Honed for public witnessing

To be part of the Ethnic Young Adult (EYA) internship of the General Board of Church and Society is truly overwhelming and for which I will forever be grateful. The experience of engaging in social issues, contextualizing faith into politics and becoming a social witness has given me many insights and revelations that could prove to be vital to my growth in Christian Faith.

This program is for young justice seekers willing to “unpack” their faith and identity while working with an organization engaged in addressing social injustices. Interns like me are placed with advocacy, public policy, nonprofit and grassroots organizations where they work four days a week.

I was placed in a faith-based organization that works for Environmental Justice. The National Religious Partnership for the Environment (NRPFE) is an alliance of four religious organizations and institutions in the U.S., namely the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the National Council of Churches of Christ, the Jewish Council for Public Affairs and the Evangelical Environmental Network, which are all committed to caring for God’s creation.

Through this alliance, the faith community seeks to add a more voice to the legislative decisions and actions on public policy that highlights the need for social justice, ecological balance, health and sociological well-being of individuals.

I learned a lot about issues facing concerning the Paris Climate Agreement, Antiquities Act, Wildlife refuge and Clean Water and the new administrative leadership’s Energy Agenda, where I had the chance to personally contribute on factual evidences happening in status quo as a result of political activities and has the opportunity to share my stand as part of the faith community which seeks for the welfare in a holistic scene.

Learnings and Experiences

Staying in DC helped me to throw away my “skepticisms” in engaging in public. We had our chances of connecting with people in all sorts of conversations. Furthermore we had the opportunity to learn about issues and people in pursuit of peace and justice. To name a few, we discussed global migration, politics of respectability, and political inequalities like racism, a highly contested issue. We also became aware of people suffering from emotional and physical health all because of the damages inflicted by political agenda aftermaths. We connected these societal issues of faith. Weekly we studied issues in the context of our faith.

Public Witness

We learned that justice seeking is seeing more than meets the eye. Engaging with the community, most especially with people along the margins, helped me realize many things. We achieve justice if we dare to listen, understand contexts, and realize perspectives, especially if one is not treated justly before the law.

We become witnesses to the people. We further become witness by putting the church in a real “faith in action”. We must become relevant to the community by engaging in public vigils, dialogues, legislative discussions, hearings, joining church coalitions and caucuses and formal lobbying. Through such acts we play a major radical role.

Jesus exemplified being a radical. The story of Jesus healing a Man with a Withered hand is an example. He shouldn’t have healed on that day (Sabbath), but he went beyond the religious rule. He even did it publicly, a violation of the system effecting oppression and suffering (Mark 3:1-6).

I believe I am also called to do the same. Engaging in public spaces, and doing something for people when law does not speak for equality or welfare is one thing I can do.

Loving our Neighbors

In his time, John Wesley was evidently a man after God’s heart by engaging in social revolutions to achieve good for humanity. He contested socio-economic and political realities- slavery, excessive work, unreasonable prices of goods are beyond the means of the poor. He famous adage of “there is no other holiness than social holiness” personally encouraged me to be sensitive enough as part of the faith community, whereby my faith put into action to seek peace and justice.

And just like Wesley, I am convinced by the Word of God-to go and do likewise! The parable of the Good Samaritan is an inspiration for me, this man went beyond the norm, treating others as brothers not enemies.

Through this, there is a tangible connection of life and justice. No relationship is more than relevant by keeping each other’s life meaningful and valuable. And with this, I will always find delight in the Lord by doing what He has entrusted to us-do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.

Kevin John Maddela is the national president of the United Methodist Youth Fellowship in the Philippines. This article originally appeared in The Filipino Methodist.

Church and Society is currently accepting applications for the EYA internship. The deadline is March 1, 2018.