In this time of chaos, the Spirit moves. She lifts us high, gives us strength and encourages us to build another possible world. There is no way to stop the Spirit, as no one can stop those who move on her wings. • Interim Executive Director, Doris Garcia Rivera, preached at Calvary Baptist Church in Washington, DC last weekend to kick off a virtual Pentecost preaching series hosted by Calvary. Read her inspiring words on where the Spirit is moving us! Calvary Baptist is a BPFNA Partner Congregation.
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Interim Executive Director Doris Garcia Rivera has been invited to participate in a virtual Pentecost preaching series through Calvary Baptist Church in Washington, DC. Doris will be preaching on Sunday, May 30 at 9:45 AM Eastern, the first Sunday in the series.
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Discussions about gender, gender identities, gender roles, biological sex, sexual orientation and gender expressions—among other concepts—are not new, nor do they appear out of nowhere. People in LBGTQ communities were not all born 20 years ago; therefore, sexual diversity is not an imposed recent issue. Sexual diversity exists and has been around forever. As a church that remains at the forefront and inserts itself into the world’s daily discussions, we must deepen the theological conversation on gender issues and continue opening spaces for dialogue in our temples.
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The board and staff of BPFNA-Bautistas por la Paz are deeply disturbed by the violence against protesters and denounce the bloodshed happening by the Colombian State against its people.
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Since March 29, the start date of Derek Chauvin’s trial, 64 people - approximately 3 people each day - have died at the hands of law enforcement in the United States. One officer being held accountable does not come close to rectifying the loss of Black and Brown lives nor does it erase the fact that the United States has a serious problem with policing. We also can’t view the institution of policing in isolation when the whole system is guilty.
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BPFNA-Bautistas por la Paz celebrates the support given to 15 projects for peace and justice during this year’s Peace Fund-Fondos por la Paz grant cycle. The Peace Fund-Fondos por la Paz was established in 2018 and empowers small, grassroots groups around the world doing the work of peacemaking on a local or regional level.
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Throughout history, women in every part of the world have made great strides, sometimes in spite of a significant lack of equality. With the help of women such as Lucretia Mott, Rosa Parks, and Marsha P. Johnson, the gap in equality in areas such as gender, race, and sexual orientation has become more and more narrow. Currently, we are very fortunate that these women and so many more have made these strides, but we still have a long way to go - and part of it comes from the way we approach feminism even among each other as women.
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BPFNA Interim Executive Director Doris Garcia Rivera has been selected as a lecturer to present as part of the Hispanic Theological Initiative’s (HTI) 25th Anniversary celebration. Doris’s lecture is titled Soaring into the Night: Remapping the theological star chart / Remontando la noche: Dibujando un otro mapa estelar teológico and will be presented Monday, March 22 at 6:30 PM Eastern over Zoom. Sponsored by Princeton Theological Seminary, Doris’s presentation is part of a three-lecture series titled: The Role of Religious Institutions in the Future of American Society: Interdisciplinary Approaches from Latinx Perspectives. Other presenters in the series include Dr. Eric Barreto and Dr. Gerardo Marti.
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The COVID-19 virus has presented us with a challenge and awakened us to our purpose as Christians in becoming uncomfortable in our security and passivity and turning our beliefs into concrete actions. Therefore, as Fundación SEPAZ, we wanted to take on the challenge of being part of the solution to inaction displayed by some social and ecclesial sectors; assuming that the response to the pandemic will only be successful if we face it in a cooperative, supportive and empathetic way with the populations most affected. This includes the Venezuelan migrant population, who are stigmatized for being considered possible "carriers of the virus", which has led to unnecessary complications in their lives.
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We are deeply grateful to everyone who gives to support our work of gathering, equipping and mobilizing peacemakers throughout the world. Your generosity changes —and even saves—lives. If you’d like to increase the impact of your gifts, please consider the following. Thanks for all you do to support our shared work of creating peace rooted in justice!
