wfn.org | Newsline: Youth Peace Travel Team - a dream of peace

[CoBNews <CoBNews@brethren.org>]

Newsline: Church of the Brethren News Service, News Director Cheryl Brumbau gh-Cayford, 800-323-8039 ext. 260, cobnews@brethren.org

>YOUTH PEACE TRAVEL TEAM: A DREAM OF PEACE

(Nov. 3, 2009) Elgin, IL -- Applications are being accepted for next summer 's Youth Peace Travel Team, a group of young adults age 19 to 22 who share  Jesus' message of peace with other young people at church camps and other v enues. The team is sponsored by the Church of the Brethren's Youth and Youn g Adult Ministry, Brethren Volunteer Service, On Earth Peace, and the Outdo or Ministries Association. The team receives food, lodging, and travel expe nses for the summer, and a college tuition grant. Applications are due Jan.  19, 2010. Go to www.brethren.org/YouthPeaceTravelTeam or contact Becky Ull om at 800-323-8039 ext. 297.

The following is excerpted from a reflection by Jessica Flory-Steury, a mem ber of the 2009 Youth Peace Travel Team along with Bethany Funkhouser, Chel sea Goss, and Marianne Houff:

"Before my experience on the Youth Peace Travel Team, I dreamed of peace on  earth. I wondered what it would be like if all wars ended, world hunger wa s defeated, and love reigned over all. I always knew it was possible. I jus t didn't know how....

"One of our junior high campers had a very interesting story. He had come t o camp by invitation of a friend. He had not been to church more than a few  times in his life. He didn't know anything about the church, or much about  Jesus Christ. He had come from a broken home and had witnessed things that  no one should ever have to see in their lifetime.... He often teased other  campers and in the past had been known to be involved in violence. In spit e of that, he could be a kind and passionate individual. I was so glad he w as there and I was glad to be there to witness his transformation.

"Throughout the beginning of the week, he got in trouble for goofing off. I  discovered from conversation with him that he often had no idea what the l eaders were talking about during Bible studies, leaving him frustrated and  pushed even farther when he was reprimanded for not paying attention.

"From observing the campers that week, the team decided that these kids nee ded to hear more of the basics. They had more experiences of violence and h ate in their lives than we could imagine. We told them that Jesus loved the m--completely, uniquely, and intimately. We told them that we are called to  love one another. In the session, we had them think of ways to break down  walls of hate. At the end, we had them write their own 'peace raps.'

"The passion and creativity that poured out of those kids was amazing. It w as inspiring to observe that even though they had all experienced so much h ate and violence in their schools and homes, they still had hope.

"The previously mentioned camper grew from an instigator to a leader...the  one who was encouraging his teammates, presenting ideas, and motivating eve ryone to keep going. After we left that week, I wanted to go with that boy,  to help him maintain his eagerness to learn and make peace and to remind h im that he was loved. My hope is that we instilled something in him that do esn't go away.... I pray that boy continues on his journey of peace with Go d....

" World peace will not be solved by one person in a day. We need each other  and all the love that we possess to fulfill the message that Jesus had for  us."

The Church of the Brethren is a Christian denomination committed to continu ing the work of Jesus peacefully and simply, and to living out its faith in  community. The denomination is based in the Anabaptist and Pietist faith t raditions and is one of the three Historic Peace Churches. It celebrated it s 300th anniversary in 2008. It counts some 125,000 members across the Unit ed States and Puerto Rico, and has missions and sister churches in Nigeria,  Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and India.

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>For more information contact:

>Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford
>Director of News Services
>Church of the Brethren
>1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120
>800-323-8039 ext. 260
>cobnews@brethren.org