by Karleen Daniels, Modesto Church of the Brethren

Photo Credits: Modesto Church of the Brethren website

“They are blessed who work for peace, for they will be called God’s children.” – Matt. 5:9 (NCV)

On December 29, 2020, a 29-year-old man, Trevor Seever, was shot to death near the labyrinth of the Modesto Church of the Brethren property. He had made a threatening call to his family indicating he may have purchased a gun and he was on his way to their house. He had also posted threatening messages on social media about wanting to kill policemen. His family learned later that the posting had been done by a friend on Trevor’s phone as a joke. Trevor had recently been jailed for a few days from a DUI conviction where he was placed in solitary confinement after an incident with a guard. During his short confinement he was sleep deprived and his dietary restrictions were ignored.  

A police officer, Joseph Lamantia, arrived on the scene and rapidly fired several shots from a distance that hit Seever in the back, chest, and abdomen. He died from loss of blood. Tony Lopez, of CBS news, reported that the officer had not followed police policy, procedures, and training. Upon searching Seever, they found he was unarmed. Officer Joseph Lamantia has been involved in four other killings and was finally fired and arrested in March, 2021. The city paid $7.5 million to settle the family’s civil rights lawsuit. Officer Lamantia was recently acquitted on July 21, 2023, and he is fighting to get his job back with the Modesto Police Department.

Jesus’ Holy Week path--from Palm Sunday through his crucifixion and resurrection--tells a story that invites deep spiritual preparation, prayer, and creative action. This pathway beckons followers of Jesus and especially calls those of us committed to practicing nonviolence and living God’s sacrificial love. There are several invitations along this Holy Week path. Will you join On Earth Peace in this spiritual preparation?  

Maree Iboaya is an18-year-old Nigerian-American from Findlay, Ohio and a second-year Medical Sciences major at the University of Cincinnati in Ohio, pursuing a minor in Biomedical Computing and Electronics and a certificate in Minority Health. She has a passion for medicine and looks forward to a career as a cardiothoracic surgeon, dismantling the racial health disparities that exist in the healthcare industry. In her free time, Maree loves to cook, dance, and travel with friends and family.

With On Earth Peace’s mission to develop and walk with leaders and communities who work for justice and peace, On Earth Peace has offered six Community Youth Engagement Grants to youth worldwide since 2020. Supporting youth-developed and youth-led projects, the Community Engagement Grant offers up to $500 in grant funding and guiding frameworks to support peace and justice-based projects to encourage community engagement, growth, and advocacy in youth and the creation of a beloved community. 

In Fall 2023, the Community Youth Engagement Grants were offered to two wonderful recipients: Mia Zeeman and the Borderless Relations Committee (BRC).

In November 2023, a group of children gathered at Oakton Church of the Brethren in Oakton, VA, wielding pencils and paintbrushes to create a mural and to define peace. Some of the kids were from the Oakton Partners in Learning (OPIL) program while the others were a part of the Children’s Church. Despite their different backgrounds, according to Tim Hollenberg-Duffey, co-pastor at Oakton Church of the Brethren, they “found common ground: a desire to learn.” Using On Earth Peace’s Kids as Peacemakers (KAP) curriculum, this small group developed a strong understanding of active nonviolence. The kids, utilizing their newfound peacemaking knowledge, drew a scale, depicting peace winning over violence. They wanted to show the importance of standing in unity with the vulnerable instead of getting caught up in violence. The mural embodied everything this group learned and symbolized their long-term commitment to bringing peace to their community and beyond.

Tim and Audrey Hollenberg-Duffey joined the Oakton Church of the Brethren in 2019 as co-pastors. They both graduated from Bridgewater College in 2011 and Bethany Theological Seminary in 2014 before taking their first pastorate in Hagerstown, MD. They have a unique approach of “harmonized ministry,” collaborating with one another and the entire congregation to create a lasting impact on their community. In the Fall of 2023, Tim and Audrey worked alongside Debbie Seidel, Director of Family Ministry and Coordinator of OPIL to develop a group of young peacemakers. Debbie joined Oakton in 2006 and has extensive experience in education, having worked in the Fairfax County Public Schools for 21 years, as an elementary school teacher for 14 years, and most recently, as a school librarian. She recognized that Fairfax County has a high level of academic competition, resulting in parents regularly paying for tutoring for their children. However, there are not many options for students that cannot pay for such services. Thus, Debbie developed a secular tutoring program for academic success, Oakton Partners in Learning (OPIL) with the help of the Brethren Faith in Action Grant, providing one-on-one tutoring and English language assistance for adults and children. The program utilizes trained tutors in a variety of subjects to “gives kids who can’t pay a chance to flourish,” according to Tim.