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Several years ago, I started an end-of-year personal ritual of listing the significant things that brought me joy and growth as well as pain and loss – the smaller details of life that became meaningful for me during the previous year. Creating these lists has helped me acknowledge aches, find resolution and learn life lessons to enter the new year with hope, strength and gratitude.
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It was 2006, and that journey took me to “El Jardin” (the Garden) a Tsotsil community in the mountains of Chiapas to share Christmas with Pastor Antonio as a missionary working with International Ministries. Alongside our brothers and sisters, we sang to Jesus. Wrapped up by the unhurried and rhythmic Mayan accent we talked and shared tamales and black coffee. Under the zinc roof and dirt floor of Antonio’s wooden shack house with only a table, several chairs and a hammock for furniture; there were no shopping malls, no “ajoro,” (rush), no gifts, no lights, no Christmas tree. There was only the traditional woodstove to warm us and the light of the Milky Way shining in the sky. That Christmas night was a different one! One where I end up in a different place as a human being.
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Today and in those to come, we are called to live in the fullness of our commitment to our Christian values and our humanity. We are called to be Be more, to Be patient, to Become peacemakers in the midst of a difficult time. In this moment know that the power of the Spirit moves among us even in chaotic situations. As we continue to monitor inconclusive election results this morning, it’s even more important to make sure every voice is heard. As peacemakers, we must demand that all votes are counted as it is a matter of justice.
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September 26, 2020 marked six years since that tragic night in Iguala, Guerrero, Mexico, which shaped the country and shocked the world: the disappearance of the 43 students from the “Raúl Isidro Burgos” Rural Normal School of Ayotzinapa. Six years later, it continues to do the same. It is worth remembering and reflecting on what happened on that tragic night.
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On Saturday, August 29, God allowed me to enjoy the wonderful experience of listening to reflections and sharing worship with many brothers and sisters in Christ from the continents of the Americas, from Canada to Argentina. A reflection that deeply moved me was made by Jesús Vera. He spoke of the massacre that occurred in the municipality of San Fernando, Tamaulipas, Mexico, on August 22, 2010. The state in which I live.
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The spread of COVID-19 has exposed and exacerbated an already critical reality for many Indigenous peoples: a situation of deep inequalities and discrimination, a condition of systemic vulnerability aggravated not only by the presence of the virus, but also by conflicts and associated violence to scarcity and extreme need for resources, especially drinking water and food.
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BPFNA-Bautistas por la Paz staff member Rubén David Bonilla Ramos interviews Rev. Gail Hill, president of the BPFNA-Bautistas por la Paz Board of Directors, about how church life has changed since the COVID-19 pandemic. Gail is pastor of Chico First Baptist Church in Chico, CA.
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There is no excuse for the murder of George Floyd and each one of the four police officers involved in his death must face justice. The rage and pain is so deep because the recurring assaults on Black people and people of color (POC) continuously unveil again and again that Black lives are not valued in these United States. Floyd’s murder enrages us all for the cruelty and the abuse of power shown. But this murder points – once again – to the deep-seated systemic racism in our society, to the ingrained prejudice in our hearts and to the unconcerned minds justifying hurting other human beings just because of the color of their skin. Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America – Bautistas por la paz (BPFNA-BPLP) denounces this murder and sides with peaceful demonstrations, expecting and demanding justice to be done.
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As is often the case in a crisis, this coronavirus pandemic has revealed the true character of many people. Although there are many negative and discouraging stories, there are also countless inspiring stories that have emerged in the past few weeks of people doing what they can to help others, including neighbors and friends, as well as complete strangers. One of those inspiring stories occurred in the city where I live: Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico.
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Hagar at the desert, Jacob fights an enemy, Rahab faces spies, David prays for his son, Job’s illness, Saul’s zealotry against Christians, Jesus’ cross. In the face of the unexpected anything can happen.
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