work with the Peace Commission of the Evangelical Council of Colombia and teach theology at the Mennonite Biblical Seminary and the Baptist Seminary in Cali. I'm excited about this opportunity to continue to work and walk with my sisters and brothers in Colombia.

What Will You Do?

Colombian Churches Call for Peace

¿Cuánto sabe del impacto del conflicto armado dentro y fuera de nuestras iglesias?