Sharon Yoder, IMMC Conference Co-Minister, reflects on how our voices joining together become strong.

“Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream” (Amos 5:24). God is in the business of making things just and right. As followers of Jesus, we are Called to the Stream; we are called to join God’s reconciling, justice-making ministry in the world.

In the words of Shane Claiborne and Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, we are called to interrupt injustice without mirroring it. We are called to disarm evil without demolishing the evildoer. We are called to find a third way, one that is neither fight nor flight but the careful, difficult pursuit of justice and reconciliation (Common Prayer Pocket Edition: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals, 2012, p 58).

Sometimes it’s hard to find our way amid unrelenting and horrific injustices that surround us. We may struggle to embrace the wild hope that God’s justice will prevail. We may wonder if our small contribution of interrupting injustice will actually make a difference.

That’s exactly why we need each other. Joining God’s justice ministry is more effective in the context of community. A song in Voices Together (#800) says it well: “With my voice alone, there is little I can do. Add your voice to mine – what more can two voices do? If we gather more and more, we become a mighty roar, our voices loud and strong speaking out against all wrong.”

I’m grateful for the community of congregations that forms IN-MI Mennonite Conference. I look forward to the gathering of these congregations June 12-13 at Summer Fest, where we’ll ponder further – together – how we can join the stream of God’s justice and righteousness. Centered on Jesus and Guided by the Holy Spirit, we will discern – together – how to make a mighty roar as we join God’s stream of justice and righteousness. We’d love for you to join us!