April2016PeaceChurchHostsCulturalMusicEventPeace Church Philippines hosted a greatcommunity event on our front lawn thismonth. Neighbours were invited to joinlocal musicians in playing nativeinstruments.Thechildrenandevenadultsall had a chance to learn some rhythmsand beats with handmade bamboocultural instruments.Afterthe interactivemusicevent,PeaceChurchhadaworshiptimeoutsideandadinnerandBiblestudyatourhouse. Itwasgreattogettoknowmore neighbours and welcome them toour Peace Church community. This event also coincided with Makai’s 4th birthday, so wecelebratedhimwithtwothingshetreasures-musicandfriends!Wewillbehostingmonthlyevents like this, where we hope to gather new friends from our neighbourhood for fun,fellowshipandworship.Pleasepray for thegrowthofPeaceChurch- thatmore familieswilljoinusforthesecommunityeventsandworshiptime.OurFilipinoSister,KrizCruzado,AcceptedatCanadianMennoniteUniversityWearesothrilledthatourdearsister,Kriz,hasbeenaccepted intoCMU’sMasterofArts inPeacebuilding and Collbarotive Development. We have known Kriz since 2008 when weworkedwithheratPeacebuildersCommunity(PBCI) inDavaoandshehasbeenfamilytoussincethen.KrizhasworkedwithPBCI(alsoaministryofMennoniteChurchCanada)fornearly

9 years where she taught peace and reconciliationtraining, served in disaster-hit areas and trained localleadersintheprocessofpeace,reliefanddevelopment.She is excited and honoured to be able to study at aMennonite University in a program that will hugelyimproveonherskillsandcredentialstoserveandleadinthePhilippines.ThisisactuallythesameprogramDarnellis enrolled in (he’ll do twoweeksof summer classes inWinnipegagainthiscomingJune).Ifyou’reinterestedinsupportingherthroughoutherstudies,sendusanemail(cdbarkman@mennonitechurch.ca) and we’ll let youknow how to donate online to CMU and receive a taxreceipt.

PeaceChurchProducesDocumentaryonInterfaithDialogueinthePhilippines On February 18 and 19, Peace Church, in partnershipwith the Philippine Council ofEvangelical Churches (PCEC), presented the first ever documentary at the annual AsianTheological Seminary Theological Forum, Manila’s largest Theological forum. Since its firstforum in2005,noothermediumbesideswrittenpapershavebeenpresented, sowhenourout-of-the-boxideawasaccepted,PeaceChurchwasthrilledtoproduceafilm.PeaceChurchmembers, Kathleen and Fread, flew toMindanao to film interviews with Muslimleaders who participated in an interfaithdialogueOctober2015,organizedbyPCEC(Iwrote about this event that Darnellattended in our last newsletter). They alsofilmed an interviewwith the CEO of PCEC,NoelPantoja.

The video shares the importanceofMuslimsandChristiansunderstandingeachother and working together in the Filipinocontext. The documentary gave a rareopportunityforMuslimleadersinthesouthto express themselves to Christian leadersin Manila and emphasizes the need formutualunderstandingandfriendship.

WeareproudofPeaceChurchforproducingthisfilm,especiallyKathandFreadwhotravelledtoMindanaoaftermanylogisticaldelaysandthankfullymanagedtoleavethevolatileareaofMindanaoonlyhoursbeforeskirmishesbetweentheArmedForcesofthePhilippinesand the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters erupted. Darnell spent hours organizing thisfilming,whileKathspentsleeplessnightseditingthefootage.Wearestillworkingonanotherlonger version of the film (60minutes, the original is 20minutes) and plan to release it atseveraleventsinSeptember,whichisPeacemonth.WestillneedtoraisemorefundsforthisMennonite Church Canada special project so send me an email(cdbarkman@mennonitechurch.ca) if you’re interested in supporting this and we’ll let youknowtheeasystepsfordonatingandreceivingataxreceipt.Thankyoufortheloveandprayers,Christina&DarnellBarkmancdbarkman@mennonitechurch.cadonate.mennonitechurch.ca/barkmanwww.darnellandchristina.com