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Winnipeg, Man.
Youth called to be part of peacemakers legacy


“Positive peacemaking is a lifestyle. It’s reacting before the war,” said Michael Banks, speaker at the annual Peace-It-Together youth conference held March 9-11 at Canadian Mennonite University in Winnipeg.

Two hundred eighty youth and sponsors from across Canada, and several from the US, attended the weekend conference on the theme “Peacemaking: The Gospel for a Culture of Violence”.

Banks, a Mennonite pastor from New York City, spoke during the four main sessions on living the life of a Christian peacemaker. His presentations were punctuated with personal stories of confronting racism and violence faced by his community and his family.

At those times said Banks, “I was faced with my own desire for power and control and didn’t want to feel vulnerable.” However, he was called to rely on God. “To be a peacemaker, we have to make ourselves vulnerable, like Jesus.” He challenged youth to become active, positive peacemakers in their own communities.

The weekend was packed with music, play and opportunities to learn and serve. On Saturday afternoon, youth participated in events such as a service project at the Winnipeg Harvest food bank; theatre games; an art workshop; and the Global Change Game, a simulation of environmental and social issues played on a basketball-court-sized world map. In the final session, participants dipped their fingers in paint and added their mark to a dove-shaped collage formed by the names of peacemakers from the past.

 – CMU release

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Last modified April 19, 2001.

© 2001 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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