UNDERCURRENTS

MCC Ontario
  • 5.0 (22)
  • DOCUMENTARY
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

How do we practice peace in this broken world? How can we make a meaningful impact in our community? How can we better align our faith and values with our action? For 105 years, MCC’s mission has been to show God’s love to all by meeting basic human needs and working for peace and justice. In this all new season of Undercurrents, we'll share not only the stories of hope and challenge from MCC’s programs, but also to help us learn from them and ultimately inspire us to action. Thank you for joining us - please subscribe! Sponsored in part by Kindred Credit Union.

  1. 2D AGO

    Ep 34 - Listening first: how non-Indigenous Christians can engage with the TRC (part 1)

    How should non-Indigenous Christians engage in Truth and Reconciliation? What does it really mean to “love your neighbour” on Turtle Island? In this special live panel episode of Undercurrents, recorded at Westside Church in Burlington in partnership with Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), we explore what it means for non-Indigenous Christians to become neighbours worth knowing. Featuring reflections from Karen Ward, Dr. Samuel Sarpiya and Doug McLachlin, three people with different starting points and paths on this life-long journey, this conversation moves beyond good intentions to honest reflection.MCC Ontario is committed to TRC Call to Action 60 which calls on churches and church organizations to respect Indigenous spiritualities in their own right.  Download the transcription here.Download the discussion guide here. Listen and subscribe at ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠, ⁠Spotify⁠, ⁠Youtube ⁠or wherever you listen to podcasts!Continue your learning:Pow Wows 101, an introductory event from MCC's Indigenous Neighbours team“Becoming Kin” by Patty Krawec https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506478258/Becoming-Kin“Native: Identity, Belonging, and Rediscovering God” by Kaitlin Curticehttps://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/native-identity-belonging-and-rediscovering-god/9781587434310.html?searchType=products&searchTerm=native%20rediscovering%20god “21 Things you may not know about the Indian Act” by Bob Joseph https://21things.ca/ Undercurrents Ep 9: Merle’s story: the journey of a former residential school worker https://mcc.org/our-stories/undercurrents-merles-storyCredits:Undercurrents is sponsored in part by Kindred Credit Union Production assistance from Christen Kong Theme music by Brian MacMillan Artwork by Jesse Bergen Executive produced by Sandra Reimer

    36 min

  2. FEB 26

    Ep 33 - Redefining "a good neighbourhood" in Queenston, St. Catharines

    What makes a good neighbourhood? Low crime rates? Strong property values? Walkability and good schools? In Episode 33 of Undercurrents, host Ken Ogasawara travels to the Queenston neighbourhood in St. Catharines, Ontario—a community many outsiders label “the worst neighbourhood in the city.” But is that the whole story? Ken spends the day with Tim Shields, MCC Community Mobilizer and longtime Queenston resident, exploring how relationships, dignity, and grassroots peacebuilding are reshaping what it means to be a good neighbour. This episode explores: Community development in marginalized neighbourhoods Faith-based peacebuilding and the work of Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Homelessness, addiction, and safe consumption sites Food insecurity and the reality of living in a food desert Affordable grocery store initiatives and local partnerships What it really means to “walk alongside” your neighbours You’ll hear from Queenston residents, local church leaders, and MCC staff about how presence, partnership, and shared meals can transform both people and systems. Listen and subscribe at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube or wherever you listen to podcasts! Download transcription here. Download discussion guide here. Credits: Undercurrents is sponsored in part by ⁠Kindred Credit Union⁠. Production assistance from Christen Kong Theme music by Brian MacMillan Artwork by Jesse Bergen Executive produced by Sandra Reimer

    24 min

  3. FEB 12

    Ep 32 - Giving our best: generosity, specificity and riding the roller coaster with the Material Resources team

    In this episode of Undercurrents, host Ken Ogasawara goes behind the scenes with the Material Resources team at Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) to explore how relief kits, hygiene kits, school kits, and canned meat are prepared and shipped to communities facing crisis around the world — and right here in Ontario. What does it actually take to send a relief kit overseas? Why is MCC so specific about items like metal pencil sharpeners, heavy-duty nail clippers, toothbrush colours, towel sizes, and notebook page counts? And how does a brand-new 10,000 square foot industrial meat cannery help feed families experiencing food insecurity? Transcription is here. Discussion guide is here. Volunteer at the meat cannery: https://mcc.org/MCCOntarioMeatCanneryEmail dylanyantzi@mcco.ca for more details. Learn more about relief kits (we are in urgent need!): https://mcc.org/get-involved/kits/relief Donate toward a relief kit: https://mcc.org/get-involved/giving/designations/kits-and-comfortersPetition from Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFGB): https://foodgrainsbank.ca/postcard/   A major driver of crisis requiring material resources responses, is climate change. Sign this petition so our government will respond fairly and adequately: https://mcc.org/campaign/support-fair-canadian-response-climate-change-0 Undercurrents is sponsored in part by Kindred Credit Union.

