In an effort to highlight the many Anabaptists engaged in important work and ministry across the country and around the world, we’re starting a new series. Most Thursdays, we’ll publish a seven question interview with a different Anabaptist talking about their life, work, spiritual journey, etc. You can view past interviews here.

Name: Beth Good
Home congregation: Vision Columbia, Columbia, Pennsylvania
Occupation:Health coordinator for Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), pastor and church planter

1. What is your earliest memory of attending church?

My earliest memory of attending church was participating with the youth group of our local Methodist church. I remember this as being a time when I began to think about faith as something more than attending services on Easter or Christmas. It was a time when my faith began to take shape as a factor in how I lived my life and made decisions.

2. According to Joanne [Dietzel, who recommended Beth for an interview], you work with Mennonite Central Committee as a health coordinator. What does this work entail? Is there a “normal” day for you? 

I started working as the Health Coordinator with MCC in 2012.  I had previous international experience with Eastern Mennonite Missions leading their response to HIV/AIDS and before that working in DR Congo and Kenya.

I probably love my job as much as I do because “normal” days are rare. For example, I recently returned from traveling to Lebanon, Nicaragua, and El Salvador to visit MCC partners and projects related to health. During international visits, I may be providing input on trauma resilience, best practices for specific health activities, or on planning monitoring and evaluation.  I also travel to learn about the amazing work our partners are doing around the world and meet the participants whose lives we are interacting with through our relationships.

In the office, I could be reading project proposals and reports of current projects, or communicating with our volunteers or partners to provide health related information or resources.  I also work with many others to provide needed information to our volunteers who are preparing for service.  I try to keep up with current global health issues and best practices so that I can be an effective resource.

All of these activities are accomplished in conjunction with a wonderful community of MCC personnel, volunteers, donors, partners, and participants.

3. Where has your travel with MCC taken you lately?

In March, I traveled to Lebanon where MCC is partnering with several organizations who are addressing the needs of refugees from Syria, Iraq, and Palestine. During that trip, I was able to visit both partners and participants to hear about the issues that they face each day due to their circumstances. MCC also sponsored a STAR [Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience] training for partners who are working in the midst of traumatized communities.  Hearing the stories and visiting with the individuals and families who have been displaced by the violence in the Middle East motivates me to continue to share God’s love and compassion in the name of Christ.

I also traveled to Nicaragua and El Salvador where I met with partners that are working on projects that focus on health for children and youth and women’s issues. I learn so much from the excellent work our partners are doing.

My last trip was also special because I was able to take some vacation days to spend with one of my daughters and her family (including two of my grandchildren) who are MCC country representatives in Managua. It was great to have some grandma time in the midst of my work travel!

4. What are some of the biggest health needs that you see communities facing?

This really depends on the location and context. One of the major issues still facing many people is the lack of access to clean water and sanitation. One of MCC’s priorities for health is access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH).  In other areas, one of the main health needs is psychological trauma; whether that be because of war, disaster, or gender-related violence.

As a public health nurse, my goal is primarily prevention. How can we work with partners and communities to build resilient healthy communities?  MCC has also recently received a legacy gift that will allow us to scale up our focus on maternal and child health and nutrition. This is a wonderful opportunity and we are excited to see how this will positively influence the lives of the families who participate.

5. You have also worked with victims of sexual violence who are struggling with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). What are some of the biggest challenges these survivors face?

The research for my PhD focused on conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence. I interviewed women who had been raped in connection with the ongoing violence in eastern DR Congo. Through my experience and related research, I have come to realize that one of the major factors in recovery from a traumatic event is attachment.  When a person feels that their dignity as a human being has been violated and their attachments strained or broken, their entire existence can be threatened.

I think this idea is relevant to church as well. How we react to, and treat others affects their sense of attachment and dignity. I have experienced this as I work with individuals and families in our church. We focus on building relationships and placing significant value on the gifts that people bring to our group. We practice that they first “belong” with us, then we allow them to experience and learn about the transforming love of God through Christ. It takes the pressure off the church when we learn we are called to love others and let the Holy Spirit do the work of transformation.

6. What advice would you give people who are walking with and trying to support family memberes and friends who have experienced sexual violence?

Listen to their story. Let the survivor tell it in their own time, but be ready and willing to hear the story without judgment.

Be patient with the story. Trauma causes our brains to function in a different way than they usually function. This can make it seem like the story of the event is disjointed, which then leads the hearer of the story in doubt of its accuracy. This is a normal physiological reaction to the trauma and does not mean the story is fabricated in any way.

Encourage the survivor to get professional support (medical, psychological, legal). When a person experiences sexual violence they often experience shame and guilt that may keep them from seeking the help that they need to make a healthy recovery.

Speak out about sexual violence! We cannot change what we do not acknowledge. There is a problem in our communities, our churches and our families. More and more excellent resources are being made available to help survivors of sexual violence but if we are not acknowledging the problem, who will utilize the services? Learn more from MCC: http://mcc.org/learn/more/we-will-speak-out.

7. You are also involved in church planting, is that right? Tell me about the emerging congregation you are working with and how the vision for the church plant began.

Funny you should use the word “vision”.  The name of the church is Vision Columbia and it started from the historic foundation of the Columbia Mennonite Church.  As the previous church numbers began to dwindle, the decision was made by the district to close the church for a time and work to “re-imagine” what could spring forth from within Columbia. My husband, Clair and I felt a connection with the community after making a couple of visits and felt called to join and be part of the new life that could be planted on this foundation.

Our time serving as pastors for Vision Columbia has blessed us immensely. It is not what we imagined or could have planned, but it is good!  A number of the people involved in Vision Columbia are local friends that we have made along the way. Some have had experience with faith and church, others would not have been comfortable in a traditional church setting. Together we explore the scriptures and listen to what that message means for us. Then we ask the question, “What am I going to do about it?”

Vision Columbia holds four main values: extravagant grace, relentless hospitality, radically inclusive and expectant transformation. We are all on a journey, and we welcome people to participate in that journey together. I have learned so much from our friends and neighbors about the heart of God!

It isn’t always easy. We are all broken and hurting people and it is difficult to let the healing work of Jesus change us. We see that struggle each day within ourselves and our brothers and sisters.