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2010-01-04 issue:

From classroom, students converse with mission workers in Kosovo and Colombia

by Fern Clemmer

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In January, Lancaster (Pa.) Mennonite High School's Global Christianity students had face to face conversations with mission workers in Kosovo and Colombia—without leaving their Lancaster County classroom.

Skype, a software application that allows users to make voice calls and do video conferencing over the Internet, was the vehicle that made it all possible.


Lancaster Mennonite High School Bible teacher J.W. Sprunger and his Global Christianity students learn about life in Kosovo as they chat with missions worker Peder Wiegner during a Skype session. Photo by Fern Clemmer.

To prepare for the Skype session, Lancaster Mennonite School (LMS) teacher J. W. Sprunger and his 45 students researched possible candidates from Mennonite agencies and other sources. After the list of candidates was pared down to several, the students formulated questions such as "What is it like to be a Christian where you live?" "Do politics affect people’s religious view in your country?" "How do you respond as Christian peacemakers to acts of violence?" and "What kind of persecution do Christians experience in your country?"

Peter Stucky, pastor of the Teusaquillo Mennonite Church in Bogotá, Colombia, "visited" Sprunger's morning class. He gave the students a picture of how his church ministers to families who have lost their homes due to conflict between political groups. When the refugees flee to Bogotá, his church helps some relocate to Canada. Stucky also described the educational system in Colombia where children are limited to morning, afternoon or evening classes—with too much free time that often leads to behavioral problems.

In Sprunger's afternoon class, students met Peder Wiegner, a peace development worker completing a Mennonite Central Committee assignment in Prishtina, Kosovo. They learned that Wiegner's work involves relating to local peace groups and building relationships with Kosovar Albanian and Servian groups in an attempt to promote justice, peace and reconciliation. Students also learned that persecution in Kosovo is culturally or ethnically motivated rather than being related to religion.

Wiegner told stories about Albanians who warmly received him while Serbs, who had suffered under repeated U.S. military attacks, made him want to apologize for being part of a country that inflicted hardship.

Sprunger said that having students hear firsthand what these persons are experiencing in another country is important in helping them connect with Christianity around the globe.

"All of a sudden these students are going to remember Bogotá and Kosovo," he said. "This all becomes much more real when you're talking with someone rather than doing a Google search."

Sprunger said the process itself is valuable as students grapple with questions around Christianity. And having the students involved in planning the sessions really increases ownership. One Korean student said eagerly, "Hey, if we call Korea, I can translate."

Global Christianity replaces Heritage of the Christian Church. The new course, which grew out of dialogue with students, helps students better connect with the growing global Christian community. It offers a wider variety of faith stories that help students understand the Anabaptist movement, and it illustrates how Christians from different traditions can value and learn from each other in the body of Christ.   

Bible/social studies instructional area leader Sheri Wenger said the effort to be more global is "essential to truly meet the school's mission statement of preparing students to change the world."

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