By Brian Marchetti
Villager Contributor
Choose love over fear. That’s the core idea behind Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church’s The Peace Center at Bethlehem’s mission. The church, located at 9401 S. Oakley Ave. in North Beverly, has designed programs through its center that focus on conflict resolution and open communication. Every summer, a week-long Peace Camp teaches participants ways to navigate challenging situations in a way that heals rather than harms.
Led by Pastor Jennie English-Dumont, an ordained minister for 25 years, the church’s program looks to strengthen the community with restorative practices.
“We look to help people maintain healthy and strong relationships in the community,” English-Dumont said. “How we react when harm has been done is what matters.”
The Peace Center started in 2011. Several programs have been developed including a book club for adults at the Beverly branch of the Chicago Public Library. English-Dumont also leads a Peace Club at Kellogg Elementary School that meets once a week during the school year. There are also monthly peace circles that discuss issues in the community and workshops for parents.
The summer Peace Camp, which takes place the week after the Chicago Public School year ends and before the summer programs begin, started as a one day event.
“It was lovely, but small,” English-Dumont explained, “but we wanted to do something that would reach more people.”
Over time, the Peace Camp evolved into a week-long program. At the event, kids learn conflict resolution skills through exercises involving cooperative games, yoga and healthy communication. The camp can host 40 children from 1st to 6th grade with older teens, usually veterans of the program, serving as counselors.
“We hope to teach the kids to be peacemakers in their homes and schools,” English-Dumont said. “We emphasize choosing love over fear. We want them to make more loving choices.”
Using animal metaphors such as lizard brain, dog brain and owl brain, the Peace Camp helps children approach unfamiliar situations with curiosity rather than fear and anger. The strategies have had a definite influence in the children’s lives.
According to English-Dumont, a group of fourth grade boys found one of their classmates upset and crying. The three boys, who attended the camp, formed a peace circle. Using the communication skills they were taught, they discovered the boy had been excluded from a game. Together, they tried to resolve the issue.
“I wish things like this happened every day,” English-Dumont said.
While the church has Evangelical Lutheran in its title, the program is open to all regardless of faith or non-belief. Their board has members from all corners of the community. The focus remains on service.
“We do this through our religious values, but the Peace Center is not a religious organization,” English-Dumont said. “We strive to be inclusive and emphasize the equality of all people.”
To learn more about the church and its programs, please visit Bethlehem-chicago.org and sign up for their newsletter. The church can be reached at 773-445-7558 and Pastor Jennie English-Dumont can be contacted at jennie.english@ameritech.net.