    24 min

  4. JAN 29

    Ep 31 - Non-anxious presence, rocky soil and long-term peacebuilding with Rod Friesen

    A 30 second scroll through the headlines will give you a glimpse of a world desperately in need of peace. But peacebuilding is not only needed in Palestine and Israel, or Ukraine, or in South Sudan. Peace is needed in our own communities and in our own lives. In my conversation with Rod Friesen, we reveal three stories of peacebuilding from his career- and what we can learn something from each of these stories and how we can apply these lessons in our own lives. Transcription here. Discussion guide for small groups here. Undercurrents is sponsored in part by Kindred Credit Union. Production assistance from Christen Kong Theme music by Brian MacMillan Artwork by Jesse Bergen Executive produced by Sandra Reimer

    25 min

  5. SEASON 6, EPISODE 1 TRAILER

    How do we practice peace in a broken world? - Season 6 TRAILER

    How do we practice peace in this broken world? How can we make a meaningful impact in our community? How can we better align our faith and values with our actions? These are the questions we want to explore in Season 6. For 105 years, MCC’s mission has been to show God’s love to all by meeting basic human needs and working for peace and justice. A quick scroll through the newsfeed is enough to tell you that the needs are many. But we also know that there is beautiful work being done that is making a real impact in the world. And we're inviting you to be a part of this work. In this all new season of Undercurrents, we'll share not only the stories of hope and challenge from MCC’s programs, but also to help us learn from them and ultimately inspire us to action. Season 6 launches on January 29th and this year, we'll be posting an episode every other week from January through to July! Search for “ Undercurrents MCC" wherever you listen to podcasts, please subscribe and share with your friends! Undercurrents is supported by Kindred Credit Union

    2 min

  6. 2025-12-04

    Update 3: Podcast inspiration, refugee sponsorship and building a better life ... with LY

    This update episode is with Ly. She shared her story so eloquently and vulnerably back in 2021 in Episode 10 about the impact of MCC’s hand-crafted relief materials how it changed her life. So today you’ll hear an update from Ly as she shares about how she and her church have paid that forward in a huge way, and how another Undercurrents episode (Ep 13 - I believe in miracles) inspired her during a tough stretch. Update begins at 27:53.

    34 min

  7. 2025-11-26 · BONUS

    Update 2: Pulled teeth, acts of kindness and one last favour with Wayne

    This update episode is with Wayne. I got to know Wayne through interviewing him a number of times over 2019 and despite the disruption of the pandemic, I’d still see Wayne occasionally around the office at various Circle of Friends gatherings. But over the last few years, I’ve been seeing less and less of Wayne. At the end of this episode, he’ll explain why. He also makes an unusual request. Undercurrents is sponsored in part by Kindred Credit Union Theme song by Brian Macmillan Artwork by Jesse Bergen

    27 min

  8. 2025-11-15

    Update 1: Quitting piano lessons, finding his father and more life updates with PATRICK.

    We check in with Patrick - he of the beautiful singing voice and piano lessons - who was featured in the very first pilot episode of Undercurrents. Since I first interviewed him in 2018, life has changed a lot for Patrick. I re-connect with him to find out what's new (spoiler: a lot). Undercurrents is supported by Kindred Credit Union. Artwork by Jesse Bergen Theme song by Brian MacMillan

    19 min
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Trailers

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
22 Ratings

About

How do we practice peace in this broken world? How can we make a meaningful impact in our community? How can we better align our faith and values with our action? For 105 years, MCC’s mission has been to show God’s love to all by meeting basic human needs and working for peace and justice. In this all new season of Undercurrents, we'll share not only the stories of hope and challenge from MCC’s programs, but also to help us learn from them and ultimately inspire us to action. Thank you for joining us - please subscribe! Sponsored in part by Kindred Credit Union.

Information

  • Creator
    MCC Ontario
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    49
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © MCC Ontario
  • Show Website
    UNDERCURRENTS