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Guatemala
Maribel Smith is co-leader of a course for men called “Alternatives to Violence.”
In 2006, Kevin Frederick, a Presbyterian minister from the United States, gave a course for men at CEDEPCA, Central American Evangelical Center for Pastoral Studies, where mission co-workers Dennis and Maribel Smith work. Kevin’s course promoted healthy masculinity and combating domestic violence. The participants asked to receive “Alternatives to Violence,” a course Maribel teaches, as a follow-up. This would be the first time CEDEPCA had offered this course to men.
“Alternatives to Violence” is a twenty-one-hour course developed by Quakers in the U.S. It is built around four themes: self-esteem, communication, cooperation, and resolution of conflicts without violence. As the course began, the first task was to create a safe space for sharing.
As the stories poured out, Maribel was taken aback to hear how much violence these men had experienced as children: six of seven participants quietly told of experiencing physical, verbal, or psychological abuse. Since she too had suffered abuse as a child, she began to identify with them far more than she had anticipated.
One of the rules the group established was that all cell phones must be turned off during class. One man, a lawyer, told the group that he couldn’t abide by this rule. He had to be in constant contact with his office because many people depended on him. The group granted his request. During the first session, he left the group every few minutes to answer his phone. At the beginning of the third session, he told the group, “Today I’m turning off my phone. I’ve left everything in order at the office. I want to participate fully in this course.” Writes Maribel, “This, for me, was a breakthrough moment!”
Based on the response, CEDEPCA continues to offer “Alternatives to Violence” to men. Maribel is one of the two co-facilitators for the course.
Partners/Ministries
National Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Guatemala (IENPG): The Rev. Ivan Paz, executive secretary
Synod/Presbytery Partnerships
Living Waters for the World, Albany Presbytery, Presbytery of Baltimore, Presbytery of Chicago, Presbytery of Cincinnati, Presbytery of Elizabeth, Grace Presbytery, Presbytery of Greater Atlanta, Heartland Presbytery, Presbytery of Inland Northwest, Presbytery of Middle Tennessee, Presbytery of Minnesota Valleys, Mission Presbytery, Presbytery of New Covenant, Presbytery of New Hope, Peace River Presbytery, Providence Presbytery, Presbytery of the Redwoods, Presbytery of Santa Barbara and Presbytery of Western North Carolina with the IENPG
PC(USA) General Assembly Staff
Kelly Riley, BOP
Elder James Rissler, PILP
Robin Roach, BOP
O God, thank you for opening our eyes to new ways of doing things. We pray for the people of the church in Guatemala and ask that you would continue to refresh, bless, and guide them. Amen.
Ps. 84, 148 Ps. 25, 40
2 Kings 19:1–20
1 Cor. 9:16–27; Matt. 8:1–17
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