The Journal of the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America April-June 2014 - (Page 16)

c omPanIonIng P rogram Program Designed to Nurture Old & Young Peacemakers T wo years ago, bpfna program coordinator Ledayne mcLeese polaski began a conversation with Thomas conner, who has been the young adult leader at summer Conference (aka Peace Camp) since 2009. They were both concerned about how the organization can keep in touch with its youth as they grow into young adults. it seems that the young adults who grew up as "peace camp children," as well as those who have come to know the bpfna more recently, lack a connection to communities that nurture them as individuals and as peacemakers. many of them enter a period of estrangement from the traditional church. For some, Peace Camp is the only worship experience that they will encounter in a year. "They are no longer part of their childhood congregations-or they have never been part of a congregation," Thomas said. "They are not in a position to give money and are often not able to commit much time to traditional religious activities. Also, many congregations are unable to sustain a consistent ministry for young adults. "because of school and work schedules, limited resources, their transient status and the lack of a primary relationship that connects them to the congregation, students and other young adults are often treated merely as guests," Thomas said. "They need a deeper connection." The young adults themselves noticed this void, and they suggested to Thomas that they needed closer relationships with adults who have lived out long-term commitments to the call of the Gospel in their lives. They sensed that the older peacemakers could share with them how they have lived as disciples in the midst of the joy and challenges of their lives and their time in history-that the older adults could guide the younger peacemakers as they seek to do the same. so Thomas proposed that the bpfna begin a "companioning" program, in which a young adult is intentionally paired with one of the older BPFNA adults. in 2012, Thomas initiated the effort with nine young adults and nine older peacemakers, beginning with that year's Peace Camp in Northfield, MN. Many of the older companions were around at or near the beginning of the BPFNA. with this beginning, Thomas and the bpfna staff invited the companions to more personal and intentional relationships with each other. The companions make a commitment to contacting each other in various ways, at least once a month. Thomas encourages them to spend an hour each month on the phone. There may be geographical separation, but the purpose of the program is to encourage them to connect with each other as frequently as possible in whatever ways they can, and to intentionally hold each other in their minds and hearts. "The older companions have already experienced much of what the younger adults are going through and they have the benefit of looking back and sharing their stories," Thomas said. This mutual storytelling, he and Ledayne predicted, would be an affirming, nurturing and empowering influence for the younger companions-and for the older companions as well. in 2013, Thomas and the bpfna staff worked together to write a grant to the Virginia and Gordon Palmer, Jr. Trust of the american baptist Home mission society for $15,000 to support the new program. They deliberately chose the word "companion" instead of "mentor," because they want all of the participants to grow and be inspired by the relationships. See "Old & Young" on page 17 Left: Thomas Conner (far right) with young adults at Peace Camp in Spokane, WA. Page 17: BPFNA generations enjoy a communion dance in Spokane. Photos by Richard Myers. 16 Baptist Peacemaker Apr-Jun 2014

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Journal of the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America April-June 2014

También de este Lado Hay Sueños: This Side Also Has Dreams
El Ranchito: Sharing the Great Outdoors
Good News About Hershey's
The Birth of the Baptist Peace Fellowship
Letter to the Editor
Austin Heights Baptist Church & the Tar Sands Blockade
Future Peace Camp Locations
Remembering Rachel Gill
Inching Toward Peace Between Israel & Palestine
The BPFNA Companioning Program
Reflections From a BPFNA Young Adult Gathering
Wal-Mart Joins Fair Food Program
Resources & Opportunities
2013 BPFNA Highlights
2013 Contributors
Shalom Prayer

The Journal of the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America April-June 2014