Dear Friends,

September 11, Croatia, and Peace Work

When I (Michelle) first heard that the WTC was attacked I was in Osijek on my way to register the Serbian and Macedonian participants in the Alternatives to Violence Program (AVP) training. When something of the magnitude of September 11 occurs you can’t help but evaluate your personal contribution to world peace. I have been working as a bridge for four years to help establish the Croatian AVP (with the support of the Society of Friends in Philadelphia). It has been hard to establish a core group that takes responsibility for the leadership of AVP. This has been a very big challenge because volunteerism is foreign to this culture. But, it appears that AVP has definitely taken root. All the manuals are translated. There are chapters of AVP in Osijek and in Pozega, a town two hours away. The leadership is now in the hands of Croatians and soon AVP will be registered as a non-governmental organization (NGO). Over 200 people have gone through the training and 50 people have trained to be facilitators.

Alternatives to Violence Program was developed by Quakers in 1975 for use in prisons. It’s a non-formal education program that provides a safe place for people to build community, learn communication and conflict resolution skills, and explore ideas that will lead to a more civil society. I find the seminars exciting because the type of learning is kinetic, producing insights that come from people’s actual experience. The core of the methodology is the use of "games" which are metaphors for society. We play the games and then talk about what we have learned. Every time I have these seminars, I can see that the participants experience a whole range of emotions. Since one of the ground rules is that everyone’s opinion is respected, I have been able to articulate a Christian response to societal problems. Often the feedback from the participants is that they learn about themselves and they gain hope for the future. Plus we have lots of laughs.

I taught a class this fall and really felt the presence of the Lord as we worked through the implications for the seminary of Bonhoeffer’s book, Life Together. Also, this fall I started as a consultant to the Volunteers’ Peace Project. My role is to supervise the use of Participatory Action Research (PAR) by the staff and volunteers. PAR is simply a process by which a group of people identify a problem they want to solve. They gather the information they need, analyze it and then, based on this new information, they have a better basis for action in their community. I find in this process, an expression of the hope that the Kingdom of God can bring to a despairing community.

You may visit the website I make to give more information about these peace programs at www.geocities.com/michhl2002us.

The Reformed Church

On the Church front, some very good things are happening. The new congregation in Zagreb is picking up steam. Over 90 people a week circulate through the different outreach programs, like English and computer classes, and some have become regular Bible study attendees. Branimir is doing a great job. Several congregations from the States will bring groups this summer to teach conversational English classes. In Osijek, the new church which Boris and Lidija are planting is just getting off the ground. We have found a great location, right in the center of the city where all the young people hang out. News from the older congregations includes the re-dedication of the restored church in Korogy (which had been severely damaged in the war), and the new life in the congregation in Hrastin, under the leadership of our youngest student pastor, Peter. The Lord has not forgotten his Church here in the Balkans—and we rejoice to watch what he is doing.

On the home front, Nathan and Michelle take time every day to read in English. It is a joy to teach him and encourage him. My hope is to establish him in English before he starts school next year in Croatian. Ben has a terrific attitude toward school this year. He has a very good tutor that appreciates him and enjoys challenging him. God has been very good to us!

Steven and Michelle,
Benjamin and Nathaniel Kurtz

The 2002 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 79