Canadian Mennonite
Volume 10, No. 07
April 3, 2006


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Giving young Colombians a voice

Winnipeg

With this story by Rebecca Bartel, the first-ever international volunteer for Mennonite Church Canada Witness—who serves Colombian youths through the Mennonite Development Foundation of Colombia (MENCOLDES), Canadian Mennonite begins a series of articles by our “young prophets”—reflective, thoughtful and vibrant young writers who are passionate about their Anabaptist faith.

Bartel

As a student studying theology and learning about conflict resolution and international development at Canadian Mennonite University, Winnipeg, the “call” to work in the church was undeniable for me. There was also the difficulty of reconciling the politics of the world and the politics of Jesus. As an Anabaptist, there was the question of war and the absolute conviction that it’s not necessary, that it’s not acceptable. How could I put my politics, my peace position, my pacifism, all together?

Graduate study was the only thing I could think of—that and going to a country where they’re experiencing that exact same struggle. The Mennonite Church in Colombia experiences this every day. It’s a church that has a very outspoken political voice while, at same time, it has a ministry very much in keeping with Anabaptist theology. I wanted to learn from the people who are doing it.

Working for MENCOLDES, I’m part of a pilot project to educate and train Colombian youths in church leadership, social organization, development and human rights, and to respond peacefully to the violent context they live in. We do this through Bible studies offering grassroots biblical interpretation as well as socio-political analysis and conflict resolution workshops, among other things.

In the Bible studies, we often speak of Jesus, who said, “Let the young children come to me,” showing people who are young that they are recognized as voices that need to be heard.

We have also found the prophet Jeremiah helpful. He’s one of the youngest prophets and from a smaller tribe, the tribe of Benjamin. Colombia has a bad rap—drug traffickers, cocaine addicts, guerrillas—and so Colombians have this idea that this is how the world sees them. This prophet from the smallest tribe gives them hope. Not-so-important people can have a prophetic voice—like Jeremiah.

We young people get easily frustrated that the world especially—and the church—don’t change as quickly as we’d like it to. Another challenge is understanding hierarchy and authority. I hear a lot about that in my work. There exists an understanding that other people are more important than us. Getting out of that vertical way of thinking is a big challenge.

To be quite honest, the organized church is in dire need of reform. I think young adults—as future leaders—need to think about that now. I think we’re in the process of change. I don’t put a lot of faith in institutions, but in people and in community. We are not called to live in institutions; rather, we are called to live in community and work together in that understanding.

It’s an exciting time to be a young person who is part of the church. But one thing I’ve learned is: I can’t change the world alone—or overnight. I can, however, live my life in a way that speaks to the belief that change can happen. So I pick my battles carefully.

We’re at a time in North America when we need to be rethinking service in a globalized world. It’s not about going overseas and doing the service thing somewhere else. You can get caught up in that.

All the decisions we make should be informed by our neighbours, by our understanding of the upside-down kingdom of God, and by our faith. We are part of a body. We all have gifts; it’s most important how we contribute.

I’ve learned from Colombians to appreciate the gifts of “every day.” For a long time, I was thinking only of the future, forgetting that life is now. It’s very challenging at times. War and violence and poverty exist in Colombia, and lots of praying and lots of crying need to happen.

At the same time, “every day” is life. This is what we have. We don’t know about tomorrow. That is where I find hope in people who, despite everything—the seemingly impossible situation around them where they can’t go to school, they don’t have jobs, and someone threatens their lives—keep smiling.

Colombians can still dance for two hours at church services! That’s hope; that’s life.

—Rebecca Bartel, as told to Leona Dueck Penner and Dan Dyck

As she returns to Colombia after a recent visit with her family, Bartel continues work on her master of arts in political science thesis on the relationship between trade and armed conflict.

Corporate executive exemplifies business, faith, community life

Altona, Man.

Friesen

Altona’s Curwin Friesen is the quintessential example of “hometown boy makes good,” following his being named one of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 last year by Caldwell Partners. The national program honours Canadians in various fields who have reached a significant level of success before their 40th birthday.

The current president and chief operating officer (COO) of Altona’s Friesens Corporation left his hometown of 3,800 back in the 1980s to attend the University of Waterloo, Ont., where he graduated with an honours degree in economics and trade; he was awarded the Governor-General’s medal award for high academic achievement on graduation.

At the same time, he also learned about the interconnectedness of business and faith at Conrad Grebel University College that is attached to the university. During this time he explored and struggled with the tensions that exist between the two disciplines.

“My faith too is part of what I am, and I’m not alone in that,” he says. “A basic belief in God, and all that it entails, influences me, and I see it as a requirement of people to be who they really are.”

After graduation, Friesen worked for a finance company in Toronto for five years.

Eventually he missed some of Altona’s small town joys. Having stayed in touch with David Friesen, Friesen Corporation’s CEO, over the years, Friesen received an offer in 1995 to join the company as special projects manager. He and his wife Jill, a teacher, jumped at the opportunity to return home.

Friesen, one of about 30 unrelated Friesens among the 600 people who work for the company started in 1907 by David Friesen’s grandfather, says he was honoured by the Top 40 Under 40 award, but feels it is more than a personal accomplishment. “Friesens is a great company, and I’m part of it, so I sort of see it as a team award,” he says.

Friesens Corporation is the largest independent book manufacturer in Canada, with sales offices throughout Canada and the United States. It produces 25 million books annually. It is also one of the largest employee-owned enterprises in Canada, with more than 90 per cent of the employees doubling as business owners.

One of his first responsibilities was to build a management team for the future.

“When I first started here, most of the senior management were in their 50s,” Friesen says, “but in order for the company to succeed in the future, there has been a transition, so that now there are management people in their 50s, 40s, 30s and 20s. In 2007, it will be the company’s 100th anniversary. We want to be around for another 100 years as well,” he says of the need for a change.

Friesen has personally concentrated on the company’s U.S. growth (which now accounts for 45 percent of its printing business), negotiated deals to produce yearbooks for more than 150 schools in the United Kingdom, and led in the company’s move into digital printing.

Friesens Corporation has received many Gold Management Plus awards from the National Association of Printing Leadership (NAPL) over the past 10 years since Friesen joined the firm, becoming the first Canadian company to be inducted into the NAPL Hall of Fame. As well, Friesens has been named one of the 50 best-managed companies in Canada during the past decade.

But there is more to the man than just business, according to Douglas Caldwell, chairman and founder of Caldwell Partners. “We recognize people who also remember to give back to the community,” Caldwell says. “Curwin and his wife are excellent examples of that.”

Friesen is keenly involved in his community. He led a fundraising team that collected pledges and borrowed $6.5-million for a millennium community centre in Altona.

At the same time, he and his wife became involved in the founding of the Seeds of Life Community Church, developing a style of worship and structure to appeal to non-churchgoers. It includes inspirational worship and drama, a form of worship that until now wasn’t available in the community.

“It was an exciting time to try something new,” says Friesen. “The church is different. It meets in an old jeans factory—and it’s known as ‘The Exchange.’ It’s also used for community activities and as a coffee shop. And while ‘Mennonite’ is not part of the formal name, the church is part of Mennonite Church Canada.”

Friesen heads up the church’s resource team, and sits on a seven-member leadership team, providing broad leadership to the church. The couple also lead a small group on a weekly basis.

—Elmer Heinrichs


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