Ep 30 - Unspeakable suffering; defiant hope in DR Congo

The most brutal conflict of the modern era is grinding onwards in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In this episode, we’ll hear from Justin Zihindula and Esther Muziranenge, two Congolese from different families who were displaced and resettled in Canada many years apart. Undercurrents is generously supported by ⁠Kindred Credit Union.⁠Transcription is here.Download the discussion guide for this episode here.Read about MCC’s new $4.7M relief project with Global Affairs Canadahttps://mcc.org/our-stories/mcc-canada-awarded-47-million-grant-humanitarian-assistance-democratic-republic-congoDonate to MCC’s response in DR Congo:https://mcc.org/what-we-do/initiatives/disaster-response/dr-congoCollaborative global Anabaptist response to crisis in DR Congo:https://mcc.org/our-stories/collaborative-anabaptist-response-dr-congo-crisisA concise history of the 30-year conflict in DR Congo:https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/violence-democratic-republic-congoCREDITS:Editing support by Christen KongTheme song by Brian MacMillanArtwork by Jesse Bergen

On January 18, 2025, a brand new 10,000 square foot facility had its grand opening at the MCC Hub in New Hamburg, Ontario. Over 700 people of all ages including local dignitaries and politicians, came out to tour the place, eating bushels of popcorn, drinking gallons of coffee, and generally creating the most festive atmosphere you could imagine for the opening of an industrial canning facility. Why the excitement? Because this was MCC’s new Stationary Meat Cannery. We hear from Jon Lebold, Martin Rahn, and Dylan Yantzi about the early challenges, the recent challenges and how this project “kept drawing in miracles."Transcription here.Discussion guide here. Read more about the new stationary cannery ⁠here⁠. Support MCC’s meat canning here.Undercurrents is sponsored in part by Kindred Credit Union - they know a thing or two about putting faith and values into action!This episode was edited by Christen KongTheme music by Brian MacMillanCover art by Jesse Bergen

“I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” Matthew 25:35 There are 22 scriptures in the Bible about welcoming newcomers from another land, but it could be argued that none resonate with MCC as much as that verse from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. “I was a stranger and you welcomed me”. Follow along as MCC Ontario sponsors a refugee family for the first time.  Transcription here. Discussion guide here. Read the written story about the Salazar family and MCCO (includes photos). Read about how MCC started the world's first refugee sponsorship program.  Read about Bill Janzen's legacy in this work and how he recently received the Order of Canada for it. Editorial assistance by Christen Kong Theme song by Brian MacMillan Artwork by Jesse Bergen Undercurrents is sponsored by Kindred Credit Union.

"I was looking for justice, tangible justice. I was looking for something that said, 'We're not just going to repent. We're not just going to be sorry. We're going to do something and here it is.'" With great patience and grace, Adrian Jacobs from the Cayuga Nation, Six Nations Haudenosaunee Confederacy shares a beautiful and challenging opportunity for the Church to make real steps toward reconciliation.  Transcription here. Discussion resource here. "A Global Solution for the Six Nations of the Grand River" - lecture by Phil Monture at the University of Waterloo. "A Conflict in Caledonia" - a timeline from APTN News. "Six Miles Deep" - a documentary from the National Film Board of Canada Broken Walls - learn about Mohawk Christian musician and worship leader Jonathan Maracle and the incredible reconciling work he has done in his own life, and his decades-long ministry to all nations. Undercurrents is supported by Kindred Credit Union.

Our guest today is Leah Reesor-Keller. She is a speaker, leadership consultant, Transitional Executive Director of KAIROS Canada, and now - an author. We sat down to discuss her debut book, Tending Tomorrow: Courageous Change for People and Planet.  If you’re looking for the one magic bullet solution that will fix everything for everyone, this is not the book for you. Leah calls for us to make room for all the ways each of us as individuals, as communities, as societies and beyond, can do our part in working for a better future. Pre-order Tending Tomorrow here or at your local bookshop! Available for sale on June 25, 2024. Transcription here. Discussion resource here. Undercurrents would not be without the amazing support from Kindred Credit Union. Editing support from Christen Kong Theme song by Brian MacMillan Artwork by Jesse Bergen

