Front Light

Mennonite Action
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Front Light is Mennonite Action’s podcast, hosted by Joanna Lawrence Shenk and Jonny Rashid. Mennonite Action is a movement mobilizing Mennonites and Anabaptists across the United States and Canada to use creative, nonviolent actions to demand a permanent ceasefire, an end to the U.S. and Western-funded occupation of Palestine and build a lasting peace for all. Grounded in our peace theology, we believe we have a responsibility to use our voices as powerfully as possible for the cause of peace and justice. This podcast is for anyone who wants to make the world a better place!

  1. ١٩ فبراير

    Ep 16 - Black theology + Anabaptism + activism with "Anablactivist" Dr. Drew Hart

    On this episode honoring Black History Month, we interview Drew G. I. Hart. Dr. Hart is an associate professor of theology at Messiah University where he has directed the Thriving Together: Congregations for Racial Justice program in central PA since 2021. He co-hosts Inverse Podcast with Australian peace activist Jarrod McKenna and is the author of Trouble I've Seen: Changing the Way the Church Views Racism (2016), Who Will Be A Witness?: Igniting Activism for God's Justice, Love, and Deliverance (2020), and he co-edited and contributed to Reparations and the Theological Disciplines: Prophetic Voices for Remembrance, Reckoning, and Repair (Nov. 2023). His newest book is Making It Plain: Why We Need Anabaptism and the Black Church (September 2, 2025). Drew regularly speaks at colleges, conferences, churches, and community groups across the country. He is married to Renee and is the father of three sons. Huge thank you to the incredible Jewish recording artist, Batya Levine for the use of their song “We Rise” as our theme song (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tkmkwufRVw). The beautiful logo is by Jesse Bergen. Front Light is edited by Ken Ogasawara and produced by Jonny Rashid, Joanna Lawrence Shenk, Holly Harris, and Nick Martin. Thank you all for listening and sharing.  Sing Down The Doors: https://www.mennoniteaction.org/updates/singdownthedoors AP article on Target featuring Menonite Action: https://apnews.com/article/target-ice-protest-minneapolis-4a9012400f6c8b44e96451a04e0113c8 Making it Plain by Drew Hart: https://heraldpress.com/9781513816364/making-it-plain/

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  2. ٢٢ يناير

    Ep 15 - All Stars: Kicking Off Season 2 with Mennonite Action staff

    In this powerful episode, the Mennonite Action national team reflects on their journey as they enter their third year of activism. Nick Martin is the co-founder and Campaign Director at Mennonite Action. Adam Ramer is the co-founder and the Fundraising and Partnerships Director at Mennonite Action. Holly Harris serves as the Digital Communications Coordinator. Rhea Clymer and Lorren Oesch serve as distributed organizers. The conversation highlights the lessons learned over the past two years, emphasizing the importance of flexibility and adaptability in response to changing political landscapes. We hear insights on the Courage Tour, which successfully trained over 1,000 individuals across the US reinforcing the organization's commitment to countering Christian nationalism and Zionism. The team discusses the significance of building community connections and the role of faith in motivating public action, while also addressing the ongoing struggles faced by marginalized communities, particularly in relation to Palestine and immigration issues. Huge thank you to the incredible Jewish recording artist, Batya Levine for the use of their song “We Rise” as our theme song (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tkmkwufRVw). The beautiful logo is by Jesse Bergen. Front Light is edited by Ken Ogasawara and produced by Jonny Rashid, Joanna Lawrence Shenk, Holly Harris, and Nick Martin. Thank you all for listening and sharing. Keywords Mennonite Action, Courage Tour, Christian nationalism, Palestine, immigration, grassroots activism, community organizing, faith-based action, social justice, anti-authoritarianism Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Mennonite Action Team 01:31 Reflections on Growth and Lessons Learned 07:06 Impact of Political Events on Organizing 12:25 The Interconnectedness of Struggles 17:43 The Role of the Church in Social Justice 21:40 Strategies Against Authoritarianism 25:20 The Ceasefire Illusion and Its Implications 27:28 Grassroots Organizing for Palestine 33:21 Local Solidarity and Immigrant Support 37:37 Red Line Moments: Community Mobilization 45:16 Looking Ahead: Plans for the Future

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  3. ٢٢‏/١٢‏/٢٠٢٥

    Ep 14 - Season One Finale with Ken Ogasawara

    We pull Front Light editor and producer Ken Ogasawara from behind the curtain to reflect on an amazing first season of Front Light! Ken is a writer and podcaster with Mennonite Central Committee Ontario during the day and by night and weekends a co-director of Mennonite Action Canada. We whet our appetite with some tasty stats from the year before diving into the full course of highlights from our amazing guests over the past year. Huge thank you to the incredible Jewish recording artist, Batya Levine for the use of their song “We Rise” as our theme song (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tkmkwufRVw). The beautiful logo is by Jesse Bergen. Front Light is edited by Ken Ogasawara and produced by Jonny Rashid, Joanna Lawrence Shenk, Holly Harris, and Nick Martin. Thank you all for listening and sharing.

