Web Hosting by Netfirms | Free Domain Names by Netfirms

Thousands Join A Season For Nonviolence

Two weeks before the start of A Season For Nonviolence, over 5000 booklets had already been distributed by Peace Connections. The 5000 booklets, originally planned as a two-year supply, were funded by "bootstrapping" loans, which we are attempting to repay by asking participants to contribute toward printing costs.

Requests for program materials came from many individuals and groups, including:

• Halstead Middle School was introduced to the program by interested parent Ron Voth. Halstead High School is also participating, as are students in middle and high schools in Newton and Hesston, and Remington high school. The schools display the "64 Ways" posters and read the practice for each day in the daily announcements. Students at Hesston College and Bethel College also follow the practices.
• 600 inmates of the Hutchinson Correctional Facility have received the 64 Ways booklet, thanks to efforts by Gary Isaac and contributions from the RockCastle JayCees.
• In addition to members of many Kansas congregations (including Wichita and Topeka), churches from Colorado and Oklahoma have requested program materials.
• Participants also include employees and clients of Caring Hands, Kansas Christian Home, Hesston Childcare Association, CASA--A Voice for Children, Yoga Center of Newton, the family practice residency program at Via Christi, Heart to Heart, the Kansas Learning Center for Health, Northview Developmental Services, Newton Public Library, Mid-Cap Head Start, Mid-Kansas Community Action Program, Prairie View, Health Ministries, Harvey County Extension Services, Harvey County Health Department, and Harvey County Partnership/Communities in Schools.
• A couple, married for 35 years, reported that they enjoyed following the daily practices because it made their dinner conversation more interesting.

A Season For Nonviolence continues until April 4. It’s not too late to participate; call Peace Connections at 316-284-0000 for more information.

Sidebar: SNV Makes a Difference

The Newton Kansan has been publishing each day’s practice on its front page. A Kansan staffer told us this story:

The staffer received a phone call from someone who had seen the "Season For Nonviolence" practice in the Kansan, was outraged (at the perceived slap in the face to military personnel), and planned to cancel his subscription. But, before he called, he decided to read the practice and, having read it, decided to follow it for that day. The practice was among the 23 "personal" practices.

The next day, and for a week thereafter, he chose to follow the Season For Nonviolence practice. Then he called the Kansan, not to cancel his subscription, but to say that he had learned more about himself in the last week than he had in the last 50 or 60 years and that he was looking forward to the upcoming practices.