Young West Australian Christian given National Peace Award

The only Faith tradition to ever be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, the Quakers, have recently awarded their Donald Groom Peace Fellowship to a young Christian from Western Australia for his work as a ‘peace evangelist’. Jarrod McKenna has been named the most resent ‘Donald Groom Peace Fellow’ for his work as founder and creative director of EPYC (Empowering Peacemakers in Your Community). This initiative that has both those who work for peace and those who care about Christian mission very excited and as one journalist has said ‘people are starting to pay attention.’

Of McKenna and his EPYC initiative Tim Costello has said, "Around the world there is an emerging generation of young leaders who are rediscovering the radical implications of Jesus’ message of the ‘kingdom’ and are letting their lives speak of these alternatives to the cycles of violence, poverty and environmental destruction. Jarrod McKenna is one such young leader Australia has to offer, and the EPYC program promises to empower many more."

One of the most remarkable things about McKenna’s EPYC program is that it is not just evangelical and charismatic Christians who are enthused. Respected environmental activist and former senator Jo Vallentine (who the West Australian named as one of the State's one hundred most influential people ever) has said of the young founder of EPYC, "Jarrod McKenna has practised nonviolence being more than a tool for social change - he makes it the way of his life. I've appreciated working with Jarrod on a number of campaigns, and know him to be strongly committed to peace in action, and an excellent communicator… his program in our war-torn world is a timely offer."

The Quaker award’s namesake Donald Groom lived in friendship and collaboration with such twentieth century visionaries such as Mahatma Gandhi, Vinoba Bhave and Martin Luther King Jnr. and is awarded for forwarding nonviolent social change. The EPYC program helps young people to do just that.

For this young ‘peace evangelist’ and activist, Jesus’ message is good news for our world at war and on the brink of an ecological crisis. "Despite how it sounds when you step into many churches, biblically, the gospel isn’t fire insurance for the afterlife but rather the invitation let God’s Spirit transform us to take part God’s nonviolent transformation of everything. This is what Jesus meant and embodied with the message of the ‘kingdom of God’ and I really believe this is good news." McKenna said.

While McKenna’s views aren’t those of the majority of Christians, it seems for a new generation of evangelicals and charismatics this alternative Biblical position is growing. "We love Jesus, are devoted to studying the Scriptures and we are seeking the Holy Spirit’s empowerment." McKenna said with his characteristic gentle passion. "But we have no time for the right wing fundamentalism that has hijacked Jesus for agendas that are pro-greed, pro-war, pro-power and come at the cost of the poor and God’s good creation. That agenda looks like nothing the Jesus we encounter in the Bible. When church numbers are dropping right around the Western world, there is a growing emerging movement that is asking, "Instead of Christians trying to ‘sell Jesus to others’ why don’t we respond to the Spirit’s invitation to ‘be like Jesus for others’ and participate in God’s nonviolent transformation of the world."

This message is sure to attract criticism from some church leaders and be written off by others as ‘utopian’. But with a smile McKenna is quick to quote Jesus and Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King, "blessed are you when you are persecuted for justice" and "if we say loving your enemies is utopian don’t we make Jesus out to be a utopian fool?". Despite hostile responses from some, it is clear that a new generation is hearing the invitation to explore personal, social and ecological justice issues in a space that they can consider what Christ’s invitation to take part in a world transformed by love means for them. And many are responding with a loud "Amen!"

To book or support EPYC, or for info about Jarrod speaking with John Dear or at the Forge National conference contact Wendi at SUWA: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Other Articles and Information about Jarrod McKenna

http://wecan.be/beencouraged/123/ 

http://gatheringinlight.com/2006/12/13/jarrod-mckenna-and-the-peace-tree-receive-quaker-peace-award/

http://paceebene.org/pace/user/jarrod-mckenna