In July, a huge highlight for us was participating in the Stott-Bediako Forum. This is an International Forum hosted by INFEMIT (International Fellowship of Mission as Transformation). Julio attended his first forum back in 2017, when it was hosted in Ghana. Since then, we have had opportunities to connect more with this incredible network of people and organizations.
The forum was held at a retreat center an hour outside of the city and there were over 100 participants. They came from South Africa, Philippines, Jamaica, Palestine, Romania, etc. It was like a homecoming, reconnecting with friends from around the world, including Al Tizon the former Executive Minister of Serve Globally who is a dear friend. There were also many new connections made, which we look forward to strengthening.It was powerful to worship together, to dialogue with one another around meals, and to break bread together in Jesus’ name.
The forum focused on Transformation Revisited: Mission and Gospel Imagination. During one of the breakout sessions Julio presented a paper on how youth peacebuilders in El Bagre Antioquia are using the moral imagination to build biblical peace, shalom. One of the things that makes this forum so powerful is the opportunity for mutual learning and connection. We all have something to learn from each other, as the church continues to practice integral mission.
After the forum concluded, we organized and coordinated an excursion into the city for 60 people. We wanted them to see and hear firsthand stories of transformation. They had the opportunity to visit a local museum, the Memory Museum, which gives visibility to the victims of the conflict in Colombia. There women from the Granizal neighborhood, where Shalom Covenant serves, have an exhibit. The visitors walked through the exhibit, while the women told their stories of displacement, resettling, and hope. We also went to Shalom Covenant. There we heard directly from the participants the transforming work of integral mission this local church lives out. This includes a lunch program from at risk children, classes for pregnant and nursing moms, Bible study and handcraft classes for older adults, a soccer school and leadership formational project for teen girls, and a temporary home for boys who find themselves in situations of vulnerability. It was truly humbling and inspiring.
On Sunday evening, we hosted an informal get together with friends from Fuente de Salvación Covenant Church, our friend Al, and two brilliant friends from South Africa. It was a time to share with one another how we are living out integral mission and encourage one another.
