Rockford, IL Asks: "Where Do We Go From Here?"

ROCKFORD, IL -- On August 24, 2009, an African-American youth escaping from custody was shot by two white police officers at a childcare center in a black church in Rockford, IL.  Since then, the Rockford community has faced turmoil amid recriminations, organizing, and marches both in support of police and seeking justice for the victim's family. 

At the invitation of the Rockford Roundtable, a circle of religious, business, and civic leaders, On Earth Peace will provide a two-day leadership training on November 11-12, 2009 to help the community sketch out plans for moving toward a positive future. The training is coming after weeks of preparation and prayer by Samuel Sarpiya, a Church of the Brethren church planter, and a team of local pastors and community leaders.

During the summer, everything seemed to be going according to plan for Samuel. He was excited to be organizing several congregations to carry out a listening initiative focused on need for a better quality of education in Rockford, as part of the On Earth Peace campaign for International Day of Prayer for Peace (September 21)..  This effort fit the vision of his new church fellowship:  "Loving God, Loving People, Making Peace and Planting Churches." 

When the shooting happened, the community erupted with emotion, and Samuel found himself in a tense situation with the potential for further violence. He turned to On Earth Peace for help in designing plans to avoid violence and bring people together.

Matt Guynn, On Earth Peace program director, worked with Samuel to develop a plan focused on building the capacity of key leaders in Rockford to address the situation and move in a positive direction.  An early step in this process is an intensive training event for community leaders, to take place November 11-12, 2009.  Participants will consider the situation in Rockford and make plans for next steps, informed by historic community struggles and the disciplined, strategic nonviolence taught and practiced by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Rockford residents may register here.

The training will be led by David Jehnsen, a specialist in Applied Kingian Nonviolence Philosophy and Methodology.  David served with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in nonviolent civil rights and human rights campaigns from 1962-1968.  In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Jehnsen helped to plan, in partnership with 360 congregations nationwide, the rebuilding of thirty-six predominantly African American congregations in the twelve most devastated New Orleans neighborhoods.

You Can Help

• Pray for this work: for Samuel; for community leaders and the city of Rockford; and for On Earth Peace as this vital partnership develops. Send us an e-mail to let us know you will pray specifically during the Nov 11-12 training.
• Help our efforts with your gift of financial support: When Samuel asked for our help, we responded without hesitation.  Still, this major initiative was not foreseen and will require several thousand dollars beyond our budget for the year.  Your gift will be part of the peace-building and community-healing work in Rockford.  Please help.
• Learn more about the training.

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You are invited to join an international peacemaking mission –

                     Delegation to the Middle East
                       Israel/Palestine
                                       January 5 - 18, 2010

LEARNING: To prepare for this trip, delegates will have access to On Earth Peace resources and a network of previous participants to become familiar with the current conditions.

LISTENING: As our governments talk about a “Middle East Peace Process,” Israelis and Palestinians continue to suffer losses from outbreaks of violence.  Members of the delegation will hear the stories of survival and hope from the people whose daily lives are impacted by this ongoing conflict.

ACTION:  This delegation will meet the people whose lives are impacted by the conflict, including Israeli and Palestinian peace and human rights workers.  There will be an opportunity to work along side the CPT team in Palestine in accompaniment and documentation.

VIOLENCE REDUCTION: Each year the delegation joins in a public witness that non-violently confronts the injustice and violence there.  Upon their return home, they share their experiences with local congregations, groups, and the media to get others involved.

For more information about the delegation, click here.

To apply, contact Bob Gross, the 2010 delegation leader, at bgross@onearthpeace.org or 260-982-7751

Co-Sponsored with Christian Peacemaker Teams

Read the blog from On Earth Peace's January 2009 delegation to Israel/Palestine

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Shumaker Foundation Awards Challenge Grant for Agape-Satyagraha Youth Training Program