“Jesus is the center of our faith.
Community is the center of our lives.
Reconciliation is the center of our work.”
— Palmer Becker, What is An Anabaptist Christian?
I am one of the thousands of people who have chosen to do a year of service — often referred to as a gap year. During my senior year of college, I was thinking about what would be next. I chose the PULSE program (Pittsburgh Urban Leadership Service Experience). This program connected me to other young adults who were ready to learn, serve and explore the city. It also connected me to a church and local communities where I lived and worked. That one year of service led me to stay in those communities for 11 more years, having found meaningful work and life, and truly a place to belong.
Today, people are constantly on the move, traveling or relocating. I do a lot of national and international travel, and I have also experienced moving to another state and another country. Each time, whether I go for a short stay or settle into a new home, I find myself searching for where I can truly belong again. Sometimes, this means looking for a connection with the land or the geographical context. More often for me, this means looking for a social context, or as my niece would say, “finding my people.” As a single, cisgender, ethnic Latina, who was raised in the Midwest by white Mennonites in their 50s and who has been influenced by a variety of cultures and is often traveling from place to place, I sometimes wonder, “Who are my people?”
To me, this question of “finding my people” is about finding places of belonging. I experience belonging when I encounter people caring for others and compassionately sharing God’s love; through those who are open to learning from and pouring into the newcomer — whether for a brief time or for years; and through communities that open their doors to welcome the stranger and accept each person as they are. I have experienced belonging, and I have found my people in those who have made community the center of their lives.
I would like to extend a special thank you to the communities and partners that have welcomed our service workers, service leaders and participants, providing them with a place to belong.
Marisa Smucker
Executive Director