OUR PRAYER FOR NATIONAL TRANSFORMATION
DURING OUR COMMISSIONING SERVICE
Almighty God,
You are the purpose of our existence,
and the reason for our being is
to glorify You,
and You alone,
our Creator.
We seek to submit our creativity
to You, our Creator;
We seek to continually experience
both the transcendent and the immanent
Shalom we have in You, our Christ;
We seek to be consistently energized
by the Ultimate Energy
of Your Presence, our Comforter.
Understood through our spiritual journey,
through the counsel of our spiritual leaders,
and through the affirmation of the Church,
We hereby accept our Calling—
to offer our lives towards
the attainment of genuine
peace and reconciliation in our land
Where worldviews and value systems
are mutually respected and
freely expressed in
the context of
a multicultural society
Where truth is advanced by
love,
joy,
peace,
patience,
kindness,
goodness, and
faithfulness;
not by religious imperialism,
not by economic domination,
not by political manipulation, and
not by military suppression.
Understood through our spiritual journey,
through the counsel of our spiritual leaders,
and through the affirmation of the Church,
We hereby accept our Mission—
to offer our time, talents, and treasures
towards the attainment
of a socio-political transformation of our land
where, through active non-violent means,
our people can–
assert our national sovereignty and independence
from foreign domination and control;
promote a self-reliant and sustainable
socio-economic development through–
genuine land reform,
nation-building industrialization, and
protection of the environment;
uphold the social and economic welfare of
workers,
peasants, and
other marginalized sectors;
guarantee the right to self-determination of
the Bangsamoro,
Cordillera, and
other Indigenous Peoples;
and
advance a comprehensive policy
on peace negotiations.
We hereby submit to You
our Creator, our Sustainer, our Provider
this understanding of the purpose
of our existence, our calling, and our mission
with praises and thanksgiving.
For Your glory and honor.
In the name of
The Creator
The Christ
The Comforter.
Amen.
Dann & Joji Pantoja
During our Commissioning Service as
PeaceBuilding Missionaries to the Philippines
Peace Mennonite Church
Richmond, British Columbia, Canada
December 18, 2005
