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Mennonite Action
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  • Ep 12 - Noncooperating with Authoritarianism feat. Anna-Lisa Gross and Daniel Hunter
    In this conversation with Anna-Lisa Gross and Daniel Hunter, we explore the intersection of peace traditions and organizing against authoritarianism, emphasizing the importance of community, nonviolence, and the teachings of Jesus. Daniel is a prolific writer, here are his articles are Waging Nonviolence:https://wagingnonviolence.org/author/danielhunter/His most recent article is about the response in DC to Trump deploying the National Guard.Anna Lisa is rooted in the Church of The Brethren and recently wrote two articles for Anabaptist World focused on Gaza:https://anabaptistworld.org/i-wont-eat-again-until/ https://anabaptistworld.org/entrapment-stew-and-murderous-aid-recipe-mediterranean-stew/Together they are organizers with Choose Democracy, and among other things, are thinking about tax resistance as a tool of mass noncooperation. Choose Democracy launched the One Million Rising trainings, which is an effort to get people organized to resist authoritarianism following all the No Kings marches. 20,000+ people were at the first training! They also led Freedom Trainers, which is the training that Nick did. Here’s the Noncooperation Library provided by the Freedom Trainers.Drop Site News: https://www.dropsitenews.com/From Christians for a Free Palestine, written by Rev. Margaret Ernst, this prayer on the news of a ceasefire:God of LifeWe lift voices that are hoarse from screaming for justiceEyes that are wet with tearsOr that can cry no more.2 years, God. Do you hear our cries?Do you hear the cry of Gaza?  There is news of a ceasefire.There is dancing in the streets. There are children who have lost everythingTelling us the war is over, for good.Preserve their hope, oh Lord.Stop the bombs.Release the prisoners.Feed the people. You are a God that saves.And yet, where has that salvation been, these past two years?
And so much longer before.Over 67,000 dead, and likely so many moreHundreds of thousands woundedUnder the rubble
What shall we say to the Woman who wakes to news of ceasefireAnd then must ask,“Where am I to go?What do we do with our lives?Where shall we live?"What shall we say to  The parent of a childBloodied just hours after news of the ceasefire brokeAs the world slept and then cried “Free Palestine”And yet we still yell itWe refuse to accept 'peace'Defined by those who profit from war.You are a God that liberates. Preserve the faith of Palestinians, God,And show your saving power. Let every tear of joy shed
in theseDays of anticipationWater the future.May every laugh and song of childrenLifted to the sky Defend against planes and dronesFrom here on forward.You are a God that heals. May there be quiet in Gaza, God. And while there is quiet there, Lord,Strengthen our cries across this globe for true justiceA true peaceFor the kingdom comingThat we glimpse And is not yetFirm up our souls to keep marchingTo keep singingKeep goingTill liberation is won.Amen.
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  • Ep 11 - Public disruption, solidarity, and Palestinian steadfastness with Tim Seidel and Tim Nafziger
    In this episode, we hear from two Mennonite Action national leadership team members: Tim Seidel and Tim Nafziger. Seidel lives in Harrisonburg and helped to lead a disruptive action in DC. Nafziger is on the West Coast and has been engaged in organizing against. They give us an idea of what local chapters are up to in Mennonite Action, and how we are focused on addressing the twin evils of Christian Nationalism and Christian Zionism. You’ll also hear about the courage tour and an organizing conference.Huge thank you to the incredible Jewish recording artist, Batya Levine for the use of their song “We Rise” as our theme song (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tkmkwufRVw). The beautiful logo is by Jesse Bergen. Front Light is edited by Ken Ogasawara and produced by Jonny Rashid, Joanna Lawrence Shenk, Holly Harris, and Nick Martin. Thank you all for listening and sharing. Instagram posts of the DC action: https://www.instagram.com/p/DOoxBUej919/?img_index=1, https://www.instagram.com/p/DOoxBUej919/?img_index=1, https://www.instagram.com/p/DOY1nYwkY73/  Sign up for the Courage Tour here: https://www.mennoniteaction.org/tour Sign up for EMU’s organizing conference here: https://emu.edu/seminary/shalom/events/2025-organizing-symposium/ Mosab Abu Toha poem: Every child in Gaza is me. Every mother and father is me. Every house is my heart. Every tree is my leg. Every plant is my arm. Every flower is my eye. Every hole in the earth is my wound.Support and follow Mosab Abu Toha: https://linktr.ee/mosababutoha
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  • Ep 10 - Migrant God: a Christian Vision for Immigrant Justice with Isaac Villegas
