FOR RELEASE -- November 28, 2001

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Contact:

Jenna DeLorey

(those quoted can also be reached here)                                                            

Koinonia Partners, Inc.

1324 Georgia Highway 49 South

Americus, Georgia 31719

Day:  (229) 924-0391, Night: (229) 924-0491

Fax:  (229) 924-6504

Photos and further info available at:

http://www.koinoniapartners.org/activist

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 “Koinonia:  Praying for Peace”

by Jenna DeLorey

 

 

Americus, GA--Every Sunday afternoon for the past month, a few members of the Americus community have been gathering in a safe place for talking about peace, with discussions ranging from feelings in response to September 11 to recent developments in Afghanistan to how to talk to kids about terrorism and war.  After the sun has set, the group closes with song and a candlelit procession to the dining hall for a potluck.  The place is Koinonia Partners, an intentional Christian farm on Georgia’s Route 49 with a historical penchant for hitting a nerve in the community.

 

Back in 1942 Clarence Jordan, a Baptist minister with a doctorate in Greek and a B.S. in Agriculture, set out with his family and one other to bring farming skills to local, poor farmers and live out the Christian faith communally in a “demonstration plot for the Kingdom of God.”  So radical were Jesus’ teachings when actually put into practice that they ended up in a racist crossfire.  Koinonia has been a rare place in this country where people of all races and religions were invited to work and live together.  For this reason, their store was bombed, its produce boycotted, and community members were threatened and shot at.  Koinonia survived by beginning a mail order business and persisting through the violent years, keeping a vigilant night watch at the gate at the height of it.  

 

Today, a group at Koinonia aims to carry on that spirit of vigilance.  “Koinonia has a tradition of peace,” says Hugh Binley, a long-time Koinonia volunteer.  “It’s all in our mission statement which says, ‘We are committed to non-violence and peaceful solutions to society’s problems, reconciliation among all people, Christian discipleship, and the empowerment of the poor, the neglected, and the oppressed.’” Geoffrey Hennies, another long-time volunteer and peace activist, adds, "During WWII, Koinonia was a place where conscientious objectors could do service.  In Vietnam and all subsequent conflicts, Koinonians actively demonstrated against war and militarism.”  After America’s most recent conflict in Afghanistan, a small group at Koinonia came together, called by their consciences, to witness for peace.  Several individuals, inspired by Muslim fasting during Ramadan and social change activists throughout the world, decided to fast from sunup until sundown, to meet three times daily for prayer, fellowship, and consciousness-raising, and to invite others to pursue peace along with them.

 

“We wanted to focus our energies on the positive, “ says Patrique Friesenkothen, a Koinonia volunteer from Germany.  “We know that even as we disagree on how to bring it about ultimately all people do want peace and that this is only possible through securing justice for all people.”   At noon each day, in alliance with people around the globe who are doing the same in their communities, the Koinonia peace group assembles for silent prayer for world peace around their newly-erected “peace pole.”  The 6-foot pole, rising out of the ground under pecan trees and surrounded by benches, is inscribed with “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in four languages:  English, Spanish, Hebrew, and Dari (an Arabic dialect used in Afghanistan).  Helga Erbe, a volunteer who is planning an art exhibit and performance on the topic, claims that peace is “firstly, an inside job, that overflows into the interpersonal, until eventually even nations can’t resist the gravity of peace.”    

 

This has been a focused, fruitful time for the group to practice discipline, unity, and love.  “Fasting while working in a chocolate factory (Koinonia makes and sells a wide range of chocolate and baked goods) has been no small task!” exclaims Nashua Chantal who arrived at Koinonia as the group was starting up, “But this group has been supportive, something like a family, and has taught me a lot about myself and the world.”  Ellie Castle, who leads people on tours of Koinonia’s grounds and museum and coordinates volunteers, smiles as she reflects, “Our founder…and the whole family through the years that has been Koinonia--which actually means ‘fellowship’ in Greek…would be proud right now.”  Clarence Jordan said that faith calls the Christian to unlimited love and in a sermon entitled “Christian Pacifism” said, “The best way to defeat an enemy is to make a friend.”  Koinonia seeks not only to proclaim this, but to live it.

 

Koinonia has been the seed-sower for numerous communities and projects in Georgia.  Open Door, a hospitality house for the homeless in Atlanta; Jubilee Partners, a community near Athens that assists refugees in gaining skills for living in American society; New Hope House, a community in Griffin that serves inmates on death row and their families; The Prison and Jail project in Americus which speaks out for the liberties of prisoners and others in the criminal justice system; and Habitat for Humanity all have their roots directly in Koinonia.  Protests of the School of the Americas (whose graduates some claim are responsible for many of the worst human rights abuses in Latin America) at Ft. Benning, Columbus were originally composed of Koinonia residents and set the style for the stalwart nonviolent reputation the mass protests have today.  For the past two years, Koinonia has played host to puppeteers from around the country who coalesce for a week to prepare for the larger-than-life puppet pageant which heralds in the protest.

 

With such a courageous history, Koinonia seeks to honor and advance its legacy and serve God by living its mission each day with greater authenticity.  Year-round, people are invited to share in the life, work, and open-minded worship by coming to visit, volunteer, or retreat.  Koinonia is a peaceful, energizing place to relax and actualize wholeness with a diverse group of people among woods, pecan orchards, a library, and a museum of local history and civil rights events.  Koinonia’s Community Outreach Center provides after school care and meals, recreation, and health programs for seniors.  Several classes and gatherings are underway and more are being planned that connect spirituality with social concerns.  One day, Koinonia would like to have a learning center for peace, justice, and discipleship.  Sanders Thornburgh, a Koinonia resident that is planning a conference in April on environmental  stewardship issues, is hopeful about both Koinonia and prospects for world peace, saying “The creation of the Koinonia Peace Initiative and the Albany Interfaith Alliance, which we are apart of, all testify to the wellspring of compassion and cooperation that has been awakened in this country in the aftermath of September 11.”