Xiomara Cintron-Garcia serves with the Christian Centre for Justice, Peace, and Nonviolent Action (Justapaz) in Bogota, Colombia. Her placement is with Justapaz: Mennonite Center for Justice, Peace, and Nonviolent Action
How would you describe the mission of our partner in Colombia?
Justapaz is an organization of the Mennonite Christian Church of Colombia, which acts in follow-up to Jesus Christ from the Anabaptist identity, with people, churches, and social organizations that seek the exercise of active citizenship, and to live in fullness of their rights and contributing from their being and work in the construction of a Just society, Nonviolent and at peace with all creation.
Four principles guide their service by seeking integrality and transversality:
- Congruence with the Gospel of Peace: experiencing the values of the kingdom of God by living out the option for the poorest and the victims through reconciliation, forgiveness, equality, and community life.
- Practice of respect for life choices: good treatment, nonviolence, and justice.
- Community Discernment: collective search for the guidance of the Holy Spirit in our being and doing as an organization.
- Integral Peace is the practice of well-being (Shalom) in the human being’s different dimensions: spiritual, economic, social-relational, political, cultural, and environmental.
Justapaz website: www.justapaz.org
How do you fit into their mission?
I serve in Justapaz’s area of “Mujer y Paz” (Women and Peace), where we work with peacebuilding women from churches, communities, and socio-ecclesial organizations. Along with them, we develop initiatives that guarantee their participation in different social and political scenarios within the framework of the 1325 Resolution, from a peacebuilding perspective. Also, we support women’s political advocacy on rural territories with a gender perspective concurring with the 2016 Peace Accord. Likewise, we promote and witness dialogues for reconciliation between diverse women victims of Colombia’s armed conflict. Lastly, we act on making visible the process of participation and leadership of women in instances of peacebuilding and human rights concerns in the territories.
What led you to engage in this calling?
I believe that God has brought us here by putting all the necessary pieces in place. Throughout my life I have been driven to the service of others in different ways such as my work as a teacher, student leader in campus ministry or bringing accompaniment to communities in my homeland after the impact of Hurricane María. Now God has put in my heart the desire to serve (with my husband) in a place where I can accompany others and create a change in their lives.
Is there a passage of scripture that carries special meaning in your daily work?
“ 7…for we walk by faith, not by sight.” – 2 Corinthian 5:7
“ 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” – Colossians 3: 12-15
What are some of the challenges facing the people of Colombia, our partner, or yourself?
Colombian challenges
- Corruption, precariousness, economic instability, and another increase in the cost of living against the average salary has critical consequences on day-by-day sustainability.
- Due to the geographic challenges, rural communities see themselves affected by a lack of educational, vocational, and health opportunities and access. This makes this communities more vulnerable for the presence of armed groups in their territories.
- The lack of commitment on the part of the central State towards the 2016 Peace Accords has led to the resurgence of the conflict and the addition of new actors linked to the world of drug trafficking world.
- The past 2021 National Strike exposed a constitutional and democratic shattering withing Colombia’s political structure leading to what “Somos Defensores” ONG described as “the shadows of authoritarianism”
- Young kids from lower classes have no other vocational options besides being part of the military forces or illegal armed groups, perpetuating thus a violent and war culture in the country.
- A strong patriarchal structure within Colombia’s society generates discrimination against gender diverse communities.
Justapaz’s challenges
- Cases of forced displacement showed a large increase between January and November 2021. A large part of this population is made up of Afro-descendant and indigenous communities. Very few of these cases have received legal attention and protection prior to the events.
- The increase in targeted assassinations of community leaders, in addition to human rights defenders, have worn down the organization processes already taken in some communities. These losses complicate the work with them.
- Confronting and opposing with wisdom the influence of armed actors during the exercise of different democratic processes and the instrumentalization of churches in electoral situations.
- The lack of a national and ecclesial educational process on the 2016 Peace Accords promotes apathy and despair in the face of the conflict.
