(From top left) Federal Way UMC’s Mary Walker welcomes speakers Professor Luther Adams, the Rev. Roy Wilson, and representatives from the Camp Harmony Committee. Each event began with delicious batches of soup, serving both food for the body and mind.
Federal Way UMC welcomed everyone for delicious soup dinners and opened dialog with friends of different ethnic backgrounds with Lenten speaker series.
Stories of Pain and Hope connect Church with neighbors
By the Rev. Nancy Ferree-Clark | Photos by Federal Way UMC
For five weeks during Lent, the congregation of Federal Way UMC and others from nearby churches gathered for a series we entitled “Stories of Pain and Hope”. As part of our soup suppers, we invited representatives of five different racial and ethnic groups to tell the stories of long-time residents within our own communities – yet are still labeled as outsiders by many. Speakers shared both historical and contemporary examples of pain, prejudice and discrimination inflicted upon their communities. But they also shared stories of hope that revealed the resilience and the strength of their people.
The speakers and the groups they represented included: the Rev. Roy Wilson (Native American); Professor Luther Adams (African American); the Camp Harmony Committee (Japanese American); the Rev. Mark Galang and members of Beacon UMC (Filipino American); and Rev. Jose Bonillo (Latino).
Our attendance reached its peak of 100 people when the Camp Harmony Committee talked about the Japanese American internment camps during World War II. The survivors spoke and then several from the audience shared their own stories or a family member’s story of the internment camps. We were especially grateful to welcome several members from Whitney Memorial UMC and Blaine Memorial UMC who joined us for the entire evening. Likewise, we were pleased to host the Rev. Mark Galang and members of Beacon UMC for their presentation about Filipino American war veterans.
Other speakers addressed important topics such as African American history in our state and the Black Lives Matter movement, presented by Dr. Luther Adams from the University of Washington (Tacoma), and Native American history and religious identity, presented by Rev. Roy Wilson, a member of the PNW Annual Conference.
The Rev. Jose Bonillo, a World Relief staff member who serves as a chaplain at the Tacoma Detention Center, shared stories from Latino immigrants and described the challenges experienced by those facing deportation.
Overall, the storytelling was a powerful experience that has inspired us to reach beyond our church walls and build stronger relationships with our neighbors across racial and ethnic barriers.
Representatives from the International Drop-In Center (IDIC) and Beacon UMC spoke at Stories of Pain and Hope, illustrating the plight of Filipino World War II US Army veterans and how having a strong Filipino community in the US helps with newcomers who are separated from family.
Deep Appreciation
“I enjoyed the stories, as they offered me insight into the generations of struggle that have made America. I will not forget their struggles and I have new eyes for the people around me.”
-Pat D.
“The Stories of Pain and Hope made me ask myself some hard questions. The information they have to share could transform my life.”
-Sandy S.
“All the speakers shared visions of reconciling hope for the present generation.”
-Mary W.
“Our Pain and Hope series was fantastic. I believe it is critically important to do as much as we can to learn about people who face their unique pain and hope. It is something I believe Jesus would encourage in a big way. The more we interact, the more we can understand each other. And the more we understand, the better we can help one another.”
-Carl S.
