Aj Schwanz

Still no word has been heard regarding the status of the kidnapped members of the Christian Peacemaker Team in Iraq. Last Sunday, Matt Chandler spoke in the NFC Young Adult Sunday School class ñ which turned into the ìYoung at Heartî Adult class since folks of all ages flocked to hear his experiences working in Iraq with these very folks who have been abducted. I did not attend: didnít find out about it until it was almost over. But I spoke with a few folks who were present: they said it was affirming to hear of Mattís peaceful determination to continue to follow this call God has placed on his heart, despite the backlash of folks (particularly folks who label themselves as Christians) who say that the team members were reckless and were asking to be kidnapped by working in Iraq.

Matt talked about how the group that has claimed responsibility for the kidnaping doesnít fall into the typical description of hostage-takers in Iraq. They didnít cover their faces or the faces of the team members. They did not display flags or other symbols of allegiance in the background of their communications. They only communicate with Al Jazeera, the national news corporation. I believe they first said that the hostages were spies; then they said they would not release the hostages until all the detainees were released - however, the hostagesí work *was* to free detainees. It doesnít add up, at least in accordance to past kidnapings by other groups.

Matt talked about his work freeing detainees. When an incident happened (car bomb, etc.), soldiers sweep the streets, and any people within a certain radius - whether they are involved or simply passing by - are imprisoned. The prison system is so overloaded and messed up that folks get lost in the jumble of paperwork and crowded conditions. Loved ones would come to Matt, and he would help them negotiate the government channels simply to find where the detainee was held, and then they began the long and cumbersome process of beginning to free them. Matt had a friend who was one of these passer-bys, and he was imprisoned for over a year. A YEAR!! Can you imagine a year of your life gone, simply because you needed to go to the store, some guy blew up a car, and a nineteen year old freaked out soldier sent you to a detention center?

When a person knows that they want to work in a field that will take them overseas, perhaps in business, they train and prepare: they learn the languages, customs - immerse themselves in the culture. Theyíre working with pen and paper - not guns. Somehow I doubt the government is training, preparing, sensitizing these soldiers on proper cultural etiquette and interaction ñ but they are giving them weapons. See anything wrong with that picture?

It makes my heart ache: I so long for things to be righted. I feel useless - futile: itís so large, and Iím so small. But I can pray. I can pray for God to sensitize my heart and the hearts of others to the injustice going on. I can pray that God will awaken the call Heís placed on certain individuals hearts to get involved in the immediate situation. I can pray that God helps me and others on the ìoutsideî to equip and strengthen those in the midst, living out his love and peace in mayhem and chaos. Oh God: may it be so!

Here’s an interview of Matt on Oregon Public Broadcasting.