June 14, 2004
Greeting, my
friends,
Well, I am finally getting to articulate my plan for 2004. Just has
felt there were other things that have been more urgent. But I can’t
procrastinate any longer.
My passion for peace has just deepened over the year. This makes me
feel I am on the right track.
My mission statement still seems relevant.
To do peacemaking
lovingly, humbly, calmly, and prayerfully, so that it challenges,
supports, and fosters reconciliation, friendship, understanding, and
compassion between people locally and internationally.
For pictures and further details from this past year, go to the
page "04 Pictures and Captions".
Here is a link to this year's
budget.
Making a difference for peace in 2004.
- The trip to Pennsylvania and California where I gave over a
dozen slide presentations and had many significant conversations
encouraging people in their peacemaking and sharing about my own
peacemaking. I have given eight presentations in local schools.
- I will manage a Christian Peacemaker Team booth and give
three seminars at the Cornerstone Christian Music Festival over July
the 4th.
- I have six others that will help this year. This will
enable us to have more time to relate deeper with interested persons.
- I will have a CPT booth at the county fair this year in
August. It will give me a chance to tell a lot of people who have not
thought about our connecting peacemaking and Christianity. These two
events I really look forward to. I sense in some ways God has given me
a gift to talk to others about peacemaking and these are times I can
exercise this gift. It is always a joy. I plan to involve
others here also.
- In October for about 2 ½ months I will go to
Colombia to be part of the CPT Team protecting some 80 families from
the intrusion of the paramilitaries and guerrillas. In the last six
months the farmers have made some very significant strides for a
lasting peace by saying no to cooperation with these threatening armed
groups.
- At Thanksgiving I will go to El Salvador for a week to help
my son Andy settle in for a month with our sister community Valle
Nuevo. I am so glad he has initiated to do this.
- There are so many things a person can be doing for peace, I
have been feeling the need to try to set up some kind of peace advisory
group. One, to involve others in peacemaking and two, to help in
setting priorities amongst the many peacemaking opportunities.
- Coordinating bringing speakers to the area to speak on
peace opportunities and issues.
- Writing e-mails and letters that encourage and give hope
for peacemakers. My letters are at web site http://www.plowcreek.org/jimspeacemaking.htm
- Participate in weekly Peace Vigil. 2000 cars see our
messages the hour we are there. Like “ Pray for Peace, Act for Peace”,
“Trust in God and not in Weapons”, “Overcome evil with good”.
- Sending out messages about peacemaking, I have had many
people say how much they appreciate reading these messages. My messages
are at web site http://www.plowcreek.org/jimspeacemaking.htm
- Many years ago I felt a call to pray for others, for peace
and various world situations. Therefore I try to take time to do that
each day. Many of you are on my list. Your continued prayer support has
help my peace work more than we realize.
- A big goal I have for this year is to set up a advisory
board of concerned people for peace. There are so many different
opportunities for peacemaking. This would help give me direction by
setting priorities. It would also hopefully encourage others to be more
active in peacemaking. Please pray for the right people to be part of
this group.
Pastoral oversight
I will review my peacemaking activities,
plans, and budget spending with my Pastor Rich Foss regularly and with
others as needed. I will plan to report to supporters regularly during
the year. I welcome your suggestions or questions.
Your invitation to invest in this peacemaking ministry
I am passionate about peace. Will you join me in making peacemaking a
priority in today’s world?
Make out checks to Plow Creek Mennonite Church with peacemaking in the
memo line and mail to 19183 Plow Creek Rd. #2 Tiskilwa, IL. 61368. All
contributions are tax deductible.
Thank you for listening.
Sincerely,
Jim Fitz
PS. Please consider acting on your concern for peace by investing
generously in peacemaking today.
top
|
Fitz Family Page |
Jim's Peacemaking