    ٥٨ من الدقائق

  4. ٢٦‏/١١‏/٢٠٢٥

    Ep 13 - Fighting uphill and making waves with Jonathan Smucker and Janna Hunter-Bowman

    In this episode, we interview Jonathan Smucker and Janna Hunter-Bowman, two academics who have participated with and researched Mennonite Action. We talk about the Peace Theology in Movement: A Lunchtime Colloquium of AMBS and Mennonite Action, and Mennonite Action’s role in the greater Anabaptist and activist world. They offer unique and personal insights into our circumstance and our organization.  Buy Mennonite Action’s organizing guide, Courage To Enter The Song, here: https://www.amazon.com/Institute-of-Mennonite-Studies-4-book-series/dp/B0C7J3VYTH Reckoning in Mennonite Peace Theology: Reinhold Niebuhr’s Realism and Four Waves of Development by Janna Hunter-Bowman: https://jmt.scholasticahq.com/article/142713-reckoning-in-mennonite-peace-theology-reinhold-niebuhr-s-realism-and-four-waves-of-development  Huge thank you to the incredible Jewish recording artist, Batya Levine for the use of their song “We Rise” as our theme song (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tkmkwufRVw). The beautiful logo is by Jesse Bergen. Front Light is edited by Ken Ogasawara and produced by Jonny Rashid, Joanna Lawrence Shenk, Holly Harris, and Nick Martin. Thank you all for listening and sharing.

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  5. ٢٨‏/١٠‏/٢٠٢٥

    Ep 12 - Noncooperating with Authoritarianism feat. Anna-Lisa Gross and Daniel Hunter

    In this conversation with Anna-Lisa Gross and Daniel Hunter, we explore the intersection of peace traditions and organizing against authoritarianism, emphasizing the importance of community, nonviolence, and the teachings of Jesus. Daniel is a prolific writer, here are his articles are Waging Nonviolence: https://wagingnonviolence.org/author/danielhunter/ His most recent article is about the response in DC to Trump deploying the National Guard. Anna Lisa is rooted in the Church of The Brethren and recently wrote two articles for Anabaptist World focused on Gaza: https://anabaptistworld.org/i-wont-eat-again-until/  https://anabaptistworld.org/entrapment-stew-and-murderous-aid-recipe-mediterranean-stew/ Together they are organizers with Choose Democracy, and among other things, are thinking about tax resistance as a tool of mass noncooperation.  Choose Democracy launched the One Million Rising trainings, which is an effort to get people organized to resist authoritarianism following all the No Kings marches. 20,000+ people were at the first training! They also led Freedom Trainers, which is the training that Nick did. Here’s the Noncooperation Library provided by the Freedom Trainers. Drop Site News: https://www.dropsitenews.com/ From Christians for a Free Palestine, written by Rev. Margaret Ernst, this prayer on the news of a ceasefire: God of Life We lift voices that are hoarse from screaming for justice Eyes that are wet with tears Or that can cry no more. 2 years, God.  Do you hear our cries? Do you hear the cry of Gaza?    There is news of a ceasefire. There is dancing in the streets.  There are children who have lost everything Telling us the war is over, for good. Preserve their hope, oh Lord. Stop the bombs. Release the prisoners. Feed the people.  You are a God that saves. And yet, where has that salvation been, these past two years?
 And so much longer before. Over 67,000 dead, and likely so many more Hundreds of thousands wounded Under the rubble 
What shall we say to the  Woman who wakes to news of ceasefire And then must ask, “Where am I to go? What do we do with our lives? Where shall we live?" What shall we say to   The parent of a child Bloodied just hours after news of the ceasefire broke As the world slept and then cried “Free Palestine” And yet we still yell it We refuse to accept 'peace' Defined by those who profit from war. You are a God that liberates.  Preserve the faith of Palestinians, God, And show your saving power.  Let every tear of joy shed
in these Days of anticipation Water the future. May every laugh and song of children Lifted to the sky  Defend against planes and drones From here on forward. You are a God that heals.  May there be quiet in Gaza, God.  And while there is quiet there, Lord, Strengthen our cries across this globe for true justice A true peace For the kingdom coming That we glimpse  And is not yet Firm up our souls to keep marching To keep singing Keep going Till liberation is won. Amen.