Happy Earth Day, Undercurrents listeners! Today, we're sharing an episode from our sister podcast, Relief Development & Podcast, produced by my amazing colleagues Meghan Mast and Christy Kauffman. We hear from Dr. Sibonokuhle Ncube who says climate change chose her since she learned as a child that people in her rural village in Zimbabwe suffered from drought and hunger. But today she doesn't focus on all that is broken and what to fear, she focuses her energy on working towards a better future.  Undercurrents is produced with support from ⁠⁠⁠Kindred Credit Union⁠⁠.⁠ Original music: Brian MacMillan Artwork: Jesse Bergen

In the second part of our mini-series on affordable housing, we hear from Beyond Housing executive director Dan Driedger - the single greatest challenge to building, the role of the private sector, stories from tenants, and more. Plus, a big life update from a previous Undercurrents guest! Read the transcript. Download the small group discussion guide. Advocacy actions: 1. ⁠Say Yes to Fair Rents! - Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario - ACTO⁠ 2. ⁠Take Action: More Urgency on Housing Affordability - The National Housing Accord: A Multi-Sector Approach to Ending Canada’s Rental Housing Crisis⁠ Provincial and federal governments waive HST on development of purpose-built rental housing - CBC Produced with support from ⁠⁠Kindred Credit Union⁠⁠. Editorial support: Christen Kong Original music: Brian MacMillan Artwork: Jesse Bergen

We sit down with MCC's Ontario advocacy guru Greg deGroot-Maggetti as he breaks down our affordable housing crisis: where we are, how we got here, and three (of many) solutions. Advocacy actions: 1. Say Yes to Fair Rents! - Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario - ACTO 2. Take Action: More Urgency on Housing Affordability - The National Housing Accord: A Multi-Sector Approach to Ending Canada’s Rental Housing Crisis Comprehensive explanation of rent control: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/how-does-rent-control-in-ontario-work-1.6978670 Produced with support from ⁠Kindred Credit Union⁠. Editorial support: Christen Kong Original music: Brian MacMillan Artwork: Jesse Bergen

In light of the horrific ongoing violence in Palestine and Israel, we are re-posting this episode from Season 1, called “David and Goliath” featuring Palestinian Christian Tarek Al-Zoughbi and Israeli Jew Sahar Vardi. What happens when David becomes Goliath? This is our only international episode in Season 1. We explore the tragic realities of Palestinians living under Israeli occupation, and hear from those on both sides of the wall working for peace. What can you do? When confronted with the enormity of this story, we might feel angry, dispairing, or helpless. Here are a few action items for you to do to work toward Palestinian justice: Advocate: Sign this petition⁠. Call for a ceasefire and end to violence in Palestine and Israel. ⁠Sign this petition⁠. No Way To Treat A Child Canada - "I urge you to prioritize human rights of Palestinian children and hold Israeli authorities accountable for widespread and systematic ill-treatment and torture of Palestinian child detainees. " Donate: ⁠Support⁠ MCC's humanitarian relief response in Palestine and Israel. Pray: Click ⁠here⁠ to read or download this beautiful prayer for peace for Palestinians and Israelis. Links: ⁠A Cry For Home⁠ - a rich resource of stories from Palestinians and Jews living in Palestine and Israel. ⁠Wi’am⁠: The Palestinian Conflict Transformation Centre, where Tareq Al-Zougbi works. ⁠US Congressional Research Service report on Israel⁠ - detailing US military aid to Israel over the years. Credits: Theme song and other original music from ⁠Brian MacMillan⁠. Artwork by ⁠Jesse Bergen.⁠ Licensed music from deWolfe Music. Sponsored by⁠ Kindred Credit Union⁠.

In light of the horrific ongoing violence in Palestine and Israel, we are re-posting this episode from Season 2, called “Home” with Israeli Jewish filmmaker Lia Tarachansky and Palestinian poet Izzy Hawamda. It's a powerful story of shared humanity, shared land, and a challenge for all of us who live on settled land. Urgent calls for a ceasefire in Palestine and Israel: mcc.org/ceasefire (Canada) change.org/ceasefirenow A link to Lia Tarachensky’s feature film “On the side of the road” where she explores Israeli soldiers’ collective denial of their roles in displacing Palestinians.  https://vimeo.com/117772052 A link to Lia’s short film OCEAN which juxtaposed raw audio from her field recordings of the 2014 Gaza War, with images from her new life in Toronto: https://vimeo.com/181224988 MCC’s A Cry For Home campaign which is packed with stories, videos, fact sheets, and more: https://mcccanada.ca/learn/where/middle-east/palestine-israel/cry-for-home