Nothing is impossible

"I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed...nothing will be impossible for you."
- Jesus in Matthew 17:20

Washington D.C.
Monday, July 12

For 42 years, the Washington office of Mennonite Central Committee U.S. has been a presence on Capitol Hill providing and encouraging prophetic witness to the way of Christ on matters of U.S. public policy. The work of the office is guided by the Biblical vision of being restored to right relationship with God, each other and all of creation.

I spent today in D.C. getting acquainted with the work of this small but mighty staff. Its staff monitors legislation on global economic justice, militarism, Middle East, HIV/AIDS, economic justice, gun violence, immigration and from every region of the world.

With perpetual issues like Middle East policy and the military budget, said director Rachelle Lyndaker Schlabach, its sometimes difficult to see short-term results.

Rachelle told us stories from Uganda, Argentina and Mozambique in past decades to illustrate where the work of the Washington office with U.S. public policy has made a difference. Rachelle said there are times such as these, like with the mustard seed, where a seed has sprouted and grown.

In 1968, the Washington Office program was formed in response to Vietnam, the Civil Rights movement and other issues. From that small seed, many sprouts have grown on behalf of Mennonite and Brethren in Christ churches. As I listened to the staff in D.C. (pictured above) today, I am grateful for their faithful witness and for their belief in Jesus' words that, with faith, nothing is impossible.

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