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  6. ٠٨‏/١٠‏/٢٠٢٥

    Ep 11 - Public disruption, solidarity, and Palestinian steadfastness with Tim Seidel and Tim Nafziger

    In this episode, we hear from two Mennonite Action national leadership team members: Tim Seidel and Tim Nafziger. Seidel lives in Harrisonburg and helped to lead a disruptive action in DC. Nafziger is on the West Coast and has been engaged in organizing against. They give us an idea of what local chapters are up to in Mennonite Action, and how we are focused on addressing the twin evils of Christian Nationalism and Christian Zionism. You’ll also hear about the courage tour and an organizing conference. Huge thank you to the incredible Jewish recording artist, Batya Levine for the use of their song “We Rise” as our theme song (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tkmkwufRVw). The beautiful logo is by Jesse Bergen. Front Light is edited by Ken Ogasawara and produced by Jonny Rashid, Joanna Lawrence Shenk, Holly Harris, and Nick Martin. Thank you all for listening and sharing.  Instagram posts of the DC action: https://www.instagram.com/p/DOoxBUej919/?img_index=1, https://www.instagram.com/p/DOoxBUej919/?img_index=1, https://www.instagram.com/p/DOY1nYwkY73/   Sign up for the Courage Tour here: https://www.mennoniteaction.org/tour  Sign up for EMU’s organizing conference here: https://emu.edu/seminary/shalom/events/2025-organizing-symposium/  Mosab Abu Toha poem:  Every child in Gaza is me.  Every mother and father is me.  Every house is my heart.  Every tree is my leg.  Every plant is my arm.  Every flower is my eye.  Every hole in the earth is my wound. Support and follow Mosab Abu Toha: https://linktr.ee/mosababutoha

    ٥٥ من الدقائق

  7. ٢٦‏/٠٨‏/٢٠٢٥

    Ep 10 - Migrant God: a Christian Vision for Immigrant Justice with Isaac Villegas

    In this episode, we hear from Isaac Villegas, author of “Migrant God” as we explore the intersection of faith, immigration, and justice. We hear personal stories, theological reflections, and the historical context of immigration policies. We talk about the sanctuary movement, the implications of Christian nationalism, and the connections between the struggles of immigrants and the plight of Palestinians. Throughout, Isaac highlights the need for a Christian vision of justice that actively engages with the realities of suffering and oppression. Huge thank you to the incredible Jewish recording artist, Batya Levine for the use of their song “We Rise” as our theme song (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tkmkwufRVw). The beautiful logo is by Jesse Bergen. Front Light is edited by Ken Ogasawara and produced by Jonny Rashid, Joanna Lawrence Shenk, Holly Harris, and Nick Martin. Thank you all for listening and sharing.  Connecting the dots between the occupation of Palestine and ICE repression: ​​https://www.newsweek.com/blueprint-ices-future-being-drawn-west-bank-opinion-2103201 An account of the political organizing in Durham that resulted in the resolution against police training partnerships with Israel: https://scalawagmagazine.org/2021/05/israel-palestine-durham-police/ Perfect Victims by Mohammed El-Kurd: https://www.haymarketbooks.org/books/2499-perfect-victims Healing Resistance by Kazu Haga: https://www.parallax.org/product/healing-resistance/ Joanna Macy and The Work That Reconnects: https://www.joannamacy.net/main

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  8. ٢٣‏/٠٧‏/٢٠٢٥

    Ep 9 - Tyler Goss and Mennonite Action's recent delegation to Palestine

    In this episode, we interview Tyler Goss, he/him, from Harrisonburg Virginia on the land of the Siouan, Monacan, Monahoac, Catawba, and Cherokee. He shares stories from Mennonite Action’s delegation to Palestine in June. We talk about tourism for good, the weight of hopelessness, air raids and more. Huge thank you to the incredible Jewish recording artist, Batya Levine for the use of their song “We Rise” as our theme song (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tkmkwufRVw). The beautiful logo is by Jesse Bergen. Front Light is edited by Ken Ogasawara and produced by Jonny Rashid, Joanna Lawrence Shenk, Holly Harris, and Nick Martin. Thank you all for listening and sharing.

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حول

Front Light is Mennonite Action’s podcast, hosted by Joanna Lawrence Shenk and Jonny Rashid. Mennonite Action is a movement mobilizing Mennonites and Anabaptists across the United States and Canada to use creative, nonviolent actions to demand a permanent ceasefire, an end to the U.S. and Western-funded occupation of Palestine and build a lasting peace for all. Grounded in our peace theology, we believe we have a responsibility to use our voices as powerfully as possible for the cause of peace and justice. This podcast is for anyone who wants to make the world a better place!

المعلومات

  • صناع العمل
    Mennonite Action
  • سنوات النشاط
    ٢٠٢٥ - ٢٠٢٦
  • الحلقات
    ١٦
  • التقييم
    ملائم
  • حقوق النشر
    © Mennonite Action
  • موقع البرنامج على الويب
    Front Light

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