    In this episode, we hear from Isaac Villegas, author of “Migrant God” as we explore the intersection of faith, immigration, and justice. We hear personal stories, theological reflections, and the historical context of immigration policies. We talk about the sanctuary movement, the implications of Christian nationalism, and the connections between the struggles of immigrants and the plight of Palestinians. Throughout, Isaac highlights the need for a Christian vision of justice that actively engages with the realities of suffering and oppression.Huge thank you to the incredible Jewish recording artist, Batya Levine for the use of their song “We Rise” as our theme song (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tkmkwufRVw). The beautiful logo is by Jesse Bergen. Front Light is edited by Ken Ogasawara and produced by Jonny Rashid, Joanna Lawrence Shenk, Holly Harris, and Nick Martin. Thank you all for listening and sharing. Connecting the dots between the occupation of Palestine and ICE repression:​​https://www.newsweek.com/blueprint-ices-future-being-drawn-west-bank-opinion-2103201An account of the political organizing in Durham that resulted in the resolution against police training partnerships with Israel: https://scalawagmagazine.org/2021/05/israel-palestine-durham-police/Perfect Victims by Mohammed El-Kurd: https://www.haymarketbooks.org/books/2499-perfect-victimsHealing Resistance by Kazu Haga: https://www.parallax.org/product/healing-resistance/Joanna Macy and The Work That Reconnects: https://www.joannamacy.net/main
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  • Ep 9 - Tyler Goss and Mennonite Action's recent delegation to Palestine
    In this episode, we interview Tyler Goss, he/him, from Harrisonburg Virginia on the land of the Siouan, Monacan, Monahoac, Catawba, and Cherokee. He shares stories from Mennonite Action’s delegation to Palestine in June. We talk about tourism for good, the weight of hopelessness, air raids and more.Huge thank you to the incredible Jewish recording artist, Batya Levine for the use of their song “We Rise” as our theme song (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tkmkwufRVw). The beautiful logo is by Jesse Bergen. Front Light is edited by Ken Ogasawara and produced by Jonny Rashid, Joanna Lawrence Shenk, Holly Harris, and Nick Martin. Thank you all for listening and sharing.
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  • Ep 8 - “None are free until all are free": the intersection of Palestinian and queer justice, with Annabeth Roeschley of BMC.
    “None are free until all are free” is a quote attributed to luminaries working for justice throughout history: Emma Lazarus, Fannie Lou Hammer, Martin Luther King Jr., and Maya Angelou. In this episode, we interview Annabeth Roeschley (they/she), the Director of the Brethren Mennonite Council for LGBT Interests. They are a long-time activist and advisor for queer intersectional justice within and beyond Mennonite Church USA. Annabeth embodies this role as a queer abolitionist theologian, spiritual care curator, and politicized chaplain who dwells at the intersections of individual and collective healing. A graduate of Bluffton University, Annabeth holds a Master of Divinity from Chicago Theological Seminary with a concentration in LGBTQ+ Religious Studies. After a decade in Washington, DC and now in Chicago, Annabeth and their partner are active with the local Hyde Park Jewish community and with a queer house church. Annabeth draws deeply from rural Illinois roots (Potawatomi, Peoria and Myaamia land) and loves watching the moon rise over the edge of Lake Michigan.Resources:5 Patterns of Legal Escalation by Maki Ashe Van Steenwyk: https://makiashe.substack.com/cp/161466693  On denationalization by M Gessen, drawing on Hannah Arendt: https://www.sltrib.com/opinion/commentary/2025/03/23/opinion-trump-isnt-just-attacking/ Unmasking Christian Zionism for Queer, Palestinian, & Jewish Liberation: https://www.bmclgbt.org/palestinian-jewish-liberation-resources  Creating Cultures of Care: Blessing LGBTQIA+ Kin Across MC USA: https://www.bmclgbt.org/creating-cultures-of-care-blessing-lgbtqia-kin-across-mc-usaEveryone is invited to BMC's 50th anniversary celebration! www.bmclgbt.org/50th “The Memory Librarian” by Janelle Monae, noted as Joanna’s front light this month:https://www.harpercollins.com/pages/the-memory-librarianHuge thank you to the incredible Jewish recording artist, Batya Levine for the use of their song “We Rise” as our theme song (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tkmkwufRVw). The beautiful logo is by Jesse Bergen. Front Light is edited by Ken Ogasawara and produced by Jonny Rashid, Joanna Lawrence Shenk, Holly Harris, and Nick Martin. Thank you all for listening and sharing. 
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About Front Light

Front Light is Mennonite Action’s podcast, hosted by Joanna Lawrence Shenk and Jonny Rashid. Mennonite Action is a movement mobilizing Mennonites and Anabaptists across the United States and Canada to use creative, nonviolent actions to demand a permanent ceasefire, an end to the U.S. and Western-funded occupation of Palestine and build a lasting peace for all. Grounded in our peace theology, we believe we have a responsibility to use our voices as powerfully as possible for the cause of peace and justice. This podcast is for anyone who wants to make the world a better place!
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