- Supported by a theology and biblical reading that protects direct economic interests, many churches have not supported the implementation of the FINAL AGREEMENT FOR THE END OF THE CONFLICT AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF A STABLE AND LASTING PEACE signed in August 2016.
- The dialogue with different communities of faith in favor of a critical pedagogy of the agreements from a faith perspective is neither immediate nor simple. Justapaz works hard in these formative processes for political incidence within the framework of the churches.
- A traditional biblical perspective on the role of women in the church and society hinders their formation for leadership and advocacy. The main goal of the area of Women and Peace is to empower and help women self-recognize their active worth on society.
Personal challenges
- Incorporating to a new country, a new workspace and new church after living my whole life in Puerto Rico.
- Learning and understanding Colombia’s history and lifestyle.
- Learning how to accompany those who have been victims of the armed conflict without having experienced it myself.
- Managing my time wisely between work, marriage life, and personal time.
What is a lesson you have learned from our partner that you feel should be shared with churches in the U.S.?
The first thing that I learned from our partner is the vivid example of the word perseverance because they keep betting and working toward peace in their country which has been in an active war for around 60 years, even though they know the peace process is not coming immediately or easy for them. Also, I have learned to live God’s Word for peace and reconciliation in improbable places. Additionally, I’ve learned how vital it is to accompany, organize, raise our voice, and help in different ways our brothers and sisters who suffer injustice and struggle for peace and dignified living conditions.
Which books have influenced your understanding of your country, work, or theology (choose 3-6):
- Revolution in World Missions – K.P. Yohannan
- Basic Christianity – John Stott
- Survival in Auschwitz – Primo Levi
- The Giving Tree – Shel Silverstein
- The Little Prince – Antoine de Saint Exupéry
Which films that have influenced your understanding of your country, work, or theology (choose 2-4):
- Romero
- Beast of no nation
- Los del Camino (Documentary Series)
- La Niña (series)
- The Good Place (series)
Is there a song that they sing at church in your placement you can send us? (optional)
Tenemos Esperanza (Obispo metodista Federico J. Pagura)
Porque El entró en el mundo y en la historia;
porque El quebró el silencio y la agonía;
porque llenó la tierra de su gloria;
porque fue luz en nuestra noche fría.
Porque nació en un pesebre oscuro;
porque vivió sembrando amor y vida;
porque partió los corazones duros
y levantó las almas abatidas.
Por eso es que hoy tenemos esperanza;
por eso es que hoy luchamos con porfía;
por eso es que hoy miramos con confianza,
el porvenir en esta tierra mía.
Por eso es que hoy tenemos esperanza;
por eso es que hoy luchamos con porfía;
por eso es que hoy miramos con confianza,
el porvenir.
Porque atacó a ambiciosos mercaderes
y denunció maldad e hipocresía;
porque exaltó a los niños, las mujeres
y resistió a los que de orgullo ardían.
Por eso es que hoy tenemos esperanza;
por eso es que hoy luchamos con porfía;
por eso es que hoy miramos con confianza,
el porvenir en esta tierra mía.
Por eso es que hoy tenemos esperanza;
por eso es que hoy luchamos con porfía;
por eso es que hoy miramos con confianza,
el porvenir.
Porque El cargó la cruz de nuestras penas
y saboreó la hiel de nuestros males;
porque aceptó sufrir nuestra condena,
y así morir por todos los mortales.
Porque una aurora vio su gran victoria
sobre la muerte, el miedo, las mentiras;
ya nada puede detener su historia,
ni de su Reino eterno la venida.
Por eso es que hoy tenemos esperanza;
por eso es que hoy luchamos con porfía;
por eso es que hoy miramos con confianza,
el porvenir en esta tierra mía.
Por eso es que hoy tenemos esperanza;
por eso es que hoy luchamos con porfía;
por eso es que hoy miramos con confianza,
el porvenir.
Xiomara’s appointment with the Christian Centre for Justice, Peace and Nonviolent Action, Bogata, Colombia is made possible by your gifts to Disciples Mission Fund, Our Church’s Wider Mission, Week of Compassion and special gifts.